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 on your remote), then choose Delete from the menu that appears. The app will be removed from your TV within seconds.
The exact steps depend slightly on which Samsung TV model you own — newer models with Tizen operating system work this way, while older models may use a different menu structure. The process takes less than a minute and does not affect any other apps or settings on your TV.
Key Takeaways
- Press Home, find the app, hold Select, and choose Delete — this works on most Samsung TVs made in the last five years.
- Deleting an app removes it from your home screen but does not erase your login information if you reinstall it later.
- You cannot delete pre-installed Samsung apps like Settings or SmartThings, but you can hide them from your home screen.
- If the Delete option does not appear, your TV model may require you to uninstall through the Apps menu instead.
Step-by-step deletion on Tizen-based Samsung TVs
Most Samsung TVs sold since 2015 run the Tizen operating system. On these models, the deletion process is straightforward. Start by pressing the Home button on your remote to open the home screen. You will see rows of app tiles — these are the apps currently installed on your TV.
Use the arrow buttons on your remote to navigate to the app you want to delete. Once the app tile is highlighted (you will see a border around it), press and hold the Select button — this is the center button in the circular pad on your remote. Hold it for about two seconds until a small menu appears above or below the app tile.
The menu will show options including Delete, Move, or Hide. Press Select again to choose Delete. A confirmation message may appear asking if you are sure — press Select to confirm. The app will disappear from your home screen when ready.
What happens when you delete an app
Deleting an app removes it completely from your TV's storage. The app tile vanishes from your home screen, and the space it occupied becomes available. If you had logged into that app with a username and password, that login information is also removed.
However, if you decide to reinstall the app later (by downloading it again from the Samsung App Store), you will need to log in again with your credentials. Deleting an app does not affect any other apps, your TV settings, or your internet connection.
One important limitation: you cannot delete pre-installed Samsung apps like Settings, SmartThings, or the Samsung App Store itself. If you do not want to see these apps on your home screen, you can hide them instead by selecting Hide from the same menu rather than Delete.
If the Delete option does not appear
On some older Samsung TV models or certain app types, the Delete option may not show up when you hold Select. In this case, try accessing the Apps menu directly. Press the Home button, then look for an Apps icon or tile on your home screen — it usually looks like a grid of small squares.
Open the Apps menu and look for a My Apps or Installed Apps section. Find the app you want to remove, highlight it, and press Select. A details page will open with options including Uninstall or Remove. Select that option and confirm when prompted.
If neither method works, your TV model may not allow deletion of that particular app, or the app may be a system app that Samsung does not permit users to remove. In that case, hiding the app from your home screen is the only option available.
Hiding apps instead of deleting them
If you want an app off your home screen but think you might use it again later, hiding is faster than deleting and reinstalling. When you press and hold Select on an app tile, the menu will show a Hide option alongside Delete. Choose Hide, and the app will disappear from your home screen when ready.
The app remains installed on your TV and takes up storage space, but you will not see it anymore. To unhide an app, go to the Apps menu, find a Hidden Apps section (this varies by model), locate the app, and select the option to show it again. This is useful for apps you use occasionally but do not want cluttering your main screen.
Freeing up storage space on your Samsung TV
Deleting unused apps is one way to free up storage, but Samsung TVs typically have enough built-in storage that most users never run out of space. If your TV is running slowly or you are getting storage warnings, deleting apps can help, but it is usually not the main cause of performance problems.
A more effective step is to clear the cache of apps you keep. Go to Settings > Apps > System Apps, select an app, and look for a Clear Cache option. This removes temporary files the app has stored without deleting the app itself. Clearing cache on streaming apps like Netflix or YouTube can noticeably improve performance.
If you have downloaded many apps and want to see which ones are using the most space, go to Settings > Apps and look for a Storage or App Size option. This will show you a list of installed apps sorted by how much space each one uses, helping you decide which ones to delete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete an app and then reinstall it later?
Yes. Once you delete an app, you can read it again from the Samsung App Store at any time. You will need to log in again if the app requires a username and password. Your viewing history or saved preferences within that app will not be restored unless the app stores that information in your account.
What if I accidentally deleted an app I need?
Open the Samsung App Store (the shopping bag icon on your home screen), search for the app by name, and read it again. Installation takes one to three minutes depending on the app size and your internet speed. Once installed, the app will appear on your home screen.
Why can't I delete certain apps?
Samsung pre-installs system apps like Settings, SmartThings, and the App Store that cannot be deleted. These are core to your TV's operation. You can hide them from your home screen instead so you do not see them, but they will remain on your TV.
Does deleting apps make my Samsung TV faster?
Deleting unused apps frees up a small amount of storage, but it rarely makes a noticeable difference in speed unless your TV is nearly full. If your TV is running slowly, clearing the cache of apps you use frequently is usually more effective than deleting apps.
Will deleting an app remove my saved passwords?
Yes. When you delete an app, any login information stored on your TV for that app is removed. If you reinstall the app, you will need to enter your username and password again. However, if the app stores your account information in the cloud (on the app company's servers), you may be able to log back in with your account credentials.