Adding an app to your Samsung TV home screen takes three steps: find the app in the Samsung app store, install it, and pin it to your home screen

The home screen on a Samsung TV works like the home screen on a phone — it shows the apps you use most, and you control what appears there. When you first set up your TV, Samsung puts some apps on the home screen automatically (Netflix, YouTube, and others depending on your model). You can add more apps, remove the ones you don't use, and rearrange them however you want.

The process is the same whether you have a 2020 Samsung TV or a current model. You do not need a computer or a phone to do this — everything happens on the TV itself using your remote.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Samsung app store on your TV by pressing the Home button on your remote, then select the app store icon (usually labeled "Apps").
  • Search for the app you want, select it, and choose "Install" — the app downloads and installs automatically without you doing anything else.
  • Once installed, the app appears in your apps list; to add it to your home screen, highlight it and press the Options button (three horizontal lines) on your remote, then select "Add to Home".
  • You can rearrange apps on your home screen by highlighting one, pressing Options, and choosing "Move" to drag it to a new spot.
  • If an app you want is not in the Samsung app store, it is not available for your TV model, and you cannot sideload apps onto Samsung TVs without technical workarounds.

Finding and installing an app from the Samsung app store

Start by pressing the Home button on your Samsung remote. This takes you to your home screen. Look for an icon labeled "Apps" — it usually appears as a grid of squares. Select it with your remote's directional pad and press Enter.

You are now in the Samsung app store. You will see featured apps at the top and a search option. If you know the name of the app you want (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, or any other), use the search function: highlight the search bar, type the app name using the on-screen keyboard, and press Enter. If you are browsing, scroll through the categories — Entertainment, Sports, News, and others — to find what interests you.

Once you find the app, select it and look for an "Install" button. Press Enter. The app downloads and installs in the background — you do not need to do anything else while this happens. Most apps install within a minute or two, depending on your internet speed and the app's size.

Adding an installed app to your home screen

After an app installs, it goes into your apps library, but it does not automatically appear on your home screen. To add it there, press Home to return to your home screen, then go back into Apps. Find the app you just installed by scrolling or searching.

Highlight the app with your remote's directional pad. Now press the Options button — this is the button with three horizontal lines, usually on the left side of your remote near the directional pad. A menu appears with several choices. Select "Add to Home" and press Enter. The app now appears on your home screen, usually at the end of the row.

Rearranging apps on your home screen

Your home screen has limited space, so you may want to move apps around to put the ones you use most in straightforward-to-reach spots. To move an app, go to your home screen, highlight the app you want to move, and press the Options button again.

Select "Move" from the menu. Your remote's directional pad now controls where the app goes — use left, right, up, and down to position it where you want. Press Enter when you are happy with the new spot. The other apps shift to make room. You can do this as many times as you want, so do not worry about getting it perfect the first time.

Removing apps from your home screen (without uninstalling them)

If you want an app off your home screen but do not want to uninstall it completely, highlight the app, press Options, and select "Remove from Home". The app stays in your apps library — you can add it back later if you change your mind. This is useful for apps you use occasionally but do not need on your home screen every day.

If you want to completely uninstall an app so it no longer takes up storage space on your TV, go to Apps, find the app, press Options, and select "Uninstall". The app is removed from both your home screen and your apps library. You can reinstall it from the app store anytime.

What to do if an app is not in the Samsung app store

Samsung's app store does not have every app that exists. If you search for an app and it does not appear, it is not available for your TV model. This usually happens because the app maker has not built a version for Samsung's operating system, or they have decided not to distribute through Samsung's store.

You cannot sideload apps onto Samsung TVs the way you can on Android phones — there is no straightforward way to install apps from outside the Samsung app store without technical knowledge and workarounds that void your warranty. Your best option is to check whether the service is available through a different app you already have. For example, if a streaming service is not available as its own app, you might be able to access it through a web browser or through another app that includes it.

Troubleshooting apps that will not install or appear

If an app fails to install, the most common reason is a weak internet connection. Check that your TV is connected to your Wi-Fi network and that the connection is stable. You can test this by going to Settings, then Network, and selecting your Wi-Fi network to see the signal strength. If the signal is weak, move your router closer to your TV or restart both your TV and router.

If an app installs but does not appear on your home screen, go back to Apps, find it, and manually add it using the Options menu as described above. If an app appears on your home screen but will not open when you select it, try restarting your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. If the problem continues, uninstall the app and reinstall it fresh from the app store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rearrange apps into folders or groups on my Samsung TV home screen?

Samsung TVs do not support folders or app groups the way phones do. You can only arrange apps in a single row on your home screen. If you have many apps, the ones that do not fit on the visible home screen are still in your Apps library and accessible by opening Apps.

What happens to my apps if I factory reset my Samsung TV?

A factory reset removes all apps you installed and returns your home screen to its original state. The apps you installed are gone, but you can reinstall them from the app store afterward. Your login information for those apps is also removed, so you will need to sign in again.

Do I need a Samsung account to install apps?

You do not need a Samsung account to browse or install apps from the Samsung app store. However, you will need accounts with individual services (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+) to use those apps. Some apps may ask you to create a Samsung account for other features, but installation itself does not require one.

Can I install the same app on multiple Samsung TVs?

Yes. Each TV has its own app library, so you install apps separately on each TV. If you use the same Samsung account across multiple TVs, some apps may remember your login information, but you still install each app on each TV individually.

Why does my Samsung TV home screen look different from what I see in these instructions?

Samsung has changed the home screen layout slightly across different model years and regions. The basic process — Home button, Apps, Install, Add to Home — works the same way, but the exact appearance of menus and buttons may vary slightly. If you cannot find a button or menu option described here, look for similar wording or ask your TV's built-in help system.