The fastest way to remove an app from your Samsung TV
To delete an app on a Samsung Smart 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), and choose Delete from the menu that appears. The app will be removed from your TV within seconds. This works on all Samsung Smart TV models from the last several years, whether you're using the standard remote or a voice-enabled one.
The exact menu label may vary slightly depending on your TV's model year and software version—some older models say Remove instead of Delete—but the button sequence is the same. If you don't see a delete option after holding Select, your TV may require you to navigate to the app's settings page first, which we'll cover below.
Key Takeaways
- Press Home, find the app, hold Select (the center button), and choose Delete from the menu.
- Pre-installed apps that came with your TV usually cannot be deleted, only hidden from view.
- Deleting an app removes it from your TV's storage but does not affect your account or subscriptions tied to that app.
- If the Delete option doesn't appear, check your TV's settings menu under Apps or Applications to find removal options.
Deleting apps you downloaded versus built-in apps
Apps you downloaded yourself—Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, or others—can be fully deleted from your Samsung TV. Built-in apps that came pre-installed on your TV, such as Samsung TV Plus or the Samsung Health app, usually cannot be deleted. Instead, you can hide them so they no longer appear on your home screen.
To hide a pre-installed app, use the same process: press Home, find the app, hold Select, and look for an option labeled Hide or Remove from Home. The app will still exist on your TV's system, but you won't see it when you browse your apps. If you change your mind later, you can unhide it by going to your TV's settings, finding the Apps section, and selecting Show Hidden Apps or a similar option.
Step-by-step deletion using your remote
Start by pressing the Home button on your Samsung remote. This takes you to your TV's main menu screen, where all your apps are displayed in rows or a grid layout.
Use the arrow buttons on your remote to navigate to the app you want to delete. Highlight it so it's clearly selected—you'll usually see a border around the app icon or the icon will enlarge slightly.
Once the app is highlighted, press and hold the Select button (the center circle button on your remote) for two to three seconds. A small menu will pop up with options. Look for Delete, Remove, or Uninstall. Press Select again to choose that option.
A confirmation message may appear asking if you're sure you want to delete the app. Press Select to confirm, and the app will be removed. You should see it disappear from your home screen within a few seconds.
Deleting apps through your TV's settings menu
If the hold-and-select method doesn't work on your TV, you can delete apps through the Settings menu instead. Press the Home button, then navigate to Settings (usually a gear icon in the top right corner of the screen).
Look for an option labeled Apps, Applications, or Manage Apps. Select it, and you'll see a list of all apps installed on your TV. Find the app you want to delete, select it, and look for a Delete or Uninstall button. Press Select to remove it.
This method is also useful if you want to see how much storage space an app is using before you delete it. The settings menu often shows the app's size, which can help you decide whether removing it will free up meaningful space on your TV.
What happens to your accounts and subscriptions when you delete an app
Deleting an app from your Samsung TV does not delete your account or cancel any subscription tied to that app. If you delete Netflix, your Netflix account remains active and your subscription continues to charge your payment method. You can reinstall the app at any time and log back in with the same username and password.
The same applies to streaming services, games, and any other app. Deletion only removes the app from your TV's storage—it doesn't touch your account data, which lives on the service's servers, not on your TV. This means you can safely delete apps you're not using without worrying about losing access to your accounts.
Freeing up storage space on your Samsung TV
Samsung Smart TVs have limited built-in storage, typically between 4 and 16 gigabytes depending on the model. Deleting unused apps is one of the fastest ways to free up space if your TV is running slowly or if you're getting storage-full warnings.
Before you delete apps, check how much space each one is using. Go to Settings, find Apps or Applications, select an app, and look for a Storage or Size field. Large apps like games or streaming services often use the most space. Deleting just two or three large apps can free up several gigabytes.
If your TV is still slow after deleting apps, the issue may not be storage. Restarting your TV (unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in) often solves performance problems more effectively than deleting apps.
Reinstalling an app you deleted
If you delete an app and later want it back, you can reinstall it from the Samsung App Store. Press Home, navigate to Apps or the Samsung App Store icon, and search for the app by name. Select it and choose Install or read. The app will be reinstalled within a minute or two, depending on its size and your internet speed.
Your account information for that app will still be intact. When you open the reinstalled app, you can log in with your original username and password, and all your settings and saved data will be there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete pre-installed Samsung apps like Samsung TV Plus?
No, you cannot fully delete pre-installed apps. You can only hide them from your home screen. Go to Home, highlight the app, hold Select, and choose Hide. If you want to unhide it later, go to Settings, find Apps, and select Show Hidden Apps.
Will deleting an app cancel my Netflix or Hulu subscription?
No. Deleting the app only removes it from your TV. Your subscription remains active and will continue to charge your payment method. You can reinstall the app anytime and log back in with your account.
What if the Delete option doesn't appear when I hold Select?
Your TV model may require you to use the Settings menu instead. Press Home, go to Settings, find Apps or Applications, select the app, and look for a Delete or Uninstall button. Some older Samsung TV models use this method.
How much storage space will I free up by deleting apps?
It depends on the app. Large games or streaming apps can use 500 megabytes to 2 gigabytes each. Check the app's size in Settings before deleting it. Removing even two or three large apps can noticeably improve your TV's performance.
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 need to remove several apps, you'll need to repeat the process for each one, which typically takes less than a minute per app.