How to Add Apps on a Samsung Smart TV

The fastest way to add apps: the Samsung TV app store

Open the app store built into your Samsung TV by pressing the Home button on your remote, then look for an icon labeled "Apps" or a grid symbol. Select it and you will see categories like Entertainment, Sports, and Lifestyle. Search for the app you want — Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Disney+, or others — and select Install. The app downloads and installs automatically, then appears on your home screen.

Most Samsung TVs made in the last five years have this app store. Older models may have a different layout, but the process is the same: Home button, find Apps, search, install. You do not need a computer or USB drive. Everything happens on the TV itself.

The app store shows which apps are free and which cost money. Some apps, like YouTube and Peacock, are free to read but require a paid subscription to watch everything. Others, like Paramount+, are free to read and free to use with ads, or paid to remove ads. The app store tells you which is which before you install.

Key Takeaways

Press Home on your Samsung remote, select Apps, search for the app you want, and select Install — the app downloads and appears on your home screen automatically.
You can rearrange apps on your home screen by selecting and holding an app icon, then moving it to a new position.
If an app stops working, go to Settings > Apps > the app name > Clear Cache, which usually fixes crashes without deleting your login information.
Samsung TVs let you delete apps you do not use by selecting and holding the app icon, then choosing Delete or Remove.
Some older Samsung TVs use a different app store called Tizen, but the install process is the same: Home, Apps, search, install.

Organizing apps on your home screen

After you install an app, it lands on your home screen in the order Samsung decides. You can move it. Select and hold the app icon with your remote until a menu appears, then choose Move or Rearrange. Use the arrow buttons on your remote to slide the app left, right, up, or down to where you want it. Press Select or OK to lock it in place.

You can also create folders to group similar apps together. Select and hold an app, choose Create Folder or Add to Folder, then name it — for example, "Sports" or "Kids". Drag other apps into that folder. This keeps your home screen clean if you have installed many apps.

Some Samsung TVs let you pin your most-used apps to the top of the home screen so they appear first when you turn on the TV. The exact steps depend on your TV model, but usually you select and hold an app and choose Pin to Home or Favorite.

Fixing apps that crash or freeze

If an app stops responding, closes unexpectedly, or loads slowly, the first step is to clear its cache. Go to Settings on your TV, select Apps, find the app that is not working, and choose Clear Cache. This deletes temporary files the app stored but keeps your login information and settings. Restart the app and try again.

If clearing the cache does not work, uninstall and reinstall the app. Go to Settings > Apps, select the app, choose Uninstall, then go back to the app store and install it fresh. This takes a few minutes but fixes most problems that clearing cache does not solve.

If your TV itself is slow or many apps are crashing, restart the TV. Press the power button on your remote to turn it off, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. This clears the TV's memory and often fixes apps that were running poorly.

Removing apps you no longer use

Select and hold an app icon on your home screen until a menu appears. Choose Delete, Remove, or Uninstall — the exact word depends on your TV model. Confirm that you want to remove it. The app disappears from your home screen and is deleted from your TV's storage.

You can reinstall the app later by going back to the app store and installing it again. Uninstalling does not affect your account or login information — when you reinstall, you can sign in with the same username and password.

Some apps come pre-installed on Samsung TVs and cannot be deleted, only hidden. If you cannot find a Delete option, the app is built in. You can hide it from your home screen by selecting and holding it and choosing Hide or Remove from Home.

Updating apps automatically or manually

Samsung TVs can update apps automatically in the background, or you can update them yourself. Go to Settings > Apps > Auto Update and choose On or Off. If you turn auto-update on, apps update when your TV is plugged in and connected to the internet, usually overnight. If you turn it off, you can update apps manually by going to the app store, selecting an app, and choosing Update if a newer version is available.

Auto-update is usually the easier choice because you do not have to remember to check for updates. But if your internet connection is slow or you have limited bandwidth, turning it off and updating manually gives you more control.

You can also check which apps have updates waiting. Go to the app store, look for a section called My Apps or Updates, and you will see a list of apps with newer versions available. Select Update All to install all of them at once.

Using the Samsung SmartThings app to manage your TV remotely

If you have a Samsung smartphone, you can read the SmartThings app and use it to control your TV from anywhere in your home. Open SmartThings, select your TV, and you can launch apps, adjust volume, change channels, and see what is on your screen without picking up the physical remote.

SmartThings also lets you search for content across multiple apps at once. Type the name of a movie or show, and SmartThings tells you which apps have it and whether it is free or paid. This saves time if you are not sure which streaming service has what you want to watch.

To set up SmartThings, make sure your TV and phone are on the same Wi-Fi network, open the SmartThings app, and follow the on-screen steps to add your TV. You only have to do this once.

What to do if the app store is not working

If you cannot open the app store or it is loading very slowly, restart your TV. Turn it off with the power button, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. If that does not work, check that your TV is connected to the internet. Go to Settings > Network and make sure your Wi-Fi network is listed and connected. If it is not, select your network and enter your password.

If your internet connection is working but the app store is still not responding, try restarting your Wi-Fi router. Unplug it for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to reconnect. Then try opening the app store again on your TV.

If the app store still will not work after restarting both your TV and router, the problem may be on Samsung's end. Wait a few hours and try again. You can also check Samsung's support website to see if there are known issues with the app store in your region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install apps from somewhere other than the Samsung app store?

Most Samsung TVs only let you install apps from the official Samsung app store. Some older models or developer versions allow sideloading — installing apps from outside sources — but this requires connecting a USB drive and is not recommended for most users because it can introduce security risks.

Do I need a Samsung account to read apps?

You need a Samsung account to access the app store on some TV models, but not all. If your TV asks you to sign in, you can create a free Samsung account with an email address. Once you are signed in, you can read apps without paying anything unless the app itself costs money.

Why is an app I want not in the Samsung app store?

Not every app available on phones or computers is available for Samsung TVs. Developers choose which platforms to support, and some apps are only made for phones or computers. Check the app store search to confirm it is not there, then look for an alternative app that does the same thing.

Will installing lots of apps slow down my TV?

Installing many apps takes up storage space on your TV, but modern Samsung TVs have enough storage for dozens of apps without noticing a slowdown. If your TV is running slowly, the problem is usually a weak internet connection or a single app that is not working properly, not the number of apps you have installed.

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

A factory reset erases all apps you installed and returns your TV to how it was when you bought it. Pre-installed apps stay, but anything you downloaded is deleted. You can reinstall your apps afterward by going back to the app store, but you will need to sign in to each app again with your username and password.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.