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 TV's home screen. Press the Home button on your remote, look for the Samsung Apps icon (usually a grid or store symbol), and select it. Search for the app you want — Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Disney+, or others — and select Install. The app downloads and appears on your home screen within seconds to a few minutes.

If you cannot find an app in the Samsung store, your TV model may not support it. Samsung's app store varies by TV age and region, so older models have fewer options than newer ones. You can check what your TV supports by looking at the full app list in the store itself — there is no separate compatibility checker.

Some apps require you to sign in after installation. Open the app, enter your username and password, and you are ready to use it. A few apps (mainly streaming services) let you sign in on Samsung's website instead and then just open the app on your TV without re-entering credentials.

Key Takeaways

The Samsung Apps store is built into your TV and accessed from the home screen — you do not need to buy anything or use another device.
Most popular streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ are available in the Samsung store, but availability depends on your TV model and region.
Apps install directly to your TV and appear on the home screen immediately after download completes.
If an app is not in the Samsung store, your TV model does not support it, and there is no workaround to force installation.

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

Not every app works on Samsung TVs. The Samsung store only includes apps that Samsung has tested and approved for your specific TV model. Older TVs have fewer apps available than newer ones, and some regions have different app selections than others.

If you cannot find an app you want, check whether your TV model is recent enough to support it. Apps released in the last few years often require a TV from 2018 or later. You can verify your TV model by going to Settings > About This TV on your remote — write down the model number and search for it on Samsung's website to see what apps are officially supported.

If your TV is too old for an app, your options are to use a separate device (a streaming stick, a game console, or a media player) connected to your TV's HDMI port, or to upgrade your TV. Many people use a Roku stick or Amazon Fire Stick as a workaround because these devices have their own app stores and work with any TV.

Installing apps from your phone or computer

You cannot install apps on a Samsung TV from your phone or computer the way you would on a smartphone. The TV only gets apps from its own built-in store. However, some Samsung TVs let you use the SmartThings app on your phone to browse and install apps remotely — this is just a convenience feature that controls your TV from a distance, not a separate app source.

To use SmartThings, download the app to your phone, sign in with your Samsung account, select your TV, and look for an Apps or Store section. Not all Samsung TV models support this feature, and it only works if your TV and phone are on the same Wi-Fi network. If your TV does not appear in SmartThings, you can only install apps directly on the TV itself.

Organizing and removing apps

Once you have installed apps, they appear on your home screen in the order Samsung places them. You can rearrange them by pressing and holding an app icon with your remote, then moving it to a new spot. You can also create folders to group similar apps together — press and hold an app, select Create Folder, and drag other apps into it.

To remove an app, press and hold its icon and select Delete or Uninstall. The app disappears from your home screen immediately, but you can reinstall it later from the Samsung Apps store at no cost. Uninstalling does not affect your login information — when you reinstall, you may need to sign in again, but your account is still active.

Keeping apps updated

Samsung TVs update apps automatically by default. Your TV checks for updates when it is in standby mode and installs them overnight. You do not have to do anything — updates happen in the background.

If you want to check for updates manually, open the Samsung Apps store, press the menu button on your remote, and look for an Updates or My Apps section. This shows which apps have updates available and lets you install them immediately instead of waiting for the automatic update. Some people prefer manual updates to avoid surprises, though automatic updates are generally safer because they include security fixes.

Troubleshooting apps that will not install

If an app fails to install, the most common cause is a network connection problem. Check that your TV is connected to Wi-Fi by going to Settings > Network and confirming the connection is active. If Wi-Fi is connected but the app still will not install, restart your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds, plugging it back in, and trying again.

If the app still will not install after a restart, your TV may not have enough storage space. Go to Settings > Storage and check how much free space is available. If you are below 1 GB free, uninstall apps you do not use to make room. You can also clear the cache by going to Settings > Apps > System Apps and selecting Clear Cache for the Samsung Apps store itself.

If the app appears in the store but shows a message like "Not available in your region" or "Not compatible with your TV", your TV model or location does not support that app. This is a permanent limitation — there is no way around it. Contact Samsung support only if you believe the message is an error, but in most cases it means the app genuinely is not available for your TV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sideload apps onto my Samsung TV?

Sideloading (installing apps from outside the Samsung store) is technically possible on some older Samsung TV models, but it requires connecting a USB drive and is not supported by Samsung. Most newer TVs block this entirely. For the vast majority of users, if an app is not in the Samsung store, it cannot be installed on that TV.

Do I need a Samsung account to download apps?

You need a Samsung account to access the Samsung Apps store on your TV. Creating one is free and takes a few minutes. You can set it up on your TV during the first app download, or create it on Samsung's website beforehand and sign in on your TV.

Why does my TV say an app is not compatible?

Compatibility depends on your TV's age, processor, and available memory. Newer apps often require newer hardware. If an app shows as incompatible, your TV model does not meet the app's minimum requirements. Updating your TV's software sometimes helps, but if the app still will not install, your TV is too old to support it.

Can I use the same login for multiple apps?

Most streaming apps use separate logins, but some services (like Google or Facebook) let you sign in with your existing account. After you install an app, open it and look for a "Sign in with Google" or "Sign in with Facebook" option. This is faster than creating a new account, but not all apps offer this feature.

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

A factory reset removes all installed apps and returns your TV to its original state. You will need to reinstall them afterward using the Samsung Apps store. Your login information is also erased, so you will need to sign in again to each app. This is why backing up your account information (usernames and passwords) is useful before a reset.

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.