A colder number is not always better. A sensible setting protects food without freezing items in the refrigerator or making the compressor work unnecessarily hard.
A useful starting point
Many manufacturers recommend about 3°C for the refrigerator and around -18°C to -19°C for the freezer. Samsung publishes 3°C and -19°C for many models. Your model, room conditions and food load can affect the best setting, so confirm the manual.
How to adjust the setting
Unlock the display if required, then press the Fridge or Freezer control until the chosen setting appears. Some models use bars or numbered levels rather than degrees. On those machines, a higher number may mean colder—or it may mean the opposite. Check the manual instead of guessing.
Give the appliance time
Do not keep changing the setting every hour. The display may show the selected setting before the food and air have stabilised. Keep the doors closed as much as possible and allow several hours; a large adjustment or newly loaded refrigerator may take much longer.
How to check the real temperature
Use an appliance thermometer placed in a representative part of the compartment. Do not judge only by the air you feel when opening the door. Keep the thermometer away from a vent, wall or warm door shelf and check after conditions have settled.
If food freezes in the refrigerator
Check whether food is touching the back wall or sitting directly in front of a cold-air outlet. Raise the setting slightly if appropriate, improve airflow and avoid packing the compartment too tightly. Persistent freezing can involve a sensor, damper or control problem.
If the refrigerator is too warm
Check the door is closing, seals are clean, vents are open and hot food was not recently added. Frequent door opening and a very warm room affect recovery. If temperatures remain unsafe, reduce door opening and arrange support.
Sources and model guidance
We use official manufacturer information where available. Appliance features vary by model and market, so the manual for your exact model is the final reference.
This article provides general use and care information. It is not electrical or mechanical repair instruction.