Samsung TV Error Code 012: How to Fix It
Error 012 means your Samsung TV lost contact with Samsung's app servers while installing, updating or opening an app — a Smart Hub or network hiccup, not a broken app or a faulty panel.
Quick answer
Error 012 is a dropped connection between the Smart Hub and Samsung's app servers, usually while a download or update was in progress. A full power cycle followed by a Smart Hub reset often clears it.
- 1.Unplug the TV for 60 seconds (hold the power button 30s while unplugged), then plug it back in.
- 2.Go to Settings → Support → Device Care → Self Diagnosis → Reset Smart Hub, then sign back into your Samsung account and retry the app.
What it means
Error 012 appears when your Samsung TV is joined to your network but loses contact with Samsung's app servers partway through installing, updating or opening an app, so the download or launch never finishes.
Because the break is on the network and Smart Hub side — not the app itself or the panel — the fix is about steadying the connection and clearing the Smart Hub, so nothing needs to be repaired or replaced.
Common causes
- Unstable or slow internet. The connection drops or the speed dips mid-transfer, so the app data never fully downloads and the TV reports 012.
- DNS conflict between TV and router. The TV and router disagree on how to resolve Samsung's servers, or your ISP's DNS can't reach them, breaking the app connection.
- Corrupted Smart Hub data. Cached Smart Hub or app data has become damaged, so new installs and updates fail until the Hub is reset.
- Outdated TV firmware. An old Tizen build can mishandle app server requests and surface the fault as error 012.
- Temporary Samsung server issue. Samsung's app store or a specific app's backend is briefly down or overloaded, and the fix is simply to wait and retry.
Before you start
- Test another device (phone, laptop) on the same Wi-Fi — if streaming or downloads also struggle there, the problem is your router or ISP, not the TV.
- Check whether the specific app (or Samsung's app store) is reporting an outage right now.
- Note whether error 012 started right after a firmware or app update, or only affects one app versus all of them.
Fixes, from safest to last resort
Power cycle the TV
No data loss- 1Unplug the TV from the wall outlet (not just the remote power-off).
- 2With it unplugged, press and hold the TV's power button for 30 seconds to drain residual power.
- 3Wait a full 60 seconds, plug it back in, turn it on and retry the app or update.
This clears the TV's temporary memory and re-initialises the Smart Hub connection — it often resolves 012 on its own.
Reboot your router
No data loss- 1Unplug the router's power cord.
- 2Wait 60 seconds so it fully resets and clears its DNS cache.
- 3Plug it back in, wait for all lights to stabilise, then retry on the TV.
A stale router or DNS cache is a common reason the TV can browse yet still fail to reach Samsung's app servers.
Reset Smart Hub
Re-setup needed- 1Go to Settings → Support → Device Care → Self Diagnosis → Reset Smart Hub.
- 2Enter your PIN (default 0000) to confirm.
- 3When it finishes, sign back into your Samsung account and reinstall the app that was failing.
Reset Smart Hub reinstalls Smart Hub to its defaults and signs you out of streaming apps, so you'll need to log in again — but it does NOT erase your firmware, picture settings or TV setup.
Set the DNS manually to 8.8.8.8
Re-setup needed- 1Go to Settings → General → Network → Network Status → IP Settings.
- 2Set DNS Setting to Enter manually.
- 3Enter 8.8.8.8 (Google DNS), save and retry the app or download.
Useful when your ISP's DNS is what's failing to resolve Samsung's servers. 8.8.4.4 works as a secondary DNS.
8.8.8.8Update the TV firmware
Re-setup needed- 1Go to Settings → Support → Software Update → Update Now.
- 2Let the TV download and install any available update — do not unplug it during the process.
- 3After it restarts, retry the app install or update that showed 012.
If the app store itself won't load to update, download the firmware from Samsung's site to a USB drive and update from USB instead.
Factory reset (last resort)
Removes apps & settings- 1Only if every step above failed and other devices reach the internet normally.
- 2Go to Settings → General → Reset and enter your PIN (default 0000).
- 3Set the TV up again, reconnect to Wi-Fi and reinstall your apps.
⚠ A factory reset erases all apps, logins, picture settings and preferences. Try everything else — especially Reset Smart Hub — first.
If a menu doesn't match your TV
- The Reset Smart Hub path varies by year: newer Tizen sets use Settings → Support → Device Care → Self Diagnosis → Reset Smart Hub, while many 2016–2019 models use Settings → Support → Self Diagnosis → Reset Smart Hub.
- If you don't see 'Device Care' or 'IP Settings', look under Settings → Support → Self Diagnosis and Settings → General → Network on older menus, or Settings → Connection → Network on some newer ones.
When to contact support
Contact Samsung support if 012 keeps returning after a Smart Hub reset, firmware update and factory reset, or if it affects every app even though other devices stream fine:
- Have your model number ready (Settings → Support → About This TV).
- Mention the steps you already tried, especially the Smart Hub reset and DNS change.
- Ask them to check for a known app-store or service-side issue in your region.
Sources
- Official source: Samsung Community — Smart Hub error 012 · 2026-07-13us.community.samsung.com
Frequently asked questions
Does error 012 mean the app is broken?+
No. It's a dropped connection between your TV's Smart Hub and Samsung's app servers during an install, update or launch, so it's fixed on the network and Smart Hub side rather than by repairing the app or the TV.
Will resetting Smart Hub delete my apps?+
Reset Smart Hub returns Smart Hub to its defaults and signs you out of streaming apps, so you'll need to reinstall and log back in. It does not touch your firmware, picture settings or TV setup — only a full factory reset removes everything.
Why does error 012 keep coming back?+
A recurring 012 usually points to an unstable connection or a DNS problem. Move the TV closer to the router or use a wired connection, set the DNS to 8.8.8.8, and make sure the firmware is up to date.
Still not fixed?
Try the guided diagnosis for your symptom, or browse problems by category.