The fastest way to add apps to your Samsung TV
Open the app store built into your Samsung TV using the remote. Press the Home button on your remote, then select Apps from the menu. Search for the app you want — Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Disney+, or any other app your TV supports — and select Install. The app downloads and installs automatically, then appears on your home screen. You do not need a computer or external device.
The entire process takes two to five minutes for most apps. Your TV must be connected to the internet by WiFi or ethernet cable. If your TV is not connected, go to Settings > Network and choose your WiFi network, then enter your password.
Key Takeaways
- Press Home on your remote, select Apps, search for the app you want, and tap Install — no computer needed.
- Your Samsung TV must be connected to WiFi or ethernet to read and install apps.
- Apps install to your TV's internal storage, which has a limit; delete apps you no longer use to free up space.
- If an app does not appear in the Samsung app store, your TV model may not support it, and no workaround will make it available.
- Restart your TV if an app freezes or crashes by holding the power button for 10 seconds, then turning it back on.
What happens when you install an app
When you select Install, the app downloads from Samsung's servers to your TV's internal storage. The read size varies — Netflix is about 50 MB, while some games can be 500 MB or larger. Your TV shows a progress bar while the read runs. Once finished, the app appears as a tile on your home screen, and you can open it when ready by selecting it with your remote.
Apps stay installed until you delete them. You can rearrange them on your home screen by pressing and holding an app tile, then moving it with your remote's arrow buttons. To remove an app, press and hold it, select Delete or Remove, and confirm. Deleting an app frees up storage space on your TV.
Checking your TV's storage and available apps
Samsung TVs have limited internal storage — typically 4 GB to 8 GB depending on the model year. Apps take up space, so if you install too many, your TV may slow down or refuse to install new ones. Check how much space you have left by going to Settings > Apps > App Management or Storage (the exact path varies by TV model). Delete apps you no longer use to make room.
Not every app works on every Samsung TV. Older models from 2015 and earlier may not support newer apps like Disney+ or Apple TV+. Search for the app in the Samsung app store first — if it does not appear in the search results, your TV does not support it. You cannot sideload apps or install them from other sources on a Samsung TV, so if the app is not in the store, it is not available for your model.
Signing in to apps after installation
After an app installs, you usually need to sign in with your account. Open the app and look for a Sign In, Login, or Create Account button. Enter your email and password using the remote's on-screen keyboard. The keyboard appears when you select a text field — use the arrow buttons to move between letters and numbers, and press Select to choose each character.
Typing with a remote is slow. If your Samsung TV has a SmartThings app on your phone, you can use your phone's keyboard instead. Open the SmartThings app, select your TV, tap the remote icon, and look for a keyboard option. This lets you type passwords and usernames much faster than using the TV remote.
Updating apps on your Samsung TV
Apps update automatically by default on most Samsung TVs. Your TV checks for updates when it is in standby mode and installs them overnight. You can also update manually by going to Settings > Apps > Auto Update and turning it on, or by going to Apps > App Management, selecting an app, and choosing Update if one is available.
Updates usually fix bugs and add features. If an app crashes or freezes after an update, restart your TV by holding the power button on the remote for 10 seconds until the screen goes black, then pressing power again to turn it back on. If the problem continues, delete the app and reinstall it from the app store.
Troubleshooting apps that won't install
If an app fails to install, the most common cause is a weak internet connection. Check that your TV is connected to WiFi by going to Settings > Network and looking for a connected network name. If the connection is unstable, move your router closer to the TV or restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in.
If the connection is strong but the app still will not install, your TV may be out of storage space. Go to Settings > Storage and check how much free space is available. Delete apps or videos you no longer need, then try installing again. If you still see an error, restart your TV by holding the power button for 10 seconds, then try once more.
Moving apps between screens and organizing your home screen
Your Samsung TV's home screen can hold multiple pages of apps. Press the right arrow on your remote to scroll to the next page and see more apps. You can move an app to a different page by pressing and holding it, selecting Move, navigating to the page you want, and pressing Select. This helps you organize frequently used apps on the first page and less common ones on later pages.
You can also create folders to group related apps. Press and hold an app, select Create Folder, name the folder (like "Streaming" or "Games"), and drag other apps into it. Folders appear as a single tile on your home screen, so you can keep your TV organized and uncluttered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install apps from outside the Samsung app store?
No. Samsung TVs only install apps from the official Samsung app store. You cannot sideload apps from USB drives, computers, or other sources. If an app is not in the store, it is not available for your TV model, and there is no way to install it.
Do I need a Samsung account to install apps?
You need a Samsung account to access the app store on your TV. If you do not have one, your TV will prompt you to create one the first time you try to install an app. You can create an account directly on your TV using the remote, or create one on Samsung's website and sign in on your TV.
What should I do if an app keeps crashing?
Restart your TV by holding the power button for 10 seconds until the screen goes black, then turn it back on. If the app still crashes, delete it and reinstall it from the app store. If it crashes again when ready after reinstalling, your TV model may not fully support that app, and you may need to use a different app or device to access that service.
How much storage do apps use on my TV?
Storage varies widely. Streaming apps like Netflix use 50 MB to 100 MB. Games can use 200 MB to 1 GB or more. Check how much space an app uses before installing by looking at the app's listing in the store — the size is usually shown near the Install button. If your TV is running low on storage, delete apps you do not use regularly.
Can I use the same app account on multiple TVs?
Yes. Install the app on each TV and sign in with the same account. Your watch history, preferences, and saved shows sync across devices for most streaming apps. Some apps may limit how many devices can stream at the same time — check the app's settings or the service's website for details.