How to Delete Apps From Your Samsung Smart TV

The fastest way to remove an app from your Samsung TV

To delete an app from 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 (or the center button on your remote pad), and choose Delete from the menu that appears. The app will be removed from your TV within seconds. The process works the same way on most Samsung models made in the last five years.

If you cannot find the Delete option, your TV may be running an older version of Samsung's Tizen operating system. In that case, you can uninstall apps through the Settings menu instead — navigate to Apps, select the app, and look for an Uninstall button. Both methods free up storage space on your TV and remove clutter from your home screen.

Key Takeaways

Press Home, find the app, hold Select, and choose Delete to remove most apps in seconds.
Pre-installed Samsung apps like SmartThings and Bixby cannot be deleted, only hidden from your home screen.
Deleting an app does not affect your Samsung account or any other TV settings.
If you change your mind, you can reinstall most deleted apps from the Samsung App Store at any time.

Step-by-step deletion using the remote

Start by pressing the Home button on your Samsung remote to open your TV's home screen. You will see rows of apps — both ones you installed and ones that came with the TV. Scroll left or right to find the app you want to delete.

Once you have located the app, press and hold the Select button (the center button on your remote's directional pad) for about two seconds. A small menu will pop up with options. Look for Delete or Remove — the exact wording depends on your TV model and software version. Press Select again to confirm the deletion. The app will disappear from your home screen when ready.

If the menu does not appear when you hold Select, try pressing the Tools button or Menu button on your remote instead. Different Samsung remote models use different buttons to access the app menu. Check your remote's label or your TV's manual if you are unsure which button to use.

Deleting apps through the Settings menu

If the hold-and-select method does not work on your TV, you can delete apps through Settings instead. Press Home, then navigate to Settings (usually a gear icon in the corner of your home screen). Select Apps or Applications depending on your model.

You will see a list of all installed apps. Scroll to find the one you want to remove, select it, and look for an Uninstall button. Press it and confirm when prompted. The app will be removed from your TV. This method takes slightly longer than the remote method but works on all Samsung TV models, including older ones.

What happens to pre-installed Samsung apps

Samsung's own apps — such as SmartThings, Bixby, Samsung Health, and the Samsung App Store — cannot be deleted from most models. These are considered system apps and are locked to prevent accidental removal. If you do not use them, you can hide them from your home screen instead of deleting them.

To hide a pre-installed app, press Home, find the app, hold Select, and choose Hide instead of Delete. The app will no longer appear on your home screen, but it will still be installed on your TV and will not affect performance. If you ever want to use it again, you can unhide it using the same method or by going to Settings and searching for hidden 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, open the Samsung App Store (or Apps on some models), search for the app by name, and select Install. The app will read and install within a few minutes depending on its size and your internet speed.

Third-party apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify can be reinstalled this way. If you cannot find an app in the Samsung App Store, it may have been removed by the developer or may not be available in your region. In that case, you will need to look for an alternative app that serves the same purpose.

Freeing up storage space on your TV

Samsung Smart TVs have limited built-in storage — usually between 4 and 8 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 are having trouble installing new apps. Each app takes up anywhere from 50 megabytes to several hundred megabytes, so removing even a few unused apps can make a noticeable difference.

If your TV is still running slowly after deleting apps, the issue may be a lack of available memory rather than storage space. Restarting your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in will clear temporary memory and often improve performance. If the problem persists, check your TV's Settings to see how much free storage remains and consider deleting more apps or clearing the cache of apps you use frequently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting an app delete my saved passwords or settings?

No. Deleting an app removes only the app itself from your TV. Your Samsung account, Wi-Fi settings, and any passwords stored in other apps remain unchanged. If you reinstall the app later, you will need to log in again, but your account information will still exist on Samsung's servers.

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

Not directly. You cannot manage apps on your TV through the Samsung SmartThings app on your phone. You must use your TV remote to delete apps. However, you can use SmartThings to restart your TV or check its status, which may help if your TV is running slowly.

What if I accidentally delete an app I need?

You can reinstall it from the Samsung App Store within minutes. Press Home, open the App Store, search for the app by name, and select Install. If the app is a pre-installed Samsung app that you hid instead of deleted, you can unhide it by going to Settings and looking for a Hidden Apps or Manage Apps option.

Does deleting apps make my Samsung TV faster?

Deleting unused apps frees up storage space, which can help if your TV is running out of room. However, apps that are not running do not slow down your TV's performance. If your TV is slow, the issue is usually a lack of available memory (RAM), not storage. Restarting your TV usually fixes this.

Can I delete the Samsung App Store itself?

No. The Samsung App Store is a system app and cannot be deleted. You can hide it from your home screen if you do not use it, but it will remain installed on your TV.

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.