How to Install Apps on a Samsung Smart TV (Tizen)

Samsung smart TVs run an operating system called Tizen, and most Samsung TVs sold since 2015 have a built-in app store with hundreds of streaming services available to download. If you bought a Samsung TV and it doesn't have the app you want pre-installed, adding it takes only a couple of minutes.

Samsung TVs come with a slim remote called the Smart Remote (also called the One Remote on newer models). The remote relies on the directional pad and a few key buttons rather than a full keyboard. Pressing the Home button (the house icon) brings up the Samsung smart hub bar across the bottom of the screen.

To install an app, press the Home button and navigate to the Apps section — it usually appears as a grid icon on the home bar. Inside the Apps menu, you'll see a search bar and rows of featured and trending apps. Use the search bar to type the name of the service you want: Netflix, Hulu, Max, Disney+, Peacock, Paramount+, Prime Video, YouTube, Tubi, Pluto TV, Apple TV+, or ESPN+. Select the app and press Install or Download. It installs in seconds and appears on your home screen.

To put a favorite app on the home bar for quicker access, open the app from the Apps grid, press and hold the OK button, and choose Add to Home. From there you can also rearrange the order of apps on the home screen bar to match how often you use them.

To remove an app, go back to the Apps section, find the app, press and hold OK, and select Delete. Built-in apps (pre-installed by Samsung) cannot be deleted, but you can move them further down the list.

Samsung TVs update apps automatically in the background. If you ever notice an app behaving oddly, go to Settings > Support > Self Diagnosis > Reset Smart Hub. This resets your app data without deleting downloaded apps, and often fixes glitches.

A Samsung account is optional but helpful for syncing settings across devices and accessing Samsung TV Plus (free live TV channels built into the TV). To sign in, go to Settings > General > System Manager > Samsung Account.

For households with iPhones (2019 or newer Samsung TVs), AirPlay 2 is built in. Open Control Center on your iPhone, tap the screen mirroring button, and select your Samsung TV. For Android phones, the SmartThings app from Samsung connects your phone to the TV for mirroring and control.

When your room has lots of natural light, the TV's Ambient Mode turns the screen into a digital art display or shows clock and weather information when you're not actively watching. Press the dedicated Ambient button on the remote or go to the Home screen to enable it.