How to Add Apps to Your Samsung TV

The quickest way to add apps to your Samsung TV

You add apps to a Samsung TV through the Samsung TV Plus app store, which comes built into your TV. Press the Home button on your remote, look for the Apps section or an app store icon, and browse or search for what you want. Most apps download and install in under a minute. Your TV needs to be connected to the internet — either by WiFi or ethernet cable — for this to work.

The exact steps depend on which Samsung TV model you own, because Samsung has changed the interface several times over the past few years. The process is similar across all recent models, but the button names and menu locations shift slightly. This guide covers the most common setup you will encounter on TVs made in the last three to four years.

Key Takeaways

You access the app store by pressing Home on your remote and navigating to the Apps or App Store section.
Your Samsung TV must be connected to WiFi or ethernet before you can download any apps.
Most apps install automatically once you select them — you do not need to restart your TV.
If an app does not appear in the Samsung TV Plus store, you may be able to sideload it using a USB drive or screen mirroring from your phone.
Apps you download stay on your TV unless you manually delete them, even if you turn the TV off.

Connecting your TV to the internet first

Before you can download any app, your Samsung TV needs an active internet connection. Check your TV's network settings by pressing Home, then looking for Settings (usually a gear icon). Navigate to Network or Connection settings and select your WiFi network, then enter your password if prompted. If you have an ethernet cable plugged into your TV, it will connect automatically without needing a password.

Once connected, you should see a checkmark or "Connected" status next to your network name. If your TV says "No Internet Connection" or shows a red X, try these steps: unplug your TV for 30 seconds and plug it back in, move closer to your WiFi router if the signal is weak, or restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds. If you still cannot connect, check whether other devices in your home can reach that same WiFi network — if they cannot, the problem is your internet, not your TV.

Finding and downloading apps from Samsung TV Plus

Press the Home button on your Samsung remote. You will see a menu with several options across the top or down the left side. Look for a section labeled Apps, App Store, or Samsung TV Plus — the exact name varies by model year. Select it, and you will see a grid of available apps organized by category: Entertainment, Sports, News, Lifestyle, and others.

To find a specific app, look for a Search icon (usually a magnifying glass) at the top of the app store. Select it, use your remote to type the app name, and press Enter. The search results will show matching apps. Once you find the one you want, highlight it and press the Select button (usually the center button on your remote). A details page will appear showing the app description, rating, and a button that says "Install" or "Download." Press Select on that button, and the app will begin downloading.

The download usually takes 30 seconds to two minutes depending on the app size and your internet speed. You will see a progress bar or a spinning circle while it installs. Do not turn off your TV during this time. Once the installation finishes, the button will change to say "Open" or "Installed." You can press Select to open the app immediately, or press the Back button to return to the app store and download more apps.

Where your downloaded apps appear on your TV

After you download an app, it appears in your TV's Apps menu. Press Home, then select Apps again, and you will see a section for "My Apps" or "Downloaded" that shows everything you have installed. The apps stay there permanently until you delete them manually — turning your TV off does not remove them.

On some Samsung models, you can also add apps to your Home screen for quicker access. Navigate to the app in your My Apps section, press and hold the Select button (or look for an Options menu), and choose "Add to Home" or "Pin to Home." The app will then appear as a tile on your main Home screen alongside your TV inputs and other shortcuts.

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

Not every app available on phones or computers is available in the Samsung TV Plus store. If you search for an app and it does not appear, you have two options: use screen mirroring to display the app from your phone onto your TV, or sideload the app using a USB drive.

Screen mirroring is the simpler option for most people. On an iPhone, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and select your Samsung TV from the list. On an Android phone, pull down the notification shade, tap Cast or Screen Mirroring, and select your TV. Once connected, open the app on your phone and it will display on your TV screen. The downside is that your phone controls the app, and the connection can sometimes drop if you move too far from your router.

Sideloading requires downloading the app file to a USB drive on a computer, plugging the drive into your TV, and installing it manually. This process is more technical and varies depending on the app. Most people do not need to sideload — if an app is not in the Samsung store, screen mirroring usually works better.

Troubleshooting apps that will not download or install

If you try to download an app and it gets stuck, first check your internet connection by going to Settings and confirming your WiFi or ethernet is still connected. If the connection is fine, try restarting your TV: press the power button on your remote to turn it off completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. Then attempt the download again.

If the app still will not download, the Samsung TV Plus store may be temporarily unavailable. Wait 10 to 15 minutes and try again. If you see an error message like "Not Available in Your Region," that app is not licensed for your country and cannot be downloaded on your TV — this is a restriction from the app publisher, not something you can work around.

If an app downloads but crashes when you try to open it, go to Settings, select Apps, find the app in the list, and choose "Clear Cache" or "Uninstall." Then download it again fresh. If it still crashes, the app may not be compatible with your TV model — check the app's description in the store to see which Samsung TV models it supports.

Managing storage and deleting apps you no longer use

Samsung TVs have limited storage space, and downloading many large apps can eventually fill it up. If your TV starts running slowly or you see a "Storage Full" message, you can delete apps you no longer use. Press Home, go to Apps, find the app you want to remove, press and hold Select (or look for an Options menu), and choose "Delete" or "Uninstall." The app will be removed immediately, and you can always download it again later if you change your mind.

You can check how much storage space you have left by going to Settings, selecting About, and looking for Storage or Memory information. Most Samsung TVs have between 4 and 16 gigabytes of storage depending on the model, and the TV system itself takes up a portion of that. If you are running low on space, delete apps you have not used in the past month — you can reinstall them anytime without losing any saved settings or data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Samsung account to download apps?

Most apps do not require a Samsung account to download, but some do require you to sign in with an account for that specific app — like Netflix, Disney+, or Hulu. You will be prompted to create or log in to those accounts after you open the app for the first time. Your Samsung TV account is separate and is only needed if you want to sync settings across multiple Samsung devices.

Can I download apps that are not in the Samsung TV Plus store?

Yes, through screen mirroring or sideloading. Screen mirroring lets you display any app from your phone onto your TV in real time. Sideloading involves downloading the app file to a USB drive and installing it manually, but this is more technical and not necessary for most people.

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

A factory reset removes all downloaded apps and returns your TV to its original state. You will need to download them again afterward. Before resetting, write down which apps you have installed so you remember what to download. Your TV's built-in apps like Samsung TV Plus will remain.

Why does my app keep crashing after I download it?

Try clearing the app's cache by going to Settings, Apps, selecting the app, and choosing Clear Cache. If it still crashes, uninstall it completely and download it again. If the problem continues, the app may not be fully compatible with your TV model — check the app's store page to confirm your TV is supported.

Can I move apps to a USB drive to save storage space?

Most Samsung TV apps cannot be moved to external storage like a USB drive. Your best option is to delete apps you do not use regularly. If storage becomes a persistent problem, consider a factory reset to clear out old apps and start fresh, or upgrade to a newer Samsung TV model with more built-in storage.

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.