Set a Reminder for a Cable Show on Samsung TV

This guide walks you through setting a reminder for a cable or satellite TV show directly on your Samsung Smart TV. You can do this from the live TV guide, the program info banner, or by using voice commands with Bixby. The reminder will pop up a notification a few minutes before the show starts, and you can jump straight to the channel with one click. You will need your Samsung TV remote and a working connection to your cable or satellite box (or an antenna with a built-in tuner).

What You’ll Need

A Samsung Smart TV (2016 model or newer recommended for full guide integration)
The TV’s Smart Remote (or a standard remote with a Guide or Info button)
A connected cable or satellite set-top box, or an over-the-air antenna connected directly to the TV
The TV must be set to the correct input source (e.g., HDMI 1 for your cable box)

Step-by-Step

Turn on your TV and switch to the correct input. Press the Source or Input button on your remote and select the HDMI port your cable or satellite box is connected to. If you use an antenna, make sure the TV is on the “TV” or “Air” input.
Open the Live TV guide. Press the Guide button on your remote. If your remote doesn’t have a dedicated Guide button, press the Home button, then select the “Live TV” tile or the channel list icon at the bottom of the screen. On newer Samsung models (2020+), you may need to select the “Guide” icon from the pop-up menu that appears when you press the down arrow while watching live TV.
Find the show you want to set a reminder for. Use the directional pad to scroll through the channel list and time slots. The guide shows current and upcoming programs for the next several hours or days, depending on your provider’s data.
Highlight the show. Move the cursor so the show’s title is highlighted in the grid. Do not press OK yet—just highlight it.
Open the show’s info panel. Press the OK or Select button on the highlighted show. A pop-up window will appear with details like the episode description, air time, and channel number.
Select “Set Reminder” or the alarm clock icon. In the info panel, look for a button labeled “Set Reminder,” “Remind Me,” or an icon that looks like an alarm clock or bell. It is usually in the lower-left or lower-right corner of the pop-up. Highlight it and press OK.
Confirm the reminder. A confirmation message will appear, often saying “Reminder set” or showing the show’s name and time. Press OK or Close to dismiss it.
Check that the reminder is active. Look for a small alarm clock or bell icon next to the show’s title in the guide. This confirms the reminder is saved. You can also go to the “Reminders” section in the guide (usually accessible via a filter or tab at the top) to see all your scheduled reminders.

Alternative method using the Info banner: If you’re already watching the channel and the show is about to air later today, press the Info or i button on your remote. This brings up a banner at the top of the screen with the current show’s info. Press the down arrow on the remote to expand the banner and see upcoming programs on that channel. Highlight the show you want, press OK, then select “Set Reminder.”

Alternative method using voice commands (Bixby): If your Samsung remote has a microphone button, press and hold it and say “Remind me to watch [show name] on [channel] at [time].” For example, “Remind me to watch the news on channel 5 at 6 PM.” Bixby will confirm and set the reminder. This works best for shows airing within the next 24 hours.

Common Mistakes

Pressing OK too early. If you press OK on the show’s title, it will change the channel immediately instead of opening the info panel. You need to highlight the show and then press OK—but only once—to get the pop-up with the reminder option.
Setting a reminder on the wrong date. The guide shows multiple days. Double-check the date at the top of the guide before selecting the show. A reminder set for next Tuesday won’t help you today.
Using the wrong input. If you’re watching through a streaming app or a different HDMI port, the guide won’t show cable listings. Make sure you’re on the correct input source.
Ignoring the channel number. If you have multiple cable boxes or use an antenna, the reminder is tied to the specific channel number in the guide. Make sure you’re looking at the guide for the correct source.

Tips

Set reminders for series, not just episodes. Some Samsung TV models let you select “Remind Me for This Series” if the guide data supports it. This will remind you for every new episode of that show.
Use the reminder to jump straight to the channel. When the reminder notification appears, press OK on it and the TV will automatically switch to that channel.
Keep your TV’s software updated. Samsung regularly updates the Smart Hub interface. Go to Settings → Support → Software Update → Update Now to ensure you have the latest guide features.
If you have a Samsung account, sync reminders. Some models sync reminders with the Samsung SmartThings app on your phone, so you’ll get a push notification there too. Check Settings → General → Smart Features to enable this.
Set reminders from the TV’s calendar. Some models have a built-in calendar app where you can add a manual reminder for any time and channel, even if the guide data is incomplete.

Troubleshooting

The Guide button does nothing. This usually means the TV isn’t receiving guide data. Check your cable box is powered on and connected. Try unplugging the cable box for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. If you use an antenna, rescan channels via Settings → Broadcasting → Auto Tuning.
No “Set Reminder” option appears. The show may be airing too far in the future (more than 7 days out), or the guide data for that channel is incomplete. Try scrolling to a show airing within the next 24 hours. If the problem persists, update your TV’s software.
The reminder disappears after setting it. This can happen if the TV loses guide data or if there’s a power interruption. Re-set the reminder and check that the TV’s clock is set correctly (Settings → General → Time).
Reminder notification doesn’t pop up. Make sure the TV is on (not in standby) when the reminder is due. Some models only show the notification if the TV is on the same input. If the TV is in standby, it may not wake up for the reminder. Also check that notifications are enabled: Settings → General → Notification Settings → Allow Notifications.
Voice command says “I can’t find that show.” Bixby needs the exact show name as listed in the guide. Try saying just the channel name and time, e.g., “Remind me to watch channel 5 at 6 PM.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How early does the reminder appear before the show starts?
A: The default is usually 5 minutes before the scheduled start time. This is not adjustable on most Samsung TVs.

Q: Can I set a reminder for a show on a streaming app like Netflix?
A: No, reminders only work for live TV channels in the guide (cable, satellite, or antenna). Streaming apps have their own notification systems, but they are not integrated with the TV’s reminder feature.

Q: Will the reminder work if the TV is turned off?
A: Generally no. The TV needs to be on (or at least in a low-power standby mode with the guide active) to show the notification. Most models will not wake from full standby for a reminder.

Q: How do I delete a reminder I no longer want?
A: Go to the guide, find the show with the alarm icon, press OK, and select “Cancel Reminder” or “Delete Reminder.” You can also go to the Reminders list (usually a tab in the guide) and delete from there.

Q: Why don’t I see the guide at all on my Samsung TV?
A: This usually means the TV isn’t detecting a live TV source. Check the input source, ensure your cable box is on, and try rescanning channels if using an antenna. If you use a cable box, the guide data comes from the box itself—make sure it’s functioning.

Q: Can I set a reminder from my phone using the SmartThings app?
A: On newer Samsung TV models (2021+), you can view and manage reminders in the SmartThings app under the TV device’s settings. However, creating a new reminder from the app is not always supported—it’s mostly for viewing and deleting existing ones.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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