The basic way to delete an app from Samsung Smart TV

To delete an app from most Samsung Smart TVs, press the Home button on your remote, navigate to the app you want to remove, press and hold the Select button (the center button on your remote's directional pad), then choose Delete or Remove from the menu that appears. The exact wording and menu location varies slightly by TV model and the year it was made, but this method works on nearly all Samsung TVs from 2016 onward.

If pressing and holding Select does not bring up a delete option, try pressing the Menu or Tools button on your remote while the app is highlighted. Some older Samsung models use this route instead. You can also try right-clicking the app with a compatible remote — some newer remotes have this feature built in.

The app will be removed from your home screen and your TV's storage within seconds. You can reinstall it later from the Samsung App Store if you change your mind, so deleting an app is not permanent.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Home, highlight the app, hold Select, and choose Delete — this works on most Samsung TVs made since 2016.
  • If holding Select does not work, try pressing Menu or Tools while the app is highlighted.
  • Deleting an app removes it from your home screen and frees up storage space, but you can reinstall it anytime from the Samsung App Store.
  • Some pre-installed Samsung apps cannot be deleted, only hidden or disabled, depending on your TV model.
  • If an app freezes or stops responding, you can delete and reinstall it to fix the problem without affecting other apps.

Why you might want to delete an app

You might delete an app to free up storage space on your TV, especially if you have a smaller model with limited memory. Samsung Smart TVs typically have between 4 GB and 16 GB of usable storage depending on the model, and apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Plex can each take up 100 MB to 500 MB. If your TV is running slowly or apps are crashing, deleting ones you do not use regularly can help.

Deleting an app also removes it from your home screen, which makes navigation faster if you have many apps installed. If an app is malfunctioning — freezing, crashing, or refusing to load — deleting and reinstalling it often fixes the problem without affecting your other apps or your TV's settings.

Apps you cannot delete and how to hide them

Samsung pre-installs certain apps on every TV, such as Samsung TV Plus, SmartThings, and sometimes Bixby. These built-in apps usually cannot be deleted, though the option to remove them varies by TV model and software version. If you cannot delete an app, you have two alternatives: hide it or disable it.

To hide an app, highlight it on your home screen, press and hold Select, and look for an option called Hide, Remove from Home, or similar wording. This removes the app from your view without actually deleting it from your TV's storage. To disable an app, go to Settings, then Apps or Applications, find the app in the list, and select Disable. A disabled app will not run in the background and will not send notifications, but it remains on your TV.

If you want the app gone entirely and hiding or disabling is not an option, you can sometimes uninstall it by going to Settings, Apps, then selecting the app and choosing Uninstall. This method works on some Samsung models but not all — if the Uninstall button does not appear, the app is locked and cannot be removed.

Freeing up storage space on your Samsung TV

Deleting unused apps is the fastest way to free up storage, but you can also clear cached data from apps you want to keep. Go to Settings, Apps, select an app, and choose Clear Cache. This removes temporary files the app has stored without deleting the app itself or your saved data within it.

If you have a large library of photos or videos stored on your TV, moving them to an external USB drive or cloud storage will also free up space. You can connect a USB drive to your TV's USB port, then use the TV's file manager to move files. Some Samsung TVs also let you store photos and videos in Samsung Cloud if you have a Samsung account.

Check how much storage you are using by going to Settings, Storage or Memory, and looking at the breakdown. If you see a large amount of space taken up by apps you do not recognize, those are good candidates for deletion.

Reinstalling an app you deleted

To reinstall an app after deleting it, press Home, then navigate to the Apps section or App Store on your home screen. Search for the app by name, select it, and choose Install. The app will download and install within a few minutes depending on its size and your internet connection speed.

If you cannot find the app in the Samsung App Store, it may no longer be available for your TV model or region. Some apps are only available in certain countries, and Samsung occasionally removes older apps that no longer work with newer TV software. You can check the Samsung App Store on a computer or phone to see if the app is still listed for your region.

What happens to your data when you delete an app

When you delete an app, any data stored within that app — such as login information, watch history, or saved preferences — is also deleted. However, your account with the service (like Netflix or YouTube) remains active, and you can log back in when you reinstall the app.

Some apps store data in the cloud, which means your information is saved on the company's servers even after you delete the app. Netflix, for example, keeps your watch history and recommendations even if you uninstall it. Other apps store everything locally on your TV, so deleting them means losing that data permanently. If you are unsure, check the app's settings or privacy policy before deleting it.

Troubleshooting when an app will not delete

If an app will not delete using the standard method, first try restarting your TV. Press the power button on your remote to turn it off, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. Sometimes the TV's system gets stuck and a restart clears the problem.

If the app still will not delete, try clearing the app's cache first. Go to Settings, Apps, select the app, and choose Clear Cache. Then try deleting it again. If it is still stuck, you can try a factory reset, but this will delete all your apps and settings, so use it only as a last resort. To factory reset, go to Settings, General, Reset, and follow the prompts. You will need to set up your TV again and reinstall your apps afterward.

If a specific app keeps crashing or freezing and you cannot delete it, try disabling it instead. Go to Settings, Apps, select the app, and choose Disable. This stops the app from running without removing it from your TV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete Netflix, YouTube, or other major apps?

Yes, you can delete Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and most third-party apps. These are not pre-installed system apps, so they can be removed. You can reinstall them anytime from the Samsung App Store if you want them back.

Will deleting an app speed up my TV?

Deleting unused apps can help if your TV is running slowly, especially if you have very limited storage. However, the main reason TVs slow down is background processes and cached data, not the number of apps installed. Clearing cache from apps you use regularly will often help more than deleting apps.

What if I accidentally delete an app I need?

You can reinstall it immediately from the Samsung App Store. Go to Apps, search for the app by name, and select Install. Your account data will be restored once you log back in, though any local data stored on your TV will be gone.

Do I need to restart my TV after deleting an app?

No, you do not need to restart your TV after deleting an app. The app is removed immediately and the change takes effect right away. A restart is only necessary if an app is frozen or not responding.

Can I delete multiple apps at once?

No, Samsung TVs require you to delete apps one at a time. There is no bulk delete option. If you have many apps to remove, you will need to go through them individually using the Select and Delete method.