How to add and rearrange apps on your Samsung smart TV

ANNVIPS/Shutterstock

Smart TVs make it easy to access streaming services as well as self-hosted media servers, such as Plex, without needing to buy an extra device like a streaming stick (though there are other reasons to buy a streaming device when you have a smart TV). But even if you have a smart TV, you might not be taking full advantage of it. Fortunately, it's easy to add new apps to a Samsung smart TV if the ones you want aren't already included when you first set it up.

If you only need the most popular streaming services, you might not need to do anything to get them running. Samsung smart TVs usually come pre-loaded with the Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Prime Video and Apple TV apps, though that list can change depending on which apps are available in your particular region. For anything else (like these free channels for your smart TV), you'll have to download a new app from a built-in search feature on your TV. And after downloading those apps, you'll probably want to do some rearranging on your home screen.

How to install new apps and organize your home screen

Manuel Esteban/Shutterstock

To add new apps, first pull up the TV's home screen. Use your remote to select the search bar at the top of the screen and type in the name of the app you want to download. If you search for something that doesn't show up, it may not be available in your region or might not be supported by Samsung smart TVs at all — Samsung has even publicly banned some smart TV apps. Otherwise, you can just select the app's icon with your remote to install it. If you don't have a specific app in mind but want to see what options are available, you can also find a selection of what's available, sorted by category, in your TV's apps menu.

Once an app is finished installing, a button to add it to the home screen should appear. If you've already navigated away and want to pin an app later, you can still find everything you have in the apps menu on the home screen. Just press and hold on the one you want to pin to the home screen, and the option to add to home will appear.

You can also rearrange apps once they're on the home screen to sort them in whatever order works best for you. On the home screen, use the remote to select whichever app you want to move, and press and hold the select button to open a menu. For older TV models, you might need to use a different command to open the menu, such as pressing the down key. Then select the move setting, and you can slide individual apps left and right. If you want to remove an app from the home screen or delete it entirely, you can do so from this same menu.