The fastest way to update apps on your Samsung TV

Most Samsung TV apps update automatically in the background, but you can also check for and install updates manually through the Samsung TV App Store. The process takes about two minutes and requires only your remote and an internet connection.

To update apps manually, press the Home button on your remote, navigate to the App Store, select the app you want to update, and look for an Update button. If no Update button appears, the app is already current. Some apps update only when you open them, so launching an app you haven't used in weeks may trigger an automatic update before it loads.

Key Takeaways

  • Samsung TVs set most apps to update automatically by default, so you may not need to do anything manually.
  • You can check for updates by opening the App Store, finding the app, and tapping the Update button if one appears.
  • Apps that fail to update often need a restart of the TV or a check of your internet connection before trying again.
  • Older Samsung TV models use a different menu structure, so look for "Smart Hub" instead of "Home" if your remote does not have a Home button.

Turning on automatic updates for Samsung TV apps

Automatic updates are usually on by default on Samsung TVs made after 2016, but you can confirm this in your settings. Press Home, go to Settings, then select Apps. Look for an option called Auto Update or Update Apps Automatically and make sure it is toggled on.

If automatic updates are enabled, your TV will read and install app updates whenever it is connected to the internet and not in use. This means updates often happen overnight or when you are not watching. You will not see notifications for these updates—the app straightforward becomes newer the next time you open it.

Manually checking for updates in the App Store

Open the App Store by pressing Home on your remote and selecting it from the menu. Use the arrow buttons to browse to the app you want to check, or use the search function (usually a magnifying glass icon) to find it by name. Once you select the app, a details page will appear.

On this page, look for an Update button. If you see one, press it to read and install the newest version. The update will begin when ready and may take anywhere from 30 seconds to a few minutes depending on the app size and your internet speed. Do not turn off your TV during an update. Once the update finishes, the Update button will disappear and be replaced with an Open button.

What to do if an app will not update

If an app shows an Update button but the update fails or gets stuck, restart your TV completely. Press and hold the power button on your remote for 10 seconds until the TV shuts down, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. This clears temporary files that sometimes block updates.

Check your internet connection next. Go to Settings, select General, then Network, and choose your Wi-Fi network. If the connection shows as connected but the update still fails, try disconnecting and reconnecting to your Wi-Fi. If your internet is slow (below 5 Mbps), the read may time out—move your TV closer to your router or restart your router to improve the signal.

If the app still will not update after a restart and a connection check, try uninstalling and reinstalling it. Go to the App Store, find the app, and select Uninstall. Then search for it again and select Install. This removes any corrupted files that may be preventing the update.

Differences between Samsung TV models and update methods

Samsung TVs from 2016 onward use the Home menu and App Store layout described above. If your TV is older than 2016, look for Smart Hub instead of Home—the process is the same, but the menu names are different. Press the Smart Hub button on your remote, navigate to Apps, and follow the same steps to find and update your apps.

Some very old Samsung models (2012 to 2015) do not support app updates at all and will show only an Open button, never an Update button. If your TV is this old and an app stops working, you may need to uninstall and reinstall it, but new versions may not be available. In this case, the app developer has likely stopped supporting that TV model.

Checking which apps have updates available

To see all your installed apps at once and check which ones need updates, go to Home, then App Store, then look for a My Apps or Installed Apps section. This page shows every app you have downloaded and displays an Update badge or notification next to any app with a newer version available.

From this screen, you can update multiple apps one at a time by selecting each one and pressing Update. Some Samsung TVs allow you to update all apps at once with a single button—look for an Update All option at the top of the Installed Apps list if your TV supports it.

Troubleshooting apps that update but still do not work

Sometimes an app updates successfully but then crashes when you try to open it, or it behaves differently than before. The first step is to force-close the app. Go to Settings, select Apps, find the app in the list, and select Force Stop. Wait 10 seconds, then open the app again.

If the app still does not work, clear its cache. In the same Apps menu, select the app, then look for Storage or Memory options. Select Clear Cache (not Clear Data, which will erase your login information). This removes temporary files the app created and often fixes crashes or freezing.

If clearing the cache does not help, uninstall the app completely and reinstall it from the App Store. This is a fresh installation and will read the latest version. After reinstalling, open the app and log back in if it requires an account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to update my Samsung TV apps?

No, but updates usually fix bugs and add features. If an app works fine and you do not want the newest version, you can skip the update. However, very old versions of apps may stop working if the developer stops supporting them, so updating eventually becomes necessary.

Why does my app update take so long?

Large apps can take several minutes to read and install, especially on slower internet connections. Apps over 100 MB may take 5 to 10 minutes. If an update is taking longer than 15 minutes, restart your TV and try again—it may have stalled.

Can I use my TV while an app is updating?

Yes, you can watch other apps or live TV while an update happens in the background. The TV will not interrupt you, but do not turn off the TV or disconnect the internet until the update finishes, or the app may become corrupted.

What if the App Store itself will not open?

Restart your TV and check your internet connection. If the App Store still will not open, go to Settings, select Apps, find the App Store in the list, and select Force Stop. Wait 10 seconds and try opening it again. If it still fails, restart your router.

Will updating an app erase my saved games or login information?

No, updates preserve your data. Your login information, saved games, and settings stay the same after an update. The update only replaces the app code, not your personal files.