Where Do The Red, White, And Yellow Cables Go On A Samsung TV?
When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Most TVs nowadays are Smart TVs. Samsung is one of the most popular and reliable Smart TV manufacturers. Since Smart TVs are so popular and can do almost anything, it might be difficult to know where the red, white, and yellow cables, also known as the component or RCA cables, go on a Samsung TV.
The red, white, and yellow cables go on the back of a Samsung TV. You have to find the corresponding inputs to plug in the wires and make sure that they are plugged into the correct colors. Connecting the wrong colors can cause a few problems.
If you look around your TV, you’ll also notice that there are several other inputs you can use on your Smart TV, so you won’t have to depend on apps to do everything. You can use many different connections for a Samsung TV to connect other devices such as gaming systems, cable boxes, computers, and much more.
Finding Where to Plug In the Composite Cables
For most Samsung TVs, this is an easy task. Before starting to search for where to put your red, white, and yellow cables on a Samsung TV, make sure your TV has been unplugged to prevent any accidents. If your TV is mounted to a wall or a unit, make sure to remove it from the unit so you can limit any potential damages to your TV.
Some newer Samsung TV models don’t have a place for the composite cables, so you would need to get an adapter.
What Does Each Composite Cable Color Mean?
Before HDMI cords existed, if you wanted to plug a gaming system or a DVD player into a TV, you had to use composite cables. Each composite cable has a different color and transfers a different set of information to your TV.
- Red: audio on the left side
- White: audio on the right side
- Yellow: video
Plugging in the Composite Cables
Plugging in the composite cables is pretty standard. Red to red, yellow to yellow etc.
One important thing to note is that some newer Samsung TVs may combine the yellow input with the green input.
You would put the yellow cable into this input. It will not affect your experience or electronic negatively.
| Cable | Samsung TV | |
| Red | Red | |
| White | White | |
| Yellow | Yellow or Green |
Once you have plugged the composite cables into the correct inputs, turn your TV and ensure that the source is set to “composite.”
To do this, go into your settings and change the input to “composite.” Your plugged-in device should be ready to use with your Samsung TV.
What Can Happen if I Plug the Composite Cables Into the Wrong Inputs?
If you plug the composite cables into the wrong input, such as the red into the white, a couple of things could happen.
One of the major things that can happen is that the sound won’t play or the video won’t show up on the Samsung TV correctly.
Each cable transfers over specific information to the TV, and just as they transfer specific information, the TV accepts that information and expects to receive it.
Another thing that can happen is that the end that is being plugged into the wrong port can become damaged, which will reduce the sound or video quality.
RCA to HDMI Converter
You always have the option to pick up an RCA to HDMI adapter which allows you to plug your 3 RCA cables into this adapter and then your HDMI cable into your Samsung TV.
These are great because they are:
- Inexpensive
- Portable
- Converts inputs 1080p (60HZ)
- Plug and Play
Check out the Tengchi RCA to HDMI Converter on Amazon.
On the reverse side, you can get an AV to HDMI converter like this one which is perfect for when trying to setup an Xbox or Blu-ray player.
Here’s a video to walk you through it.
Other Inputs on a Samsung TV
Nowadays many Samsung TVs come with multiple different inputs for many different devices. Before purchasing a device, ensure it’s compatible with your Samsung TV. While it is easily fixable, it is just one extra step you have to follow. Some of the other inputs found on Samsung TVs are:
- Component Cables: uses additional colors, such as green, black, and blue; These cables only carry over video signals. You will also have a white and red cable to transmit audio. These have a higher definition than the composite cables.
- HDMI: gives high-definition video and audio through one cable. You will use an HDMI cable for most newer video game systems, Blu-ray players, and computers.
- USB: You can use this to connect an external hard drive to view files and watch videos on your TV.
- LAN: Used to connect your TV to the internet instead of connecting via Wi-Fi.
If you don’t have a specific input for the cable to connect your device to your Samsung TV, you can always purchase an adapter to make it work correctly. You would plug everything into the adapter just as you would plug into the TV, but just have an extra step to go through the adapter.
