This hidden Samsung TV shortcut will change how you surf channels

Changing channels on a Samsung TV is already easy. The remote’s tactile rocker button lets you flip channels up or down, and a quick press brings up the full TV guide.

But there’s a lesser-known shortcut that’s even better. Once you start using it, changing channels on your Samsung TV will feel even more natural.

As you likely know already, tapping the channel button on Samsung's TV remote opens the full-screen TV guide, complete with schedules and extra details. Useful, but not always ideal. It takes over the screen and shrinks the live TV feed to a small window.

Here’s the trick. Press and hold the channel button instead.

This opens a semi-transparent side menu with a compact list of all channels and favorites, letting you browse without minimizing your TV feed. It’s faster, cleaner, and far less intrusive than the full guide.

The feature works with terrestrial TV, cable, and Samsung TV Plus. We tested it on Samsung TVs running Tizen 8 and Tizen 9, where it behaves largely the same aside from minor visual differences. It may also be available on older versions, so it’s worth trying on older sets too.

If you need a new TV, the company announced its 2026 lineup at CES 2026, and you can probably find many of the 2025 models at discount prices. Check out Samsung's e-shop in your region for more details.