Samsung TV Error Code 012 — Network Connection Lost

What Does This Error Mean?

Error 012 means the Samsung TV lost its connection to the network mid-stream or couldn't connect at all.
It's a network error — not a hardware fault.
The fix sequence is: restart router, restart TV, change DNS to 8.8.8.8, re-enter Wi-Fi password.
One of these clears about 95% of cases.

Affected Models

Samsung QN90C
Samsung S95C OLED
Samsung The Frame
Samsung Crystal UHD CU8000
Samsung Tizen smart TV

Common Causes

Wi-Fi signal too weak at the TV's location
Router DHCP lease expired and the TV didn't renew
ISP throttling or temporary outage
Samsung server connection issue (Smart Hub specifically)
TV's stored Wi-Fi credentials got corrupted

How to Fix It

Restart the router first.

Unplug the router for 30 seconds, plug back in, wait 2 minutes for full boot.
If your router has a separate modem, restart both — modem first, then router 30 seconds later.
Cold-restart the TV.

On the remote: hold Power for 10 seconds until the TV restarts.
Or: unplug the TV from the wall for 60 seconds, plug back in.
Cold restart is more thorough than soft restart — clears stuck network state.
Check Wi-Fi signal strength.

Go to Settings > General > Network > Network Status.
Signal strength below 'Good' means the TV is too far from the router or there's interference.
Move the router closer or move the TV — even one room can make the difference.
Change DNS to 8.8.8.8.

Settings > General > Network > Network Status > IP Settings.
Set DNS to manual, enter 8.8.8.8.
Bypasses your router's DNS and fixes most error 012 cases that aren't pure signal issues.
Forget and re-enter the Wi-Fi network.

Settings > General > Network > Open Network Settings > forget the network.
Re-enter the SSID and password from scratch.
Forces the TV to negotiate fresh credentials — useful if stored Wi-Fi data is corrupted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Samsung error 012 happen mostly during streaming?

Streaming uses constant bandwidth.
If your Wi-Fi is marginal — works for browsing, fails for streaming — error 012 appears the moment buffer empties.
Buffer-only browsing might never trigger it; streaming a 4K show triggers it within minutes.
Move the router closer or upgrade to mesh Wi-Fi.

Will a wired Ethernet connection eliminate error 012?

Almost always.
Error 012 is overwhelmingly a Wi-Fi issue.
Connecting the TV to the router with an Ethernet cable bypasses the wireless layer entirely.
If your TV is near the router or you can run a cable, this is the most reliable fix.