The fastest way to add an app to your Samsung TV home screen

To add an app to your Samsung TV home screen, press the Home button on your remote, navigate to the Apps section, find the app you want, and select it. Most Samsung TVs will then show you an option to add it to your home screen — usually a pin icon or an "Add to Home" button. The app tile will appear in the row you choose, and you can rearrange it later by holding the select button and moving it with your remote.

The exact steps depend on which Samsung TV model you have, because Samsung uses different operating systems — some run Tizen, others run Google TV. Both work similarly, but the menu names and button locations differ slightly. This guide covers both versions so you can follow along regardless of which system your TV uses.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Home on your remote, go to Apps, find your app, and look for a pin or "Add to Home" option to place it on your home screen.
  • Samsung TVs use either Tizen or Google TV operating systems, and the steps are nearly identical but menu names vary slightly between them.
  • You can rearrange app tiles on your home screen by holding the select button and using the arrow keys on your remote to move them.
  • If an app does not show an "Add to Home" option, it may not support that feature, but you can still open it from the Apps menu every time.
  • Removing an app from your home screen does not delete it — it stays in your Apps library and you can add it back anytime.

Finding the Apps section on your home screen

Start by pressing the Home button on your Samsung TV remote. This takes you to your home screen, which shows your app tiles, live TV, and other shortcuts. Look for a row or section labeled Apps — on most Samsung TVs this appears as a dedicated tile or a menu option at the bottom or side of the screen.

If you do not see an Apps section when ready, scroll down or to the side using the arrow keys on your remote. Some Samsung TVs hide the Apps section until you navigate to it. Once you find it, press the select button (the center button on your remote's directional pad) to open the full Apps library.

Locating the app you want to add

Inside the Apps section, you will see a list or grid of all the apps installed on your TV. This includes apps that came with your TV, apps you downloaded, and apps available in the Samsung App Store. Use the arrow keys on your remote to scroll through the list until you find the app you want to add to your home screen.

If you have many apps, you can search instead of scrolling. Look for a search icon (usually a magnifying glass) at the top of the Apps menu. Select it, then use your remote's number pad or on-screen keyboard to type the app name. This is much faster than scrolling through dozens of apps.

Adding the app to your home screen

Once you have found the app, highlight it with your remote and press and hold the select button (the center of the directional pad). A menu will pop up with options. Look for a button or option that says "Add to Home", "Pin to Home", or shows a pin icon. The exact wording depends on your TV model and operating system.

Select that option, and your TV will ask you which row or section of your home screen you want the app to appear in. Use the arrow keys to choose the location, then press select to confirm. The app tile will now appear on your home screen, and you can open it directly from there without going through the Apps menu each time.

Moving and organizing app tiles on your home screen

After you add an app, you may want to move it to a different spot on your home screen. To do this, go back to your home screen, highlight the app tile you want to move, and press and hold the select button. A menu will appear with options including "Move" or "Edit".

Select the move option, then use the arrow keys on your remote to slide the tile to a new position. Press select when you are happy with the new location. You can rearrange as many apps as you want this way — there is no limit to how many times you can move them around. If you ever want to undo the move, just move the app back to its original spot.

Removing an app from your home screen

If you add an app to your home screen and later decide you do not want it there, you can remove it without deleting the app from your TV. Highlight the app tile on your home screen, press and hold the select button, and look for an option that says "Remove from Home" or "Unpin". Select that option, and the tile will disappear from your home screen.

The app itself stays on your TV and remains in your Apps library — you can add it back to your home screen anytime by following the steps above. Removing an app from your home screen is just about cleaning up your view, not deleting anything.

What to do if an app will not add to your home screen

Some apps, especially older ones or system apps that came with your TV, may not have an "Add to Home" option when you press and hold them. This usually means the app developer did not build that feature into the app, or the app is a system app that Samsung does not allow on the home screen.

If this happens, you can still use the app — just open it from your Apps menu each time. Alternatively, check the Samsung App Store to see if there is an updated version of the app available, as newer versions sometimes add the home screen feature. If you use the app frequently, you might also create a custom folder on your home screen and add other related apps to it, so they are grouped together and easier to find.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add multiple copies of the same app to my home screen?

No, most Samsung TVs only allow one tile per app on your home screen. If you try to add an app that is already there, your TV will either show an error or straightforward highlight the existing tile instead of creating a duplicate.

What if I accidentally delete an app from my TV instead of just removing it from my home screen?

You can reinstall it from the Samsung App Store. Go to Apps, find the App Store tile, open it, search for the app by name, and select the read or install button. Once it finishes installing, you can add it back to your home screen using the steps above.

Do I need to be connected to the internet to add an app to my home screen?

You need internet to read or update an app, but once an app is already installed on your TV, you can add it to your home screen without an internet connection. The home screen itself is stored on your TV, not in the cloud.

Can I add apps from the Samsung App Store if my TV is not connected to WiFi?

No, you must have an active internet connection to browse and read apps from the Samsung App Store. If your TV is offline, you can only work with apps that are already installed.

How many apps can I add to my home screen?

There is no hard limit, but your home screen has a fixed number of rows and columns. Once you fill the available space, you will need to remove an app before adding a new one, or create additional rows by scrolling down on your home screen.