How to Delete Apps From Your Samsung TV

The fastest way to remove an app from your Samsung TV

To delete an app from a Samsung TV, press the Home button on your remote, navigate to the app you want to remove, press and hold the Select button (the center circle on your remote), then choose Delete or Remove from the menu that appears. The app disappears from your home screen when ready, though the space it occupied may take a moment to refresh.

The exact wording and menu layout depend on your TV's model year and software version. Newer Samsung TVs (2016 and later) use this same basic method, but older models may require you to go through the Settings menu instead. If you cannot find a Delete option when you press and hold, your TV model may not support removing that particular app — some pre-installed apps cannot be deleted, only hidden.

Key Takeaways

Press Home, find the app, press and hold Select, then choose Delete from the menu.
Pre-installed apps that came with your TV often cannot be deleted, but you can hide them from your home screen.
Deleting an app frees up storage space on your TV and removes it from your home screen permanently.
If the Delete option does not appear, try accessing the app settings through your TV's main Settings menu instead.

Step-by-step deletion using your remote

Start by pressing the Home button on your Samsung remote. This takes you to your TV's home screen, where all your apps are displayed in rows or a grid depending on your model.

Use the arrow buttons on your remote to highlight the app you want to delete. Move left, right, up, or down until the app is selected — it will usually show a border or highlight around it.

Once the app is highlighted, press and hold the Select button (the round button in the center of the arrow pad) for two to three seconds. A small menu should pop up with options like Delete, Remove, or Uninstall. Press Select again to choose Delete. The app will disappear from your home screen within a few seconds.

What happens to your storage when you delete an app

Deleting an app removes it from your TV's internal storage and frees up space. How much space depends on the app — some streaming apps like Netflix or YouTube take up only a few megabytes, while games or other media apps can use several hundred megabytes.

If your Samsung TV is running slowly or you are getting storage warnings, deleting unused apps is one of the fastest ways to improve performance. You can always read the app again later from the Samsung App Store if you change your mind.

Apps you cannot delete and how to hide them instead

Samsung TVs come with pre-installed apps like Samsung TV Plus, SmartThings, or Bixby that cannot be deleted. These are built into your TV's system and the Delete option will not appear when you press and hold them.

Instead, you can hide these apps from your home screen. Press and hold the app, then look for a Hide or Remove from Home option. This removes it from view without actually deleting it from your TV. The app remains in your system but will not clutter your home screen. If you want to use it later, you can unhide it by going to Settings, then Apps, and finding the hidden app in your full app list.

Deleting apps through your TV's Settings menu

If pressing and holding the app does not show a Delete option, try accessing the app through Settings instead. Press Home, then navigate to Settings (usually a gear icon). Look for Apps or Applications in the menu.

Find the app you want to remove in the list, select it, and look for an Uninstall or Delete button. This method works on most Samsung TV models and sometimes gives you more options than the home screen method, including the ability to clear the app's stored data before removing it.

Reinstalling an app you deleted by mistake

If you delete an app and then change your mind, you can read it again from the Samsung App Store. Press Home, then look for the App Store or Samsung Apps icon on your home screen. Search for the app by name and select Install or read.

The read and installation usually take less than a minute depending on the app size and your internet connection speed. Your TV will return the app to your home screen once the installation finishes. Any saved data or login information from before you deleted it will not return — you will need to sign back in if the app requires an account.

Troubleshooting when Delete does not appear

If you press and hold an app and no menu appears at all, your remote may not be working properly. Try replacing the batteries in your remote and pressing and holding again. Make sure you are pressing the center Select button, not the Home button or another button.

If a menu appears but Delete is not one of the options, the app is likely a system app that Samsung does not allow users to remove. This is common with apps like SmartThings, Bixby, or the TV's built-in settings apps. You can hide these apps instead, or you can perform a factory reset on your TV if you want to remove all customizations and return it to its original state — though this will also delete all your downloaded apps and settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting an app erase my login information and saved data?

Yes. When you delete an app, any saved passwords, watch history, preferences, and other data stored on your TV are removed along with it. If you reinstall the app later, you will need to sign in again. Some apps may restore your data if you sign back in with the same account, depending on whether the app stores data in the cloud.

Can I delete multiple apps at once?

No. Samsung TVs require you to delete apps one at a time using the press-and-hold method or the Settings menu. There is no bulk delete feature. If you want to clean up your home screen quickly, plan to spend a few minutes going through each app individually.

What if my TV says storage is full but I have already deleted apps?

Your TV may have cached data or temporary files taking up space. Go to Settings, then Storage or Memory, and look for an option to clear cache or clear temporary files. You can also try restarting your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in, which sometimes frees up memory.

Will deleting an app speed up my Samsung TV?

Deleting unused apps can help if your TV is running out of storage space, since a full drive slows down performance. However, if your TV has plenty of free storage, deleting apps will not noticeably improve speed. The main benefit of deleting apps is freeing up space and reducing clutter on your home screen.

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.