Where to Find and Start App Updates on Samsung TV
Most Samsung TVs update apps through the Samsung App Store or Google Play Store, depending on your TV model and operating system. You do not need to connect anything extra — your TV handles updates over the same internet connection it uses for streaming.
The fastest way to update a single app is to open the app store on your TV, find the app you want to update, and look for an "Update" button next to the app name. If you see "Open" instead, the app is already current. For multiple apps at once, most Samsung TVs have an automatic update setting that you can turn on once and forget about.
The exact steps depend on whether your TV runs Tizen (Samsung's operating system) or Google TV. Both methods take about two to five minutes per app, and updates usually finish without restarting your TV.
Key Takeaways
- Open your TV's app store (Samsung App Store or Google Play Store), find the app, and tap the Update button if one appears next to the app name.
- Turn on automatic updates in your app store settings so new versions read and install without you checking manually.
- Make sure your TV is connected to the internet and plugged in during updates — do not unplug or turn off the TV while an update is running.
- If an update fails or gets stuck, restart your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and try the update again.
- Some apps update through the Samsung App Store and others through Google Play Store on the same TV, so check both if you cannot find an app in one store.
Update Apps One at a Time Using the Samsung App Store
On Tizen-based Samsung TVs, the Samsung App Store is usually the default. Press the Home button on your remote, then navigate to Apps (or Applications depending on your model year). This opens a grid of your installed apps.
Scroll to find the app you want to update. Highlight it and press Enter or the center button on your remote. A details panel will appear on the right side of the screen. If an Update button is visible, press it. The TV will read and install the new version — you will see a progress bar. This usually takes one to three minutes depending on the app size and your internet speed.
Once the update finishes, the button will change back to Open. Your app is now current. If you see Open from the start, that app has no pending updates.
Update Apps Using Google Play Store
Newer Samsung TVs (2021 and later) often run Google TV instead of Tizen, or have Google Play Store available alongside the Samsung App Store. Press Home, then look for Google Play Store in your apps menu.
Open Google Play Store and press the Menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner. Select My Apps and Games, then tap Updates. You will see a list of apps with available updates. Tap the app you want to update, then press the Update button. The read and installation will begin automatically.
If you want to update all apps at once, look for an Update All button at the top of the Updates list. Tap it, and Google Play Store will queue all pending updates and install them in sequence. This can take 10 to 20 minutes depending on how many apps need updating.
Turn On Automatic Updates So You Do Not Have to Check Manually
The easiest way to keep your apps current is to enable automatic updates. On Samsung App Store, open the store, press Menu, go to Settings, and look for Auto Update. Toggle it On. From then on, the TV will read and install app updates in the background whenever new versions are available.
On Google Play Store, open the store, press Menu, select Settings, then Network Preferences. Choose Auto-update Apps and select either Over Any Network (updates read on Wi-Fi or mobile data) or Over Wi-Fi Only (safer if your internet has a data limit). Your TV will now update apps without asking you.
Automatic updates typically run when your TV is idle or in standby mode, so you may not notice them happening. If you want to see what updated, check the app store's My Apps or Updates section — it will show a timestamp of the last update for each app.
What to Do If an Update Fails or Gets Stuck
If an update hangs or shows an error message, the first step is to restart your TV. Unplug the power cable from the back of the TV (or the wall outlet), wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. This clears the TV's temporary memory and often fixes stuck updates.
Once the TV restarts, open the app store again and try updating the app a second time. If it fails again, check your internet connection — open a streaming app like Netflix or YouTube to confirm the TV can reach the internet. If the internet is working but the app update still fails, the app store itself may be having a temporary problem. Wait an hour and try again.
If the same app keeps failing to update after multiple attempts, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling it instead. Open the app store, find the app, and look for an Uninstall button. After uninstalling, search for the app again and select Install. This downloads a fresh copy, which sometimes works when an update does not.
Make Sure Your TV Stays Connected and Powered During Updates
Updates require a stable internet connection and continuous power. If your TV loses Wi-Fi or loses power while an update is running, the update can fail or leave the app in a broken state. Before starting any update, make sure your TV is plugged directly into a wall outlet (not a power strip that might turn off), and confirm your Wi-Fi signal is strong.
If you have a weak Wi-Fi signal, move your router closer to the TV or use an Ethernet cable if your TV has an Ethernet port. A wired connection is more reliable than Wi-Fi for large updates. Do not unplug the TV, change the input, or turn it off manually while an update is in progress — wait for the progress bar to finish and the button to return to Open.
If your internet cuts out during an update, the TV will usually pause and resume once the connection returns. If it does not resume after a few minutes, restart the TV using the power button on the remote (not by unplugging), then try the update again.
Check Which App Store Your TV Uses and Update Both If Needed
Some Samsung TV models have both the Samsung App Store and Google Play Store installed. An app might be available in one store but not the other, or it might have updates in both places. If you cannot find an app to update in the Samsung App Store, check Google Play Store as well.
To see which store an app came from, open the app store where you found it, highlight the app, and look at the details panel. It will show the store name and publisher. If you have the same app installed from both stores, you will need to update each version separately — they are treated as independent installations.
Most newer apps are published to Google Play Store first, so if you are looking for the latest version of a popular app, Google Play Store is often the better choice. Older or Samsung-exclusive apps may only appear in the Samsung App Store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Samsung account to update apps?
No. You can update apps without signing into a Samsung account. However, if you want automatic updates or to restore apps after a factory reset, signing in makes it easier — your TV remembers which apps you had and can reinstall them automatically.
Will updating an app erase my saved data or settings?
No. App updates preserve your saved data, login information, and settings. The update only replaces the app code, not your personal files. Your watch history, bookmarks, and preferences stay the same.
How long does a typical app update take?
Most app updates take one to five minutes depending on the app size and your internet speed. Large apps like streaming services might take up to 10 minutes. Automatic updates can take longer because the TV installs multiple apps in sequence, sometimes 15 to 30 minutes total.
What if my TV says "storage full" when I try to update an app?
Your TV's storage is nearly full. Delete apps you no longer use by opening the app, pressing Menu, and selecting Uninstall. You only need to free up a few hundred megabytes. After uninstalling, try the update again.
Can I update apps while watching TV?
Yes, but it may slow down streaming or cause stuttering. Updates run in the background, but they use your internet bandwidth. For the smoothest experience, start updates when you are not actively watching, or use automatic updates during off-hours.