Where to find apps on your Samsung TV
Apps on a Samsung TV live in the Apps section, which you reach from the home screen. Press the Home button on your remote — it usually has a house icon — and look for an Apps tile or menu option. On newer Samsung models, this appears as a grid icon or the word "Apps" in the bottom row of the home screen. On older models, you may see it labeled as "Smart Hub" or "Applications".
Once you open Apps, you will see tiles for apps you have already installed, organized by category or by how recently you used them. The layout depends on your TV model and the year it was made, but the principle is the same: everything you can run is listed here.
Key Takeaways
- Press Home on your remote and select Apps to see all installed applications on your Samsung TV.
- If you do not see an app you want, use the Samsung App Store (usually labeled "Samsung TV Plus" or "App Store") to browse and install new ones.
- Pinning frequently used apps to your home screen saves you from digging through the Apps menu every time.
- If an app does not appear after installation, restart your TV or check that it downloaded completely in the App Store.
Browsing and installing new apps from the Samsung App Store
The Samsung App Store is built into your TV and is where you find new apps to install. From the Apps menu, look for a tile labeled "Samsung TV Plus," "App Store," or sometimes just a shopping bag icon. Tap it to open the store.
Once inside, you can browse by category — streaming services, games, news, sports — or search for a specific app by name using the on-screen keyboard. When you find an app you want, select it and choose "Install" or "read." The app will read and install automatically; you do not need to do anything else. Once it finishes, it will appear in your Apps list and be ready to open.
Not all apps are available on Samsung TV. Streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ are almost always there, but smaller or newer apps may not be. If you cannot find an app in the Samsung App Store, it may not have a Samsung TV version.
Pinning apps to your home screen for faster access
If you use the same apps repeatedly — Netflix, a news app, a sports app — you can pin them directly to your home screen so you do not have to open the Apps menu every time. From the Apps list, highlight the app you want to pin, press and hold the select button on your remote, and choose "Pin to Home" or "Add to Home Screen." The exact wording varies by model.
Once pinned, the app tile will appear on your home screen alongside other shortcuts. You can usually rearrange these tiles by selecting one, holding the button, and moving it left or right. Removing a pinned app from the home screen does not uninstall it — it just removes the shortcut, and the app stays in your Apps list.
What to do if an app does not show up after installation
Sometimes an app you just installed does not appear in your Apps list right away. First, wait a few minutes — large apps can take time to finish downloading and installing in the background. Then restart your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds or using the power menu in Settings.
If the app still does not appear, go back to the Samsung App Store, find the app again, and check its status. If it says "Installed," the app is there but may be hidden or sorted in a way you are not expecting. Try scrolling through your Apps list or searching for it by name using the search function in the Apps menu. If the store shows "Install" instead of "Installed," the read did not complete — select Install again.
On very old Samsung TV models, some newer apps may not be compatible. Check the app's page in the store for system requirements, or contact Samsung support if you are unsure whether your TV can run a particular app.
Using the search function to find apps quickly
If you have many apps installed, scrolling through the entire Apps list is slow. Most Samsung TVs have a search function built into the Apps menu. Look for a magnifying glass icon or the word "Search" at the top of the Apps screen. Select it and use the on-screen keyboard to type the app name.
The search will show you installed apps that match what you typed, plus suggestions from the Samsung App Store if the app is not installed yet. This is the fastest way to open an app you use regularly without pinning it to your home screen.
Managing storage when you run out of space for apps
Samsung TVs have limited storage, and installing too many apps can slow things down or prevent new ones from installing. If you see a message that storage is full, you need to uninstall apps you no longer use. From the Apps list, highlight an app, press and hold the select button, and choose "Uninstall" or "Remove." Confirm the action, and the app will be deleted.
Uninstalling an app frees up space but does not erase any saved data or login information if you reinstall it later — that depends on the individual app. If you uninstall Netflix, for example, you will still be logged in when you reinstall it, as long as you use the same Samsung account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rearrange the order of apps in my Apps list?
On most newer Samsung TVs, yes. Highlight an app, press and hold the select button, and look for a "Move" or "Rearrange" option. On older models, the order is usually fixed and based on how recently you used each app. Check your TV's manual if you are unsure whether your model supports rearranging.
Why do some apps ask me to sign in every time I open them?
Some apps do not save login information on Samsung TVs, or your TV's storage was cleared. Try signing in once and looking for a "Remember Me" or "Stay Signed In" checkbox. If the app keeps asking, it may be a limitation of that app on Samsung TV — contact the app's support team to confirm.
Can I delete the apps that came pre-installed on my Samsung TV?
Most pre-installed apps can be uninstalled, but a few core ones cannot. Try highlighting the app and pressing and holding select to see if an uninstall option appears. If it does not, the app is locked and cannot be removed without a factory reset, which is not worth doing just to remove one app.
What is the difference between Samsung TV Plus and the App Store?
Samsung TV Plus is a free streaming service built into your TV that shows live channels and on-demand content. The App Store is where you browse and install third-party apps like Netflix or Hulu. They are separate, though both are accessible from your home screen.
Do I need a Samsung account to install apps?
You need a Samsung account to access the App Store and install apps. If you do not have one, you can create it for free on your TV during setup or through the Samsung website. The account is also used to sync settings and purchases across Samsung devices.