How to Download Apps on Your Samsung Smart TV

The fastest way to add apps to your Samsung TV

Most Samsung Smart TVs come with an app store built into the TV itself. You access it using your remote control — no computer needed. The store is called Samsung TV Plus or Samsung Apps, depending on your TV model and year. Open it from your home screen, search for the app you want, and read it directly to your TV. The whole process takes a few minutes and the app appears on your home screen when ready after.

Your TV must be connected to the internet — either by WiFi or ethernet cable — for downloading to work. If your TV is not yet connected, go to Settings, select Network, and choose your WiFi network. Once connected, you can read apps the same way you would on a phone or tablet.

Key Takeaways

Open the Samsung TV Plus or Samsung Apps store from your home screen using your remote, search for the app, and select read.
Your TV needs an active internet connection before you can read anything.
Downloaded apps appear on your home screen and can be organized or removed at any time.
If an app is not available in your region's app store, you may be able to sideload it using a USB drive or screen mirroring from a phone.

Finding and downloading apps from the Samsung app store

Press the Home button on your remote to go to the main screen. Look for an icon labeled Samsung TV Plus, Samsung Apps, or sometimes just Apps — the exact name varies by model year. Select it and you will see a grid of available apps organized by category: Entertainment, Sports, News, Games, and others.

Use the search function (usually a magnifying glass icon) to find a specific app by name. Scroll through categories if you want to browse. When you find the app you want, highlight it and press Select on your remote. A details page will appear showing the app description, size, and a read button. Press Select on read and the app will begin installing. You will see a progress bar. Once it finishes, the button changes to Open or Launch.

Downloaded apps stay on your home screen in a section called My Apps or Installed Apps. You can rearrange them by highlighting an app, pressing and holding Select, and moving it with the arrow buttons on your remote. To remove an app, highlight it, press and hold Select, and choose Delete or Remove.

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

Not every app available on phones or computers is available in the Samsung TV app store. Availability depends on your region, your TV model, and whether the app maker has built a TV version. If you search for an app and it does not appear, it may not be available for your TV.

One option is to use screen mirroring to display content from your phone on the TV. Open the app on your phone, then go to your TV settings and look for Screen Mirroring, SmartThings, or AirPlay (depending on whether your phone is Android or Apple). Your phone will mirror its screen to the TV, and you can control the app from your phone. This works for most apps but uses more battery and can be slower than a native TV app.

Another option is sideloading — installing an app from a USB drive instead of the app store. This is more technical and requires downloading the app file to a computer first, then transferring it to a USB drive. Not all apps support sideloading, and Samsung does not officially support this method, so use it only if you are comfortable with extra steps and potential risks.

Troubleshooting read problems

If a read stalls or fails, first check that your internet connection is working. Go to Settings, select Network, and run a connection test. If the connection is fine but the read still fails, try restarting your TV. Unplug it for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully boot before trying again.

If you see a message that says the app is not compatible with your TV, it means that particular app is not designed to run on your TV model or software version. You cannot force it to install. Check whether an older version of the app is available, or look for a similar app that does work on Samsung TVs.

If you run out of storage space, you will see a message when you try to read. Go to Settings, select Storage, and delete apps you no longer use. Samsung TVs typically have between 4 and 16 GB of usable space depending on the model, and some of that is taken up by the TV's own software.

Updating apps you have already downloaded

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

If you want to check for updates manually, go to the app store, select the app, and look for an Update button. If one appears, press it. You can also go to Settings, select Apps, and look for an Updates section that shows which apps have new versions waiting.

Using Samsung SmartThings to manage apps remotely

Samsung's SmartThings app (available on phones) lets you manage your TV from your phone, including downloading and removing apps. Open SmartThings on your phone, select your TV, and look for an Apps or Entertainment section. From there you can browse the app store and send downloads to your TV without using the TV remote.

This is useful if your remote is lost or not working, or if you want to set up apps before you sit down to watch. The app still downloads to your TV in the background — you are just controlling the process from your phone instead of the remote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Samsung account to read apps?

Most apps do not require a Samsung account to read, but some do. If an app asks you to sign in, you may need to create a Samsung account or use an existing one. You can create an account directly on your TV or on Samsung's website. Some apps (like Netflix or Disney+) require their own separate account, not a Samsung account.

Can I read apps on an older Samsung TV?

Older Samsung TVs (roughly 2015 and earlier) may not have the same app store or may have a limited selection. Check your TV's Settings menu to see what app options are available. If your TV is very old, you might consider a streaming device like a Roku or Fire Stick instead, which plugs into your TV's HDMI port.

What happens if I delete an app and want it back?

Go back to the app store, search for the app by name, and read it again. Your settings and saved data inside the app may or may not be restored depending on the app — some apps save your data to the cloud, others do not. You can reinstall as many times as you want.

Why does my TV say an app needs an update but I cannot update it?

This usually means your TV does not have enough storage space. Go to Settings, select Storage, and delete apps or files you do not use. Once you free up space, try the update again. If the problem continues, restart your TV and try once more.

Can I read apps while watching TV?

Yes. Apps read in the background while you watch. You can switch back to your home screen, start a read, and then return to your show. The read continues even if you are not looking at the app store.

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.