Samsung TV Outage Sparks Outrage in US, Takes Down Streaming Apps [Image Source: Shutterstock]
An estimated thousands of Samsung TV customers in the United States were unable to stream apps such as Netflix, YouTube TV, and Peacock on Thursday afternoon. The outage, which had been running for more than three hours, overwhelmed DownDetector with over 2,000 reports.
Fans complained on social media, expressing anger over the widespread malfunction that resulted in factory resets, redundant purchases, and lost hours of content. Samsung hasn't made an official public comment so far, but has still continued to deal with customer complaints in direct messages.
The problem hit many Samsung smart TVs, with apps refusing to load altogether. Users said they were taken to a page of terms and conditions, but when they got there, they were greeted by a server error.
Streaming services such as Netflix, YouTube TV, and Peacock were all nonresponsive. Most thought the issue was on their own devices. But as the night went on, it became evident that the outage was widespread.
The outage started sometime Thursday afternoon and gained momentum steadily. DownDetector indicated an ongoing stream of more than 2,000 user reports, with users pouring complaints every few minutes.
Angry owners took to X (previously Twitter), tagging Samsung and venting about their experiences. Some claimed they reset TVs or even replaced them, not knowing the issue was server-based.
One user wrote, "Can't even watch TV tonight because the damn Samsung server is down."
Another wrote, "Took down five-year-old TV thinking it was broken, bought a new 2025 Samsung TV—only to realize the server issue continues. Rough night…"
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Samsung has not made a public statement regarding the issue. Rather, the company has answered specific users personally through direct messages. No word has come down yet as to whether the issue is solely with Samsung's servers.
Others attempted factory resets and app reinstalls, again to encounter the problem once more. "Just completed a factory reset… learned everyone's having the same thing," posted one user. Another griped, "The day I purchased the Harry Potter complete film collection, my Samsung TV server chose to break down."
Aside from technical issues, the outage is more profound, questioning the dependability of internet-connected TVs. Consumers spend money on smart TVs, anticipating reliability. But when a server problem turns ordinary streaming into an impossibility—and the company remains mum—it undermines confidence.
Smart TVs are not mere devices anymore. They're platforms. When the platform fails, customers feel trapped, particularly when they have already invested in a brand.
One frustrated user put it this way: "Even reset it. Now I can't accept the terms and conditions. What's going on?" That helplessness, combined with transparency issues, has generated outrage that Samsung can do little to dismiss.
