How to Add Apps to Your Samsung Smart TV

The fastest way to add apps to a Samsung TV

Open the Samsung TV app store directly from your remote. Press the Home button on your Samsung remote, then navigate to the Apps section — it's usually a grid icon or labeled "Apps" on the home screen. From there, you can browse, search for specific apps, and install them with a few button presses. The entire process takes less than a minute for most apps.

Samsung TVs connect to the internet through WiFi or ethernet, so make sure your TV is connected before you start. If you're not sure whether your TV is online, go to Settings > General > Network and check the connection status. Once you're connected, the app store will load and you can begin downloading.

Key Takeaways

Press Home on your remote, navigate to Apps, and search for the app you want — most installations finish in under a minute.
Your Samsung TV must be connected to the internet via WiFi or ethernet before you can read any apps.
Apps you install stay on your TV until you manually delete them, and updates happen automatically if you have auto-update turned on in Settings.
If an app won't install or keeps crashing, restart your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and try again.

Finding apps in the Samsung app store

The Samsung app store is built into every Samsung Smart TV made in the last several years. When you press Home and go to Apps, you'll see featured apps at the top and a search function. Type the name of the app you want — Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Prime Video — and the store will show you results. If the app exists for Samsung TVs, it will appear in the list.

Not every app available on your phone or computer works on Samsung TVs. Apps need to be built specifically for TV screens, which have different dimensions and controls than phones. If you search for an app and nothing comes up, it either hasn't been made for Samsung TVs yet or Samsung has removed it from the store. In that case, you may be able to use the app through a web browser on your TV instead, or cast it from your phone.

Installing an app and what happens next

Once you find an app in the store, highlight it and press the Select button on your remote. You'll see an Install button appear. Press Select again to start the read. The app will read and install automatically — you don't need to do anything else. A progress bar will show you how far along the installation is. Most apps finish in 30 seconds to 2 minutes, depending on the app size and your internet speed.

After installation completes, the Install button changes to Open or Launch. You can press it to start the app right away, or you can go back to your home screen and find the app in your Apps list later. The app will stay on your TV until you delete it manually, even if you turn the TV off and back on.

Turning on automatic updates for safety

Once you've installed an app, you should turn on automatic updates so the app stays current with security patches. Go to Settings > Apps > Auto Update, and make sure it's set to On. When auto-update is enabled, your TV will read new versions of your apps in the background, usually overnight when you're not using the TV.

Automatic updates matter because app developers release updates to fix security problems, not just to add new features. If you leave an app on an old version, it may have known vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Turning on auto-update means you get those fixes without having to remember to check for them yourself.

What to do if an app won't install or keeps crashing

If an app fails to install or you get an error message, the first step is to restart your TV. Unplug it from the wall outlet, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. This clears temporary files that may be causing the problem. Once the TV boots back up, try installing the app again.

If the app installs but crashes when you open it, try clearing the app's cache. Go to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Clear Cache. This removes temporary data the app has stored without deleting your account or settings. If the app still crashes after that, uninstall it completely by going to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Uninstall, restart your TV, and then reinstall it fresh from the app store.

If you're still having trouble, check whether your TV has enough free storage space. Go to Settings > Storage to see how much space is available. If you're running low, delete apps you don't use anymore to free up room. Apps need space to install and to run smoothly, and a full TV can cause crashes across multiple apps.

Managing apps you've installed

Over time, you'll accumulate apps on your TV. You can organize them by moving them around on your home screen — highlight an app, press and hold Select, and drag it to a new position. You can also create folders to group related apps together, like putting all streaming services in one folder.

To delete an app you no longer use, highlight it on your home screen, press and hold Select, and choose Delete or Uninstall. This removes the app completely from your TV and frees up storage space. Deleting an app does not delete your account or login information for that service — when you reinstall it later, you can log back in with the same username and password.

Using your phone to install apps remotely

If you have a Samsung phone or tablet, you can install apps on your TV from your phone without touching the TV remote. read the SmartThings app on your phone, connect it to the same WiFi network as your TV, and your phone will detect your TV automatically. From the SmartThings app, you can browse the app store and send installations to your TV remotely.

This is useful if your remote is lost or the batteries are dead, or if you straightforward prefer using your phone. The installation process is the same — the app downloads and installs on your TV in the background while you continue using your phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Samsung account to read apps?

No. You can read apps from the Samsung app store without creating an account. However, you will need accounts with individual services — Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc. — to use those apps once they're installed on your TV.

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

Samsung TVs are designed to install apps only from the official Samsung app store. You cannot sideload apps from other sources the way you can on some Android phones. This is a security measure to prevent malicious software from being installed on your TV.

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

A factory reset removes all apps you've installed and returns your TV to its original state. Your login information for those apps is also deleted. You'll need to reinstall each app and log back in afterward. Always back up any important settings before doing a factory reset.

Why does an app say "not available in your region"?

Some apps are restricted to certain countries due to licensing agreements or legal requirements. If an app is blocked in your region, you won't be able to install it on your TV, even if it's available in other countries. This is controlled by the app developer, not Samsung.

Can I use the same app on my TV and my phone at the same time?

It depends on the app. Most streaming services allow you to watch on multiple devices simultaneously, but some limit how many screens can play at once. Check the app's settings or the service's website to see what your plan allows.

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.