The fastest way to add apps to your Samsung TV
Open the app store built into your TV by pressing the Home button on your remote, then select the Samsung TV Plus app or the Apps section (the exact name depends on your TV model and year). Search for the app you want, select it, and choose Install or Download. The app will appear on your home screen within seconds to a few minutes. You do not need a computer or phone — everything happens on the TV itself.
If you cannot find an app in the Samsung store, your TV model may not support it. Samsung's app store only carries apps that Samsung has tested to work with your specific TV hardware. Older TV models have fewer available apps than newer ones.
Key Takeaways
- Press Home on your remote, then navigate to Apps or Samsung TV Plus to reach the built-in app store on your TV.
- Search for the app by name, select it, and choose Install — the whole process takes less than five minutes.
- Apps only appear in Samsung's store if they are compatible with your TV model, so not every app you use on your phone will be available.
- If an app keeps crashing after you install it, restart your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in.
Finding apps in the Samsung TV app store
The Samsung app store is organized by category: Streaming, Games, Sports, News, and others. You can browse by category or use the search function. Press the search icon (usually a magnifying glass) and type the app name using your remote's keyboard or voice search if your remote has a microphone button.
Common apps like Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, and Spotify are almost always available on Samsung TVs made in the last five years. Less common apps — specialized news outlets, regional streaming services, or niche games — may not appear in the Samsung store even if they exist for other devices. If you cannot find an app after searching, it likely is not compatible with your TV model.
Installing an app and finding it on your home screen
Once you find an app in the store, select it to open the app's details page. You will see a button that says Install, Download, or Get — they all mean the same thing. Select that button. The TV will download and install the app automatically; you do not need to do anything else.
After installation finishes, the app usually appears automatically on your home screen or in a section called My Apps. If you do not see it right away, wait a minute and refresh your home screen by pressing Home again. Some apps take longer to appear than others, but they should show up within a few minutes. If an app never appears, restart your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds.
Organizing and removing apps from your home screen
Once an app is installed, you can move it around your home screen to organize it however you want. Press and hold the app icon with your remote until a menu appears, then select Move or Rearrange. Drag the app to a new spot and confirm. The exact steps vary slightly by TV model, but the idea is the same across all Samsung TVs.
To remove an app from your home screen without deleting it entirely, select the app, press and hold, and choose Remove from Home or Hide. The app stays installed on your TV but disappears from the home screen. To completely uninstall an app, press and hold the app icon and select Uninstall or Delete. You can always reinstall it later from the app store.
What to do if an app will not install or keeps crashing
If an app fails to install, first check that your TV is connected to the internet. Open Settings, select Network, and confirm you are connected to your Wi-Fi. If the connection is working, try restarting your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. After the TV restarts, try installing the app again.
If an app installs but crashes when you open it, restart your TV the same way — unplug for 30 seconds, then plug back in. If the app still crashes after a restart, the app may not be fully compatible with your TV model, or your TV may not have enough storage space. Check your TV's storage by going to Settings, then Storage or Memory. If storage is very low (under 500 MB free), uninstall apps you do not use to free up space, then try the crashing app again.
Using your phone or computer to install apps remotely
Samsung offers a way to install apps on your TV from your phone or computer using the Samsung SmartThings app or the Samsung website. Download the SmartThings app on your phone, sign in with your Samsung account, select your TV, and browse the app store from there. You can install apps directly to your TV without touching the remote.
This method is slower than using the TV remote directly, but it can be useful if your remote is lost or broken. The app still installs on your TV the same way — you just control the process from your phone instead. You will need a Samsung account to use this feature; if you do not have one, you can create one for free on Samsung's website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is an app I want not showing up in the Samsung app store?
Samsung's app store only includes apps that Samsung has tested to work with your specific TV model and software version. Older TVs have fewer available apps than newer ones. If an app is not in the store, it is not compatible with your TV, even if it exists for phones or other devices. Check the app developer's website to see if they list Samsung TV as a supported platform.
Do I need a Samsung account to download apps?
No. You can download most apps without signing in to a Samsung account. However, some apps — like Netflix or Spotify — require you to sign into your account within the app after you install it. A Samsung account is only required if you want to install apps remotely from your phone using SmartThings.
Can I sideload apps that are not in the Samsung store?
Sideloading (installing apps from outside the official store) is technically possible on some Samsung TVs, but it is complicated and voids your warranty. Samsung does not support sideloaded apps, and they may not work properly or could introduce security issues. Stick to apps available in the Samsung app store.
How much storage space do apps take up on my TV?
Most streaming apps like Netflix or YouTube take 50 MB to 200 MB each. Games can take more — sometimes 500 MB to over 1 GB. Your TV has built-in storage (usually 4 GB to 16 GB depending on the model), but much of it is reserved for the TV's operating system. You can check how much free space you have in Settings under Storage or Memory.
What happens if I uninstall an app by mistake?
You can reinstall it anytime by going back to the app store, searching for it, and selecting Install again. Your login information for that app (like your Netflix password) stays saved on your TV, so you will not need to sign in again when you reinstall it.