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 will be uninstalled when ready. The exact wording and menu location depend on your TV model and the year it was made, but this method works on most Samsung TVs from 2016 onward.

If pressing and holding Select does not bring up a delete option, your TV may use a different interface. Older Samsung models sometimes require you to go into the Apps section of the Settings menu instead. Newer models (2021 and later) may show a trash icon or three-dot menu next to the app name when you highlight it.

Key Takeaways

Press Home on your remote, highlight the app, press and hold Select, then choose Delete from the menu.
Deleting an app removes it from your home screen and frees up storage space on your TV.
You can reinstall the same app later from the Samsung App Store at no cost if you change your mind.
Built-in apps that came with your TV (like Netflix or Prime Video) may not have a Delete option; you can only hide them instead.
If the delete menu does not appear, check your TV model year in Settings and look for an Apps or Applications menu instead.

Step-by-step deletion on most Samsung TV models

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

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 highlight or border around it).

Once the app is highlighted, press and hold the Select button — the circular button in the center of the directional pad — for two to three seconds. A small menu should pop up with options. Look for Delete, Remove, or Uninstall. Press Select again to confirm the deletion.

The app will disappear from your home screen within seconds. Your TV will return to the home screen automatically. The storage space the app used is now available for other content or apps.

What to do if the delete option does not appear

Some apps cannot be deleted because they are built into your TV's operating system. Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and other pre-installed apps often fall into this category. If you see no Delete option when you press and hold Select, the app is likely protected and cannot be removed.

You can hide these apps instead so they do not clutter your home screen. While the app is highlighted, look for a Hide or Remove from Home option in the menu. This removes it from view without uninstalling it. If you later want to use the app again, you can unhide it through the same menu or search for it in the Apps section of Settings.

If your TV is older (2015 or earlier) or uses a different Samsung interface, the delete process may differ. Go to Settings, find Apps or Applications, select the app you want to remove, and look for an Uninstall button. Not all older models support app deletion at all.

Reinstalling an app you deleted

If you delete an app and later want it back, you can read it again from the Samsung App Store at no cost. Press Home, then navigate to the Apps or Samsung App Store section. Search for the app by name, select it, and choose Install or read. The app will be restored to your TV with its original settings.

Reinstalling takes a few minutes depending on the app size and your internet connection speed. Your TV must be connected to Wi-Fi to read apps. Once the installation finishes, the app will appear on your home screen and is ready to use.

Freeing up storage space on your Samsung TV

Deleting unused apps is one of the fastest ways to free up storage on your TV if it is running slowly or showing a storage full message. Samsung TVs typically have between 8 GB and 16 GB of total storage, though much of this is reserved for the operating system itself.

Apps take up between 50 MB and 500 MB each, depending on what they do. Streaming apps like Netflix or Disney+ are usually smaller. Games or apps with large libraries of content take up more space. Deleting even five or six unused apps can recover several gigabytes.

If your TV is still slow after deleting apps, try restarting it. Press the power button on your remote to turn it off completely, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. This clears the TV's temporary memory and often improves performance.

Hiding versus deleting: which one to choose

Deleting an app removes it completely from your TV and recovers the storage space it used. Hiding an app keeps it installed but removes it from your home screen view. Choose deletion if you do not plan to use the app again and want to free up space. Choose hiding if you might use the app occasionally but do not want it cluttering your home screen.

Built-in apps usually cannot be deleted, so hiding is your only option for those. Third-party apps you downloaded yourself can almost always be deleted. If you are unsure whether an app is built-in, try to delete it — if no delete option appears, it is protected.

Troubleshooting when deletion does not work

If you press and hold Select and nothing happens, your remote may not be working properly. Try replacing the batteries in your remote and try again. If the remote still does not respond, you can delete apps through your TV's Settings menu instead.

Go to Settings, select Apps or Applications, find the app you want to remove, and look for an Uninstall or Delete button. This method works on all Samsung TV models, though it takes a few more steps than using the remote menu.

If an app will not delete even through Settings, it is likely a system app that Samsung does not allow users to remove. This is normal and protects your TV from accidentally losing essential functions. You can only hide these apps from view.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting an app delete my saved data or login information?

When you delete an app, your login information and saved data within that app are usually deleted as well. If you reinstall the app later, you will need to log in again. Some apps may remember your login if they store information on their own servers, but this varies by app.

Can I delete multiple apps at once?

No, Samsung TVs require you to delete apps one at a time. There is no bulk delete feature. If you want to remove several apps, you will need to repeat the process for each one, which typically takes less than a minute per app.

Will deleting an app speed up my TV?

Deleting unused apps frees up storage space and can help if your TV is running out of room. However, if your TV is slow because of a processing issue rather than storage, deleting apps may not help much. Restarting your TV usually improves performance more than deleting apps does.

What if I accidentally delete an important app?

You can reinstall it from the Samsung App Store at no cost. Go to Apps, search for the app by name, and select Install. The app will be restored to your TV. If it is a built-in app that you cannot find in the App Store, restart your TV — some system apps reappear after a restart.

Can I delete apps from my Samsung TV using my phone?

No, you cannot delete apps remotely from your phone. You must use your TV remote or your TV's Settings menu to manage apps. Some Samsung TVs have a SmartThings app that lets you control certain TV functions from your phone, but app management is not one of them.

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.