Samsung Smart Hub is the built-in menu system on Samsung televisions that lets you stream content, browse apps, and adjust settings without a separate device

Smart Hub is the home screen you see when you turn on a Samsung TV. It organizes streaming services, apps, and TV settings in one place. Instead of flipping through cable channels or hunting for a remote app, you open Smart Hub and find Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, and other services already installed and ready to use. Samsung includes Smart Hub on most of its TVs made in the last ten years, and it works the same way across most models—though the exact apps and layout vary slightly depending on your TV's age and model.

The system runs on Samsung's own operating system called Tizen. You control it with your TV remote, a smartphone app, or voice commands if your TV has a microphone. Smart Hub is free—you do not pay Samsung to use it. You pay only for the streaming services themselves, like Netflix or Hulu, if you choose to subscribe to them.

Key Takeaways

  • Smart Hub is Samsung's built-in home screen that organizes apps, streaming services, and TV settings in one menu system.
  • You control Smart Hub with your remote, a smartphone app, or voice commands—no extra hardware needed.
  • Most Samsung TVs made since 2015 include Smart Hub, and it comes with popular apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video already installed.
  • You can add new apps, delete ones you do not use, and rearrange the home screen layout to match your preferences.
  • Smart Hub connects to your home Wi-Fi network, so you need an internet connection to stream content or read new apps.

How to Open and Navigate Smart Hub

Press the Home button on your Samsung TV remote. On most remotes, this is a button with a house icon near the top. The Smart Hub home screen appears when ready. You will see rows of apps and services arranged horizontally across the screen. Use the arrow buttons on your remote to move left, right, up, and down. Press Enter or OK to open an app or service.

The top row usually shows your most-used apps or Samsung's recommended content. Below that are rows for different categories—Movies, TV Shows, Sports, News, or Games, depending on your TV model. Scroll down to see more rows. If you want to go back to the home screen from any app, press Home again.

On newer Samsung TVs, you can also use the SmartThings app on your smartphone to control Smart Hub. read the SmartThings app from your phone's app store, connect it to the same Wi-Fi network as your TV, and you can navigate and launch apps from your phone instead of using the remote.

Adding and Removing Apps on Smart Hub

Smart Hub comes with popular apps pre-installed, but you can add more. Look for an app store icon on your home screen—it usually looks like a grid or has the word "Apps" next to it. Open the app store and browse available applications. When you find one you want, select it and choose "Install" or "Add to Home." The app downloads and appears on your home screen within a few seconds.

To remove an app you no longer use, highlight it on the home screen, press and hold the remote's Enter button, and select "Remove" or "Delete." The app disappears from your home screen but remains installed on your TV—you can reinstall it later from the app store without downloading it again. If you want to rearrange apps, highlight one, press and hold Enter, and select "Move." Use the arrow buttons to place it where you want, then press Enter to confirm.

The app store on Samsung Smart Hub includes Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Spotify, Apple TV+, and many others. Availability depends on your region and TV model. Some apps are free to use; others require a paid subscription to the service itself.

Connecting Smart Hub to Wi-Fi and Your Samsung Account

Smart Hub needs an internet connection to work. When you first set up your TV, you will be prompted to connect to your home Wi-Fi network. Go to Settings (usually accessible from the home screen), select Network, and choose your Wi-Fi network. Enter your password and wait for the connection to complete. Your TV will remember this network and reconnect automatically each time you turn it on.

You can also create a Samsung account to save your preferences, app logins, and watch history across devices. From the home screen, go to Settings, select Account, and choose "Create Account" or "Sign In." You will need an email address and a password. A Samsung account is optional—Smart Hub works without one—but it makes it easier to resume shows where you left off and to use Samsung's voice assistant features.

If you have multiple people in your household, you can set up separate user profiles in Smart Hub. Each person can have their own home screen layout, app list, and watch history. Go to Settings, select Users and Accounts, and add a new user. Each user logs in with their own PIN or password.

