Samsung TV Error 106 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error 106 means your Samsung TV is connected to your router but cannot reach a DNS server. DNS translates website names into addresses — without it, the TV cannot find any service online. Switching to Google's DNS (8.8.8.8) or restarting your router almost always fixes Error 106.

Affected Models

Samsung QLED Q80B
Samsung Crystal UHD AU8000
Samsung Frame TV
Samsung Neo QLED QN85B
Samsung Lifestyle TV The Serif

Common Causes

Your ISP's DNS servers are temporarily down or experiencing issues
The router is not passing the correct DNS server address to connected devices
The TV has been manually configured with an incorrect or unreachable DNS address
Parental controls or firewall settings on the router are blocking DNS traffic on port 53
The router's DNS cache has become corrupted and is returning bad results

How to Fix It

Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds — this resets the DNS cache and reconnects to your ISP's DNS.

A corrupted DNS cache in the router is one of the most common causes of Error 106.
On the TV, go to Settings > General > Network > IP Settings and set DNS Setting to 'Enter Manually'.

This lets you bypass your ISP's DNS and use a more reliable alternative.
Enter 8.8.8.8 as the primary DNS server (Google's public DNS) and 8.8.4.4 as the secondary.

Google DNS is free, fast, and highly reliable — it is one of the most commonly used DNS servers worldwide.
Alternatively, use Cloudflare DNS: primary 1.1.1.1, secondary 1.0.0.1.

Cloudflare DNS is privacy-focused and often faster than Google DNS depending on your location.
Check your router's admin panel to ensure DNS traffic is not blocked in firewall or parental control settings.

DNS operates on port 53 — some parental control systems accidentally block it, breaking internet access.
Update the TV firmware via Settings > Support > Software Update to fix known DNS handling bugs.

Samsung has issued firmware patches for DNS resolution issues on certain Smart TV models.

When to Call a Professional

Contact your ISP if DNS failures also affect other devices like phones and computers. Samsung Support can walk you through DNS configuration on your specific TV model. A network technician can check router firewall rules that may be blocking DNS requests.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does DNS do and why does my Samsung TV need it?

DNS is like a phone book for the internet — it translates names like 'samsung.com' into IP addresses. Without DNS, the TV cannot find Samsung's servers, streaming services, or any website by name. Error 106 means the phone book is unavailable, so the TV cannot look anything up.

Is it safe to use Google DNS (8.8.8.8) on my Samsung TV?

Yes — Google's public DNS is used by hundreds of millions of devices worldwide and is completely safe. It does not change what you can access; it just provides a reliable way to look up addresses. CloudflareDNS (1.1.1.1) is another excellent free option with a strong privacy policy.

Why does Error 106 only affect my TV and not my phone?

Your phone may be using a different DNS server configured in its own network settings. Some devices cache DNS results longer and can still resolve addresses even when the DNS server is temporarily down. Setting the same DNS server (8.8.8.8) on the TV will give it the same reliability as your phone.