How to Install Apps on Your Samsung TV

The basic path: Samsung TV Plus, the app store built into your TV

Most Samsung TVs come with an app store already on the TV itself. You do not need to buy anything or sign up for a separate service to use it. Open the TV remote, press the Home button, and look for an icon that says "Samsung TV Plus," "Apps," or a grid symbol. From there, you can browse apps, select one, and install it directly to your TV—the TV downloads and stores it for you.

The apps available depend on your TV model and the year it was made. Newer Samsung TVs (2016 and later) have the widest selection. Older models may have fewer options. The store shows you what is available for your specific TV, so you will only see apps that can actually run on it.

Installation is when ready—you select the app, press Install or read, and it appears on your home screen within seconds. You do not need a computer or USB drive. Everything happens on the TV itself.

Key Takeaways

Open the Samsung TV Plus app store from your TV remote's Home button and search for the app you want, then press Install.
Your Samsung account (or a guest account) lets you read apps, but you can use most apps without signing in to Samsung itself.
Apps install directly to your TV's storage, so check how much space is left if you plan to install many apps at once.
If an app does not appear in the store, your TV model may not support it, and there is no workaround through USB or computer installation.
Restart your TV if an app stops working or will not install—unplug it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in.

Step-by-step installation from the Samsung TV Plus store

Press the Home button on your Samsung remote. This brings up the main menu on your TV screen. Look for an icon labeled "Apps," "Samsung TV Plus," or a grid of squares. Select it and press Enter.

You will see a list of featured apps and a search bar at the top. Use the arrow keys on your remote to navigate. If you know the name of the app you want (Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, etc.), select the search bar, type the name using the on-screen keyboard, and press Enter. If you are browsing, use the arrow keys to scroll through categories like Entertainment, Sports, or News.

When you find the app, select it and press Enter. A details page opens showing the app name, description, and an Install button (or sometimes a read button—they mean the same thing). Press Enter on Install. The TV begins downloading the app. A progress bar may appear, or the screen may straightforward return to the store. Either way, the installation is happening in the background.

Once installation finishes, the button changes to Open or a checkmark appears. The app is now on your TV. Press Home again to return to your main screen, and you will see the new app in your apps list or on your home screen.

When you need a Samsung account to read apps

Some apps require you to sign in with a Samsung account before you can install them. If you do not have one, the TV will prompt you to create one during installation. You will need an email address and a password. Samsung will send a verification email to confirm your address. This takes a few minutes.

Once your account is set up, you stay signed in on that TV. You do not have to sign in again for every app. If you buy a new Samsung TV later, you can sign in with the same account and your previously installed apps will be available to read again on the new TV.

If you do not want to create an account, you can use a guest account instead. Select "Guest" when the TV asks you to sign in. Guest accounts let you read and use most apps, but you cannot save preferences or sync data across devices. For most people, a Samsung account takes two minutes to set up and is worth doing once.

Checking TV storage before installing many apps

Samsung TVs have built-in storage, similar to a phone or tablet. Apps take up space on that storage. If your TV is full, new apps will not install. You can check how much space is left and delete apps you no longer use.

To check storage, press Home, then look for Settings (usually a gear icon). Navigate to About This TV or Device Information, then look for Storage or Memory. The screen will show how much space is used and how much is free. Most Samsung TVs have between 4 and 16 gigabytes of storage, depending on the model.

If you are running low on space, delete apps you do not use. Press Home, find the app on your home screen, press and hold the remote's center button (or select the app and look for a Delete or Remove option), and choose Delete. The space is freed up when ready, and you can install new apps.

What to do if an app does not appear in the store

Not every app that exists for phones or computers is available for Samsung TVs. The Samsung TV Plus store only shows apps that Samsung has approved and that your TV model can run. If you search for an app and it does not appear, it is not available for your TV—there is no way to sideload it or install it from another source on most Samsung TVs.

Check the app's official website or support page to see if a TV version exists. Some apps, like Spotify or Plex, have TV versions but may not be available in all regions or on all TV models. If the app is not in your store, it is not compatible with your TV.

If you need a specific app that is not available, consider using a streaming device instead. A Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, or Google Chromecast plugs into your TV's HDMI port and has its own app store with different apps available. This is the only workaround if your TV does not support the app you want.

Troubleshooting apps that will not install or stop working

If an app will not install, or if it installs but crashes or freezes, restart your TV. Unplug the TV from the wall outlet, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. This clears the TV's temporary memory and often fixes app problems. Once the TV restarts, try installing the app again or opening it if it is already installed.

If the problem continues, check that your TV is connected to the internet. Press Home, go to Settings, select Network, and look for a Connected or Status option. If the TV is not connected to Wi-Fi, connect it and try again. Apps need an internet connection to read and often to run.

If the app still will not work, delete it and reinstall it. Go to Settings, select Apps or Applications, find the app in the list, select it, and choose Uninstall or Delete. Then go back to the Samsung TV Plus store and install it fresh. This usually solves problems caused by incomplete downloads or corrupted files.

Managing and organizing your installed apps

Once you have installed several apps, your home screen can get crowded. Most Samsung TVs let you rearrange apps, delete ones you do not use, and create folders to organize them. Press Home to see your apps. Select an app, press and hold the center button on your remote (or look for an Edit or Organize option), and you will see options to move, delete, or organize the app.

You can also pin your favorite apps to the top of the home screen so they are straightforward to find. Some Samsung TVs let you create custom rows or folders for different types of apps—one for entertainment, one for sports, one for news, and so on. The exact steps vary by TV model, but the Home screen menu usually has an Edit or Customize option that explains how.

Deleting an app from your home screen does not delete it from the TV entirely. You can always reinstall it later from the Samsung TV Plus store without paying anything. The app store remembers that you installed it before and will reinstall it quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay for apps in the Samsung TV Plus store?

Most apps are free. Some apps, like premium versions of games or specialized streaming services, may cost money. The store will tell you the price before you install. You can set up payment through your Samsung account if you want to buy paid apps, but you are never required to.

Can I install apps from a USB drive or computer?

No. Samsung TVs do not support sideloading apps from USB drives or computers. The only way to install apps is through the Samsung TV Plus store built into the TV. If an app is not in the store, it cannot be installed on that TV model.

Will my installed apps stay if I factory reset my TV?

No. A factory reset erases everything on the TV, including all installed apps. After a reset, you will need to sign back into your Samsung account and reinstall your apps from the store. This is why signing in with a Samsung account is useful—the store remembers which apps you installed before and makes reinstalling them faster.

What if my TV is too old to have an app store?

Samsung TVs made before 2016 may not have the Samsung TV Plus store or may have a very limited version. If your TV does not have an app store, you can use a streaming device like a Roku, Fire Stick, or Apple TV instead. These plug into your TV's HDMI port and have their own app stores with many more options.

Can I use the same Samsung account on multiple TVs?

Yes. Sign in with the same Samsung account on each TV, and your installed apps will be available to read on all of them. Your preferences and watch history may sync across TVs depending on the app, but this varies by app and service.

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.