remove the Samsung TV Ad from homescreen

[autorick]

I have recently bought a Samsung QE50Q60BAUXXU

Every time I turn it on or go to the home screen, a really annoying ad starts up for Samsung TV plus, "1000s of movies and TV shows..." 

Does anybody, for the love of god, know how to disable this?

(It's absolutely mad that an automatic ad is built into your own tv!)

[Ron Dijcks]

I agree.  Even with my relatively extensive knowledge of computer , phone and other tech abilities, I still struggle with what Samsung is doing.  I'm not sure if all "Smart TVs" or AI Smart TVs have this garbage, but it's horrible for people who cannot easily wade through or back to an original source.
Even with checking the box, for the television to return to the LAST WATCHED SOURCE, it STILL does not mean it will work.  I paid for the television, I should not have to WORK hard to remove garbage being pushed upon me for their profits, or additional profits.
I want the TV to turn on, with ONLY my connected devices showing as options and NOTHING MORE.  Samsung assumes that users will only use their interface and apps... well, as good as it sounds, even this TV, a 2024 version is still SLOW with any actions taken.  The "computer" hardware that they install in to these TVs is painfully slow.  I should be able to wade through menus and other apps settings with virtually no delay in processing time, given today's software and hardware capabilities.

Ohhhhh,  Did I mention how pathetic the Samsung Remote is, that they give the buyers of their products?  Small, useless, absolutely NOT intuitive in any way, and impossible for older folks to use.  

[twobookmarks]

I hear you about the remote. I'm using an older one I have from a previous Samsung. (And I'm old =  to your point) It works fine and the buttons are easier for me to use. Everyone now and again I have to use that new one for certain features,  but don't like it at all. 

[topdavis]

Ok, there a few ways to stop the Samsung ads on the TV.  It has to do with ad-blocking on the DNS server.  In your network settings, you may have DHCP selected as an option to get your TV connected to the Internet.

Here is one way to stop the ads.  Wherever your DHCP server exists, see if you can log into it and have it block certain sites. By blocking *.samsungads.com, you won't get any of the samsung ads to the TV, or any other Samsung device trying to present ads or collect analytics.  Yes this will require some technical knowledge, but I am sure if not you, someone you know can assist.

You can also use OPENDNS DNS servers to block certain sites and ads you may not want to see.  If you go to opendns.com, you can setup a free Family or Home Account under the Customer link and setup what should be blocked.  Again, make sure you add *.samsungads.com in the service to prevent the ads.  OpenDNS will also block malicious activity from known sites to help keep your device safe.

You can build a Home DNS that will filter out any websites you want.  Adguard Home is the one I use.  It came free with my home Network Attached Storage.  You can also run Adguard on a Windows PC with the software requiring 512MB of RAM 150Mb free disk space on windows 7-11.  You can find an old laptop on ebay for probably $50 that will run the software.  Pi-Hole is another software and you can run it, as the name suggests, on a raspberry pi machine.

If you have a Firewall at your house, you may be able to prevent access to the samsung ads domain through your Firewall as well.  If you have a service like Fios or Xfinity that provides they equipment, you may be able to get their support to do this for you if their provided device has the capability. (Most provider devices do, you just need to get the right support agent to help you.  It takes less than 5 minutes.)

I have presented you with 5 options of varying complexity that will prevent the TV from getting ads to it.  I know not everyone has the skill or knowledge to do any of the things suggested, but it you explain what you are trying to do, any tech savvy person can assist with very little effort on their part.

I also agree, once you buy the television, you should be free from Samsung Ads, but they are using the ads as an additional revenue stream, which is annoying to the users.  It does not say anywhere on the box that you are subject to ads, nor do they provide you a simple way to turn off the ads.  I believe a software upgrade turned that ability off.

However, they can not prevent your network from disallowing access to their ad domain.  It is your home network and you can decide what information you want to traverse it.

Good Luck.

[Frameuser]

Agreed on everything, our old sony bravia (2010ish) was faster to switch between sources and would actually stay on the last source you were on!

Gf really wanted the frame for the art features, I was more set on a sony oled (would have been smaller and more expensive), the frame had a great deal on it so we got it, but I'm beginning to see why they sell these things so cheap now (painfully slow computing power, extra revenue from ads, art store etc).

We mostly use our google tv chromecast which runs faster than the TV itself, has a better interface and more features (can use VPN apps etc), though the chromecast still has recommended shows and movies at least it doesn't show ads for products.

Agreed on the stupid remote too, it doesn't work unless you're directly pointing at the IR sensor (again google remote is better and doesn't have to be pointed anywhere to work) and I'd like to meet the genius that thought you didn't need a source button on a remote *facepalm*

Safe to say I've been put off of samsung TVs for life after this experience