How to Add Apps to a Samsung Smart TV: A 7-Step Guide

Written by

Weekend Team

Published on:

December 9, 2025

min read

Table of Contents

I’ve spent years helping friends and family figure out how to add apps to a Samsung Smart TV, learning every shortcut and workaround along the way.

If you want to get Weekend or any app on your home screen fast, I’ll show you my simple process and how I fix the most common issues.

How to add apps to a Samsung Smart TV: The quick version

Step	What to do
1. Power up and connect	Turn on your TV and connect to Wi-Fi; use the Home button to access the menu; check network in Settings
2. Access the apps section	Press Home, go to “Apps,” and enter the store; use Search if you know the app name
3. Find and select the app	Search for the exact app name; select the app for details before downloading
4. Install the app	Click “Install,” and wait for download; when done, choose “Open” or “Add to Home”
5. Add the app to your home screen	Select “Add to Home,” and rearrange apps in the menu as you like for quick access
6. Open and sign in	Find the app on the Home bar, open it, and sign in (have credentials ready)
7. Update, move, or remove apps	Check for updates, move apps’ position, or delete unneeded apps from Settings

Step 1: Power up and connect

I always make sure to power on my Samsung Smart TV at the start and connect it to my home Wi-Fi. Without a stable connection, you’ll run into errors before you even reach the app store page.

Steps include:

Use the Home button (the one with a house icon) on your remote to open the main menu.
Double-check your network status under Settings if you run into connection warnings.

Step 2: Access the apps section

Here’s what I do next:

Press the Home button to bring up your TV’s menu bar.
Navigate (using your remote’s arrows) to the “Apps” section and open it.

Inside the Apps page, I like to check out trending and recommended picks. If I already know the app name, like say the Weekend app, the fastest method is to use the Search (magnifying glass) in the corner.

Step 3: Find and select the app

This is where people often get stuck. I suggest searching for the exact app name (“YouTube TV,” not just “YouTube”).

Do the following:

Use the search bar to type the name of your desired app.
Once you spot the app in the list, select it for details, screenshots, and ratings. It’s like previewing before you download.

Step 4: Install the app

Now, you’re 1 click away:

On the app’s info page, select “Install.” The app will start downloading onto your TV.
Installation takes seconds with a reliable internet connection, but sometimes large apps or a slow network can delay things.

When installation finishes, you’ll usually see 2 options:

“Open” to launch the app right away, or
“Add to Home” to make it easy to find every time you turn on your TV.

Step 5: Add the app to your home screen

Personally, I always hit “Add to Home.” My reason is that without this, your new app hides in a long list, making it a pain to access later. Trust me, I’ve seen friends download apps 3 times because they thought it didn’t work!

Moving on:

If you didn’t add it during install, you can add installed apps to your home screen by finding them under Apps, highlighting the app, and opening options (usually with the Down arrow or Settings button).
Select “Add to Home.” Now you can reorder the app tiles by selecting “Move” and dragging them where you want on the home bar.

Step 6: Open and sign in

Once your app is on the home bar:

Press Home, scroll to your app, and select it.
Many apps (like Weekend or Disney+) require you to sign in. I always have my phone handy for quick logins. The on-screen keyboard is slow, but some apps let you activate by entering a code from your computer or phone.

Step 7: Update, move, or remove apps as needed

I check for updates on my installed apps every couple of months:

Go to Apps, open the Settings menu (usually a gear icon), and see if there’s an option for app updates.
You can move any app by selecting it, pressing Down, and choosing “Move.” Drag it left or right to reposition.
Delete unwanted apps to free up space. You can't remove some pre-installed apps, so you’ll only be able to delete the ones you installed yourself.

Troubleshooting: Why can’t I add or install apps on my Samsung Smart TV?

Even with these steps, things can sometimes go wrong. Here are the fixes that have worked for me and others.

1. No install button or app missing

Check if your TV model still supports new app downloads. Older or regional models may not. Review Samsung’s official site to see whether your smart TV is on the list of supported models, since updates sometimes limit what you can install.

2. Apps won’t download or open

Restart your TV and hold down the power button until you see the Samsung logo. It’s quick and solves most weird glitches. You could also check your internet connection. A dropped network is often the silent culprit.

Make sure your TV software is up-to-date:

Go to Settings > Support > Software Update > Update Now.

3. Can’t remove or reinstall apps

You can't always delete pre-installed apps. If you need to fix a broken app, you might see “Reinstall” instead of “Delete”.

If a stubborn app still won’t work, try resetting your Smart Hub:

Go to Settings > Support > Device Care > Self Diagnosis > Reset Smart Hub

Different models will have different paths to complete the reset, but they generally follow the pattern described above.

Warning: This action will essentially restore your Smart Hub to factory settings. It will sign you out of all apps, so have your logins ready.

Why add apps to your Samsung TV?

As a tester, I see firsthand how adding apps transforms a Samsung TV into a versatile entertainment hub. With a few taps, I can go beyond Netflix and access music, news, fitness, weather, and smart home apps, all from my main screen.

Discover Weekend on your Samsung Smart TV

One major reason to learn how to add apps to a Samsung Smart TV is that you can find the Weekend app there. With our app, you'll be turning any TV night into a high-energy party.

Once you add the Weekend app, you get instant access to voice-powered party games like:

Jeopardy! brings classic quiz show energy to your living room, so families and lifelong trivia fans can compete head-to-head.
Song Quiz turns any group into music trivia rivals, with fast rounds perfect for fans of chart-topping hits.
CoComelon: Sing & Play with JJ offers active play and shared learning for toddlers and their families in a safe, ad-free environment.

We design all our games to play right on your TV. To get started with Weekend on Samsung, you'll download the app, then scan a QR code to connect your phone to the TV for your voice-powered gameplay experience.

You can get a 7-day free trial right now and begin your Weekend app journey today.

FAQs

How do I find and install Weekend on my Samsung Smart TV?

You can find and install Weekend on your Samsung Smart TV by opening the TV’s app store, typing “Weekend,” and installing it. You'll then have instant access to games like Jeopardy!, Song Quiz, and CoComelon: Sing & Play with JJ, all voice-controlled.

Do I need a phone to play Weekend on my Samsung Smart TV?

Yes, but it's quick and easy. On your Samsung Smart TV, you'll download the Weekend app, launch it, then scan a QR code with your phone to connect. Once they're paired, you're ready to shout your answers in Jeopardy! or call out song titles in Song Quiz. The phone just bridges that connection: it works as your buzzer or mic, depending on the game you’re playing. Then it's all about the voice-powered fun on your big screen.

What games can I play with my voice on Weekend?

You can play games with your voice on Weekend by shouting out answers in Song Quiz and playing through rounds of Jeopardy!. On my Samsung Smart TV, all of the supported Weekend are voice-controlled for natural, controller-free fun that gets everyone involved.

How do I start a free trial on the Weekend app?

You can start a free trial on the Weekend app as soon as you finish installation. Look for the “Start Free Trial” button on the welcome screen. I always recommend this for first-time users, since you can try out every game in the library with friends at no cost for a full week.

What if my Samsung Smart TV is too old to install new apps?

You might run into app installation limits if your Samsung Smart TV is older, especially pre-2016. I’ve tested external streaming devices like Roku and Fire TV in these cases, and they’re a quick way to expand your access to new apps and party games without upgrading the whole TV.