The fastest way to add an app to your Samsung TV home screen
You can add an app to your Samsung TV home screen in about 30 seconds using the remote. Press the Home button on your remote, find the app you want in the Apps section, highlight it, and press the Select button. A menu will appear with an "Add to Home" option — select that, and the app tile appears on your home screen when ready.
The exact steps depend on whether the app is already installed on your TV or whether you need to read it first. If the app is new to your TV, you'll need to go through the Samsung App Store to read it before you can add it to the home screen. Both paths take just a few minutes and use only your remote.
Key Takeaways
- Press Home on your remote, navigate to Apps, find the app you want, and press Select to see the "Add to Home" option.
- Apps must be downloaded to your TV first through the Samsung App Store before they can be added to the home screen.
- You can rearrange app tiles on the home screen by highlighting an app, pressing Select, and choosing "Move" to place it where you want.
- If an app doesn't appear in the Samsung App Store, your TV model may not support it — check your TV's manual or Samsung's website to confirm compatibility.
Adding an app that's already installed on your TV
Start by pressing the Home button on your Samsung remote. This takes you to the home screen. Look for the Apps icon or section — on most Samsung TVs, it appears as a grid of squares, usually in the bottom row of the home screen.
Navigate to Apps and press Select. You'll see a list of all apps currently on your TV, including both pre-installed apps and any you've downloaded. Scroll through the list until you find the app you want to add to the home screen. Highlight it by moving the cursor over it with your remote's arrow buttons.
Once the app is highlighted, press the Select button. A small menu will pop up with several options. Look for "Add to Home" and press Select. The app tile will now appear on your home screen, usually at the end of the existing tiles. You can rearrange it later if you want it in a different spot.
Downloading a new app from the Samsung App Store
If the app you want isn't already on your TV, you need to read it first. Press Home, then navigate to Apps. Look for an icon labeled "Samsung App Store" or sometimes just "Store" — it usually appears near the top of the Apps section.
Press Select on the Samsung App Store. You'll see categories of apps organized by type: Entertainment, Sports, News, and so on. You can browse by category or use the search function to find a specific app. Use your remote's arrow buttons to navigate and Select to open an app's details page.
When you find the app you want, highlight it and press Select. The app's information page will open, showing a description, ratings, and a read button. Press Select on the read button. The app will begin downloading — this usually takes 30 seconds to a few minutes depending on the app size and your internet connection. Once the read finishes, you'll see a prompt asking if you want to add it to the home screen. Select "Yes" and the app tile appears when ready.
Rearranging app tiles on your home screen
Your home screen tiles don't have to stay in the order they appear. To move an app tile, highlight it with your remote and press Select. A menu will appear with options including "Move."
Press Select on "Move." Your remote's arrow buttons now control where the tile goes. Move it left, right, up, or down to the spot you want. Once it's in the right place, press Select to lock it there. The tiles around it will shift to make room. You can move multiple apps this way to organize your home screen however you prefer.
Removing an app from the home screen without deleting it
If you want to remove an app tile from your home screen but keep the app on your TV, highlight the app and press Select. Choose "Remove from Home" from the menu. The tile disappears from the home screen, but the app remains installed on your TV and can be found in the Apps section anytime.
This is different from deleting the app entirely. If you want to completely remove an app from your TV, highlight it in the Apps section, press Select, and choose "Delete" instead. This frees up storage space on your TV.
Troubleshooting apps that won't appear in the Samsung App Store
Not every app works on every Samsung TV model. Older TVs or certain regional models may not support apps that are available in other areas. If you search for an app in the Samsung App Store and it doesn't appear, your TV model likely doesn't support it.
Check your TV's model number (usually found in Settings > About This TV) and search Samsung's website or your TV's manual to see which apps are compatible. Some apps require a minimum TV model year or specific hardware features. If an app you need isn't available, look for an alternative app that serves the same purpose — most streaming services, for example, have multiple apps available.
Make sure your TV is connected to the internet before searching the Samsung App Store. If you can't find the Store itself, go to Settings > Apps and check that your TV has an active internet connection. A weak WiFi signal can sometimes prevent the Store from loading properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add the same app to my home screen more than once?
No, Samsung TV home screens don't allow duplicate app tiles. Each app can appear only once on the home screen. If you need quick access to different features within an app, check whether the app itself has shortcuts or favorites you can set up inside the app.
What if I accidentally delete an app from my TV instead of just removing it from the home screen?
You can read it again from the Samsung App Store. Go to Apps, open the Samsung App Store, search for the app, and press Select to read it again. Your TV will reinstall it, and you can add it back to the home screen.
Do I need a Samsung account to read apps?
Most apps in the Samsung App Store read without requiring an account. However, some apps may ask you to sign in with your own account (like Netflix or YouTube) once they're installed. You don't need a Samsung account to add apps to your home screen.
Why is my home screen full and I can't add more apps?
Samsung TVs have a limit to how many app tiles can fit on the home screen depending on your TV model. If you've reached the limit, remove an app tile you don't use regularly by highlighting it, pressing Select, and choosing "Remove from Home." The app stays on your TV and can still be found in the Apps section.
Can I add apps to my home screen if my TV isn't connected to the internet?
You can only add apps that are already installed on your TV. To read new apps from the Samsung App Store, your TV must be connected to the internet. Once an app is downloaded, you can add it to the home screen even if the internet connection drops temporarily.