The fastest way to remove an app from your Samsung TV
To delete an app on 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) until a menu appears, then choose Delete or Remove. The app will disappear from your home screen within seconds. The exact wording depends on your TV model and the year it was made, but the process is the same across all Samsung TVs made in the last five years.
If you cannot find the app on your home screen, it may be in an app folder or on a different page. Swipe left or right to check other pages, or look for a folder labeled "My Apps" or "All Apps" where less-used programs are sometimes grouped together.
Key Takeaways
- Press Home, find the app, hold down the select button (center of the remote), and choose Delete from the menu that appears.
- Deleting an app from your home screen removes it completely from your TV; it does not just hide it.
- Some pre-installed apps that came with your TV cannot be deleted, only hidden or disabled through Settings.
- If you delete an app by mistake, you can reinstall it from the Samsung App Store at no cost.
Step-by-step deletion on most Samsung TV models
Start by pressing the Home button on your remote. This takes you to the main home screen where your apps are displayed as tiles or icons. Look for the app you want to remove — it could be Netflix, YouTube, a news app, or any other program you have installed.
Once you see the app, use the arrow buttons on your remote to highlight it (the app will usually get a border or glow around it). Press and hold the select button, which is the center circle button on your remote. Hold it for two to three seconds until a small menu pops up on the screen.
From that menu, look for an option that says Delete, Remove, or Uninstall. The exact word varies by TV model, but they all do the same thing. Press select to confirm, and the app will be gone from your home screen when ready. You do not need to restart your TV.
Apps you cannot delete and how to hide them instead
Samsung TVs come with built-in apps like Settings, SmartThings, and sometimes Samsung TV Plus. These pre-installed apps cannot be deleted using the method above — when you hold select, the Delete option will be grayed out or missing entirely. This is by design; Samsung locks these apps so you cannot accidentally remove something the TV needs to function.
If you do not want to see these apps on your home screen, you can hide them. Press Home, highlight the app you want to hide, hold select, and choose Hide or Remove from Home (not Delete). The app will disappear from your home screen but will still be on your TV and can be unhidden later if you change your mind. To unhide an app, go to Settings, select Apps, find the hidden app in the list, and choose Unhide or Show.
What happens when you delete an app
When you delete an app, it is completely removed from your TV's storage. Any data the app stored — like your login information, watch history, or saved preferences — is also deleted. The next time you want to use that app, you will need to reinstall it and log back in.
Deleting apps does free up storage space on your TV, though most modern Samsung TVs have enough storage that removing one or two apps will not make a noticeable difference. If your TV is running slowly or you are getting storage warnings, deleting unused apps can help, but the real solution is usually to restart your TV or clear the cache through Settings.
How to reinstall an app you deleted by mistake
If you delete an app and later want it back, go to the Samsung App Store (sometimes called the Samsung TV App Store or just "Apps"). Press Home, look for an Apps icon or App Store tile, and select it. Search for the app by name, select it, and choose Install. The app will read and install within a few minutes, and you can then log back in with your account.
Most apps are free to reinstall. If you paid for an app through the Samsung App Store, you will not be charged again — your purchase is tied to your Samsung account, not to the individual installation.
Troubleshooting if the delete option does not appear
If you hold select on an app and no menu appears at all, try these steps: First, make sure you are pressing the center select button and holding it for at least two seconds. Some remotes have a slightly different button layout, so check your remote's manual if you are unsure which button is select.
Second, the app might be a pre-installed system app that cannot be deleted. Try hiding it instead (see the section above). Third, restart your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Sometimes the menu system gets stuck and a restart fixes it.
If you still cannot delete the app after restarting, it is almost certainly a system app that Samsung has locked. You can hide it from your home screen, but you cannot remove it entirely.
Managing your home screen after deleting apps
Once you delete an app, the remaining apps on your home screen may shift position or leave a blank space. Most Samsung TVs automatically rearrange the remaining apps to fill the gap, but on some models you can manually organize them. To move an app, highlight it, hold select, and choose Move or Rearrange. Then use the arrow buttons to place it where you want it.
You can also create folders to group related apps together. Highlight an app, hold select, and look for an option like Create Folder or Add to Folder. This keeps your home screen organized and makes it easier to find the apps you use most often.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete Netflix, YouTube, or other streaming apps?
Yes, you can delete any app you installed yourself, including Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and others. These are not system apps, so the Delete option will appear when you hold select. You can reinstall them anytime from the Samsung App Store.
Will deleting an app free up enough storage to improve my TV's performance?
Deleting one or two apps will not make a noticeable difference on most Samsung TVs. If your TV is running slowly, restart it first — that usually solves the problem. If it is still slow after a restart, clearing the cache through Settings is more effective than deleting apps.
What if I delete an app but it still shows on my home screen?
Restart your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds. Sometimes the home screen does not refresh when ready after deletion. If the app is still there after a restart, it may be a system app that cannot be deleted; try hiding it instead.
Do I lose my login information when I delete an app?
Yes, deleting an app removes all the data it stored, including saved passwords and login information. When you reinstall the app, you will need to log in again with your username and password.
Can I delete multiple apps at once?
No, Samsung TVs require you to delete apps one at a time. There is no bulk delete option. Highlight each app, hold select, and choose Delete individually.