How to uninstall apps from your Samsung TV

You can remove apps from your Samsung TV in two ways: delete them entirely from the device, or hide them so they no longer appear on your home screen. Most Samsung TVs let you uninstall apps directly from the Apps menu or by using the remote's button controls. The exact steps depend on whether your TV runs Tizen (Samsung's operating system) or an older system, but both methods take less than a minute per app.

The fastest way is to navigate to the app you want to remove, press and hold the select button on your remote, and choose delete or remove from the menu that appears. If that option does not show up, you can go into the Apps settings and uninstall from there instead. Apps you delete are gone completely; apps you hide stay on the device but disappear from your home screen.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold the select button (center of the directional pad) on your remote while highlighting an app to see delete or remove options.
  • If the hold-and-select method does not work, go to Settings > Apps > App Management and select the app you want to uninstall.
  • Deleting an app removes it from your TV entirely; hiding an app keeps it on the device but removes it from your home screen.
  • System apps that came preinstalled on your TV usually cannot be deleted, but you can hide them so they do not clutter your menu.
  • Uninstalling an app frees up storage space on your TV, which can help if your device is running slowly.

Uninstall an app using the remote

This is the quickest method and works on most Samsung TVs made in the last five years. Navigate to the app you want to remove using the directional pad on your remote. Highlight the app so it is selected (you will see it highlighted or enlarged on screen).

Press and hold the select button — this is the center button of the directional pad, sometimes labeled OK or Enter. Hold it for two to three seconds until a menu appears. Look for an option that says Delete, Remove, or Uninstall. Press select to confirm. The app will disappear from your home screen when ready.

If nothing happens when you hold the select button, your TV may use a different method. Move to the Settings approach instead — it works on all Samsung models.

Uninstall an app through Settings

If the remote method does not work, or if you prefer a more deliberate approach, you can uninstall apps through your TV's settings menu. Press the Home button on your remote to go to the main screen. Use the directional pad to navigate to Settings (usually a gear icon in the top right corner).

Once in Settings, look for Apps or Applications. Select it, then choose App Management or Manage Apps. You will see a list of all apps installed on your TV. Use the directional pad to highlight the app you want to remove and press select. A details screen will open showing information about that app.

Look for a button labeled Uninstall, Delete, or Remove. Press select on that button. Your TV will ask you to confirm — select Yes or OK to complete the uninstall. The app is now gone from your device.

Hide apps instead of deleting them

If you do not want to delete an app but do not want to see it on your home screen, you can hide it instead. This is useful for apps you might want later or apps that came preinstalled on your TV that you cannot delete.

Highlight the app on your home screen and press and hold the select button. Instead of choosing Delete, look for an option that says Hide or Hide from Home. Select it, and the app will disappear from your home screen. The app still exists on your TV — you can unhide it later by going to Settings > Apps and looking for a Hidden Apps or Show Hidden Apps option.

What happens to preinstalled apps

Samsung TVs come with several apps already installed, such as Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, and Samsung's own apps. Some of these cannot be deleted because they are part of the TV's core system. If you try to uninstall one and no delete option appears, it is a system app that your TV needs to function.

You can almost always hide system apps so they do not clutter your home screen. This removes them from view without affecting your TV's performance. If you later change your mind, you can unhide them through the same Settings > Apps menu.

Free up storage space by uninstalling apps

Samsung TVs have limited storage, and apps take up space. If your TV is running slowly, freezing, or taking a long time to load channels, uninstalling apps you no longer use can help. Each app takes up between 10 and 500 megabytes depending on its size — streaming apps like Netflix or YouTube tend to be larger.

To see how much storage space an app uses, go to Settings > Apps > App Management, select the app, and look at the storage information on the details screen. Removing several large apps can noticeably improve your TV's speed. You can always reinstall an app later from the Samsung App Store if you change your mind.

Reinstall an app you deleted

If you delete an app and later want it back, you can read it again from the Samsung App Store. Press Home on your remote and navigate to Apps. Select App Store or Samsung App Store. Use the search function to find the app by name, select it, and choose Install or read. The app will reinstall in a few minutes depending on its size and your internet connection.

Apps you hid rather than deleted will reappear on your home screen as soon as you unhide them — you do not need to reinstall them. Go to Settings > Apps, find the Hidden Apps section, select the app, and choose Unhide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I delete some apps from my Samsung TV?

System apps that came preinstalled on your TV cannot be deleted because they are part of the operating system. You can hide these apps so they do not appear on your home screen, but they will remain on your device. If an app does not show a delete option when you press and hold select, it is a system app.

Will uninstalling an app delete my saved passwords and settings?

Yes. When you uninstall an app, all data associated with it — including login information, preferences, and watch history — is deleted from your TV. If you reinstall the app later, you will need to log in again. Some apps may restore your settings if you sign in with the same account.

How do I find apps I hid on my Samsung TV?

Go to Settings > Apps > App Management and look for a Hidden Apps section or option. Select it to see all apps you have hidden. Choose the app you want to unhide and select Unhide or Show. It will reappear on your home screen when ready.

Does uninstalling apps make my Samsung TV faster?

Yes, if your TV is running low on storage space. Uninstalling large apps frees up memory and can improve performance. However, if your TV has plenty of free storage, uninstalling apps will have little effect on speed. Check your storage in Settings > Storage to see how much space is available.

Can I uninstall multiple apps at once?

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