How to Add an App to Your Samsung TV Home Screen
Samsung smart TVs run on Tizen OS, a proprietary operating system that manages everything from streaming apps to system settings. Understanding how app management works on Tizen — and where your specific TV model fits into that ecosystem — is the first step to customizing your home screen the way you actually want it.
What the Samsung TV Home Screen Actually Does
The home screen on a Samsung TV isn't just a launcher — it's a curated rail of apps, inputs, and content recommendations managed by Tizen. Apps appear as tiles along the bottom of the screen, and you can pin, reorder, and remove them to control what shows up first when you turn on the TV.
The key distinction: there's a difference between installing an app and adding it to your home screen. Some apps are pre-installed but hidden from the home rail. Others need to be downloaded from the Samsung App Store first. Both situations are handled differently.
How to Add an App from the Samsung App Store
If the app isn't on your TV yet, you'll need to install it first:
- Press the Home button on your remote (the house icon).
- Navigate to the Apps section — usually represented by a grid icon in the home rail.
- Select the search icon (magnifying glass) within the App Store.
- Type the name of the app using the on-screen keyboard.
- Select the app from results and choose Install.
Once installed, the app typically appears in the Apps section automatically. From there, you can pin it to your home screen.
How to Pin an App to the Home Screen Rail
This is the step most people are looking for — getting an app to appear in the main home screen row so you don't have to dig through menus:
- Press the Home button to open the home screen.
- Navigate to the Apps icon and open it.
- Find the app you want to pin.
- Long-press the app tile (hold the Select/OK button on the remote for about 2 seconds).
- A small menu will appear — select "Add to Home".
The app will now show up as a tile in your home screen rail. You can then reorder it by long-pressing again and selecting "Move", then using the directional buttons to slide it into position.
Factors That Affect How This Works on Your TV 📺
Not every Samsung TV behaves identically here. Several variables shape the experience:
| Factor | How It Affects App Management |
|---|---|
| Tizen OS version | UI layout and menu options vary significantly between Tizen 4, 5, 6, and 7+ |
| TV release year | Older models (pre-2018) may have limited App Store libraries and fewer home screen customization options |
| Remote type | Smart Remotes support long-press actions; older IR remotes may not |
| Internet connection | App installation and updates require an active network connection |
| Regional App Store | Available apps vary by country and region |
Samsung has updated its home screen UI multiple times over the years. On 2022 and newer models, the home screen was redesigned with a more content-forward layout, which changed how app tiles are displayed and accessed. On older models, the row-based layout behaves more predictably with the steps above.
When an App Doesn't Appear in the Store
If you search for an app and it doesn't show up, there are a few common reasons:
- Regional restrictions — some apps are only available in specific countries
- Device compatibility — certain apps require newer Tizen versions or specific hardware features
- App removed from the store — developers occasionally pull apps from Samsung's platform
In these cases, sideloading is sometimes discussed as an alternative. Samsung TVs do support developer mode and app sideloading via USB or network, but this process is technically complex, voids some warranty considerations on certain models, and requires the TV to be placed into developer mode through Samsung's official developer portal. It's a meaningfully different process from standard installation.
Reordering and Removing Apps from the Home Screen
Once apps are pinned, the home screen rail is yours to organize:
- To move an app: Long-press the tile → select Move → use arrow keys to reposition → confirm with Select.
- To remove from home screen: Long-press → select Remove from Home. This doesn't uninstall the app — it just removes it from the rail. The app remains in your Apps library.
- To uninstall entirely: Go to Apps → long-press the tile → select Delete.
Pre-installed Samsung apps (like Samsung TV Plus or Bixby) typically cannot be uninstalled, though they can often be removed from the home rail.
The Part That Varies by Setup 🔧
The steps above cover the standard flow, but your actual experience depends on which Tizen version your TV is running, how your remote is configured, and whether the apps you want are available in your region's store. A 2019 Samsung TV and a 2023 Samsung TV may have the same brand on the box but handle home screen management quite differently — different UI paths, different long-press behaviors, and in some cases, different app availability entirely.
Knowing your TV's model number (found on the back panel or in Settings → Support → About This TV) and its current Tizen version gives you the clearest picture of what's actually possible with your specific device.