How to Remove Apps from Your Samsung Smart TV

The fastest way to uninstall an app on Samsung Smart TV

To remove an app from your Samsung Smart TV, press the Home button on your remote, navigate to the app you want to delete, press and hold the Select button (or the center button on your remote), and choose Delete from the menu that appears. The app will be removed from your TV within seconds. This method works on most Samsung Smart TV models made in the last five years.

If you cannot find the Delete option, your TV may require you to go through the Apps menu instead. Open Apps from the Home screen, find the app, select it, and look for a Remove or Uninstall button. The exact wording and location depend on your TV's software version, but the process is the same across Samsung models.

Key Takeaways

Press Home, find the app, hold Select, and choose Delete to remove most apps in under a minute.
Pre-installed apps (like Samsung TV Plus or SmartThings) often cannot be deleted but can be hidden from your home screen.
Removing an app does not affect your Samsung account or any other apps on your TV.
If an app crashes or stops working, uninstalling and reinstalling it usually fixes the problem.

Step-by-step removal using the Home screen

Start by pressing the Home button on your remote to bring up the home screen. Look through your apps and locate the one you want to remove. Do not open it—instead, highlight it by moving the cursor over it with your remote.

Once the app is highlighted, press and hold the Select button (the center button on most Samsung remotes) for two to three seconds. A small menu will pop up with options. Look for Delete, Remove, or Uninstall—the exact word varies by TV model. Press Select again to confirm the deletion. The app will disappear from your home screen when ready.

If nothing happens when you hold Select, your TV model may use a different method. Move to the next section for the Apps menu approach.

Removing apps through the Apps menu

On some Samsung Smart TVs, especially older models, you need to go through the Apps section instead of the home screen. Press Home, then select Apps from the menu. This opens a full list of all installed apps on your TV.

Scroll through the list to find the app you want to remove. Highlight it and press and hold Select for two to three seconds. The same delete menu should appear. Choose Delete or Remove and confirm. If you still do not see a delete option, the app is likely pre-installed and cannot be removed—see the section below on hiding apps instead.

What to do with apps you cannot delete

Samsung pre-installs certain apps like Samsung TV Plus, SmartThings, and Samsung Health on most models. These apps cannot be deleted because they are part of the TV's system software. Attempting to remove them will not work, and you will not see a Delete option when you select them.

Instead of deleting these apps, you can hide them from your home screen. Highlight the app, hold Select, and choose Hide or Remove from Home. The app will no longer appear on your home screen, though it remains installed on your TV. If you change your mind later, you can unhide it by going to Apps and selecting it again.

Reinstalling an app after deletion

If you delete an app and later want it back, you can reinstall it through the Samsung App Store. Press Home, go to Apps, and look for Samsung App Store or App Store depending on your TV model. Open it and search for the app by name.

Select the app from the search results and choose Install. The app will read and install automatically—this usually takes one to three minutes depending on your internet connection and the app's size. Once installation is complete, the app will appear on your home screen or in your Apps list, ready to use.

Troubleshooting when an app will not delete

If you highlight an app and the Delete option does not appear, first check whether it is a pre-installed system app. As mentioned above, these cannot be removed. Try hiding it instead by selecting Hide or Remove from Home.

If the app is one you downloaded and Delete still does not show up, restart your TV. Press the power button to turn it off completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. Then try deleting the app again. If the Delete option still does not appear after a restart, the app may be corrupted. In that case, try uninstalling and reinstalling it through the App Store to fix the problem.

For apps that freeze or crash during deletion, unplug your TV from the power outlet for one minute, plug it back in, and try again. This clears the TV's temporary memory and often resolves stuck processes.

Managing storage space on your Samsung Smart TV

Removing unused apps frees up storage space on your TV, which can improve performance if your TV is running slowly. Samsung Smart TVs typically have between 4 and 8 gigabytes of usable storage, depending on the model. Pre-installed apps take up a significant portion of this space, so deleting apps you do not use can make a noticeable difference.

To check how much storage you have left, go to Settings (usually accessible from the Home menu), select Support, and look for Storage or Device Manager. This shows you the total storage and how much is currently in use. If your TV is running low on space, removing apps you no longer need is the fastest way to free up room for new ones or for system updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting an app remove my saved data or login information?

Deleting an app removes the app itself but may leave behind some saved data or login information on your TV. If you reinstall the app later, it may remember your login or settings. To completely clear all traces of an app, go to Settings, select Apps, find the app, and choose Clear Data or Clear Cache before deleting it.

Can I delete multiple apps at once?

No, Samsung Smart TVs require you to delete apps one at a time. There is no bulk delete feature. If you want to remove several apps, you will need to repeat the delete process for each one, which typically takes less than a minute per app.

What happens if I delete an app by accident?

You can reinstall any app you deleted through the Samsung App Store at any time. straightforward search for the app by name and select Install. Your TV will read and install it again within a few minutes. There is no penalty for deleting and reinstalling apps.

Do I need to restart my TV after deleting an app?

No, restarting is not necessary. The app disappears when ready after you confirm the deletion. However, if you experience any unusual behavior after deleting an app, restarting your TV is a good troubleshooting step.

Can I delete apps from my Samsung account or phone instead of the TV?

No, you must delete apps directly from the TV itself. There is no way to remove apps remotely through the Samsung SmartThings app or your Samsung account. You need to use your TV remote and follow the steps on the TV screen.

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.