Using Voice Commands with Smart Hub

Many Samsung TVs include a microphone built into the remote or the TV itself. If yours does, you can speak commands to control Smart Hub without using buttons. Press and hold the microphone button on your remote and say what you want: "Open Netflix," "Search for action movies," "Go to YouTube," or "Turn up the volume." Release the button and wait for the TV to respond.

Voice commands work best when you speak clearly and use straightforward phrases. If your TV does not recognize a command, try rephrasing it. You can also use voice commands to search for content across multiple apps at once—say "Find sci-fi movies" and Smart Hub will show results from Netflix, Prime Video, and other services together.

Voice features require your TV to be connected to Wi-Fi and your Samsung account to be signed in. Some older Samsung TV models do not have a microphone, so voice commands are not available on those sets. Check your TV's manual or settings to see if your model supports voice control.

Troubleshooting Common Smart Hub Problems

If Smart Hub is slow or apps are freezing, restart your TV. Unplug it from the power outlet, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. This clears the TV's memory and often fixes lag. If the problem continues, go to Settings, select Support, and choose "Self Diagnosis." This tool checks your internet connection, storage space, and software version and tells you if anything needs attention.

If an app will not open or keeps crashing, try uninstalling and reinstalling it. Highlight the app on the home screen, press and hold Enter, select "Remove," then go to the app store and reinstall it. If that does not work, the app may not be compatible with your TV model or region. Check the app store listing to see if there are any compatibility notes.

If Smart Hub will not connect to Wi-Fi, go to Settings, select Network, and choose "Network Status." This shows whether your TV is connected and how strong the signal is. If the signal is weak, move your Wi-Fi router closer to the TV or restart your router. If you see an error code, write it down and search Samsung's support website for that specific code—it will tell you what the problem is and how to fix it.

If you cannot find an app you want in the app store, it may not be available in your region or on your TV model. Some apps require a certain minimum software version. Go to Settings, select Support, and choose "Software Update" to check if your TV is running the latest version. If an update is available, install it—this sometimes unlocks new apps and features.

Customizing Your Smart Hub Home Screen

You can change the look and feel of your Smart Hub home screen to match your preferences. Go to Settings, select Home Screen, and you will find options to change the background image, rearrange app rows, and hide rows you do not use. Some Samsung TVs let you choose from preset themes or upload your own background photo.

You can also customize which apps appear in your home screen's top row. This row usually shows your most-used apps, but you can pin specific apps there so they always appear first. Highlight an app, press and hold Enter, and select "Pin to Top" or "Add to Favorites." This is useful if you have a favorite streaming service you want to access quickly.

Smart Hub also learns your viewing habits over time. The more you use certain apps, the more prominently they appear on your home screen. If you want to reset this learning and start fresh, go to Settings, select Apps, and choose "Reset App Suggestions" or "Clear Viewing History."

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Samsung account to use Smart Hub?

No. Smart Hub works without a Samsung account. However, creating one lets you save your preferences, app logins, and watch history. If you use multiple Samsung devices, an account makes it easier to sync your settings across them.

Can I use Smart Hub without Wi-Fi?

Smart Hub's home screen will display, but you cannot stream content, read apps, or use most features without an internet connection. You can still watch cable TV if your TV has a cable input, but streaming services require Wi-Fi.

What if my TV model is very old and does not have Smart Hub?

Samsung TVs made before 2015 may not include Smart Hub. If your TV does not have it, you can add streaming capability with an external device like a Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, or Google Chromecast. These devices plug into your TV's HDMI port and provide similar app-based streaming.

Can I delete pre-installed apps from Smart Hub?

Most pre-installed apps can be removed from your home screen, but they remain installed on your TV. Some system apps cannot be deleted. If you remove an app and want it back, you can reinstall it from the app store without downloading it again.

Why is Smart Hub showing apps in a language I do not understand?

Go to Settings, select General, and look for Language or Display Language. Select your preferred language and the home screen will update. If the app store is still showing content in another language, check the app store's own settings—some apps have separate language preferences.