The fastest way to remove an app from your Samsung TV
To delete an app from a Samsung TV, press the Home button on your remote, find the app you want to remove, press and hold the select button (center of the directional pad) until a menu appears, then choose Delete or Remove. The exact wording depends on your TV model and the year it was made, but the process is the same across Samsung's current lineup.
The app disappears from your home screen immediately. If you change your mind later, you can reinstall it from the Samsung App Store at no cost — deleting an app does not erase your login information or saved data if you reinstall it later.
Key Takeaways
- Press Home on your remote, highlight the app, hold down the select button (center of the directional pad), and choose Delete from the menu that appears.
- Deleting an app removes it from your home screen but does not affect your account or saved data within that app.
- You can reinstall any app you delete by opening the Samsung App Store and searching for it by name.
- Some pre-installed Samsung apps cannot be deleted, only hidden or disabled, depending on your TV model.
Step-by-step deletion on Samsung Smart TVs
Start by pressing the Home button on your Samsung remote. This takes you to the home screen where all your apps are displayed as tiles or in a grid.
Use the directional pad (arrow buttons) on your remote to navigate to the app you want to delete. Highlight it so it is selected — you will see it highlighted or outlined on the screen.
Press and hold the select button, which is the center button of the directional pad. Hold it for two to three seconds until a small menu pops up on the screen. This menu usually shows options like Delete, Remove, or Uninstall depending on your TV model.
Press the down arrow to highlight Delete or Remove, then press select to confirm. The app will disappear from your home screen within a few seconds.
What happens to your data and accounts when you delete an app
Deleting an app from your Samsung TV removes only the app itself from the screen — it does not erase your login information, saved passwords, or any data stored within that app. If you reinstall the app later, you can usually log back in with the same account and pick up where you left off.
Some apps store data on their own servers (like Netflix, YouTube, or Hulu), so your watch history and preferences remain tied to your account regardless of whether the app is installed. Other apps store data locally on your TV, and that data persists even after deletion in most cases.
Apps you cannot delete from Samsung TVs
Samsung pre-installs certain apps on its TVs that cannot be deleted, including the Samsung TV Plus app, SmartThings, and sometimes others depending on your model year. These are considered system apps and are locked to prevent accidental removal.
If you do not want to see these apps on your home screen, you can hide them instead. Highlight the app, press and hold select, and look for an option called Hide or Hide from Home. This removes the app from view without deleting it. You can unhide it later using the same method if you change your mind.
How to reinstall an app you deleted
Open the Samsung App Store by pressing Home and looking for an icon labeled App Store, Samsung App Store, or Apps. It is usually located on the home screen or in a menu at the top.
Use the search function (usually a magnifying glass icon) to find the app by name. Type the app name using your remote's on-screen keyboard or voice search if your remote has a microphone button.
Select the app from the search results and choose Install or Download. The app will download and install automatically, and it will appear on your home screen within a minute or two. You do not need to pay anything — apps available in the Samsung App Store are free.
Troubleshooting if an app will not delete
If the delete option does not appear when you press and hold select, the app is likely a system app that Samsung locked to the TV. Try hiding it instead using the Hide option, which removes it from your home screen without requiring deletion.
If you see a delete option but the app does not disappear after you select it, restart your TV by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. This clears the TV's memory and usually resolves the issue. After the TV restarts, check your home screen to confirm the app is gone.
If an app keeps reappearing after you delete it, it may be a pre-installed app that your TV automatically restores during updates. In this case, hiding the app is the only permanent solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting an app free up storage space on my Samsung TV?
Yes, deleting an app removes the app files from your TV's storage. Samsung TVs have limited built-in storage, so removing apps you do not use can help if your TV is running slowly or if you want to install new apps. The amount of space freed depends on the app size, which ranges from a few megabytes to several hundred megabytes.
Can I delete multiple apps at once?
No, Samsung TVs require you to delete apps one at a time. There is no bulk delete option. If you want to remove several apps, you will need to repeat the press-and-hold process for each one individually.
What if I accidentally delete an app I need?
You can reinstall it immediately from the Samsung App Store using the search function. The reinstall process takes one to two minutes, and your account information and saved data will still be there when you log back in.
Do I lose my login information if I delete Netflix, YouTube, or other streaming apps?
No. Your account information is stored on the streaming service's servers, not on your TV. When you reinstall the app and log in again, your watch history, saved shows, and preferences will be exactly as you left them.
Why does the delete option not appear for some apps?
Apps that came pre-installed on your Samsung TV are locked and cannot be deleted. These system apps are protected to prevent accidental removal. You can hide them from your home screen instead, which removes them from view without deleting them.