Samsung is a popular choice for most smart TV users. It features a LED display and supports different apps via the Smart Hub, an advanced menu system for modern Samsung TV models. Most of the time, you can open apps seamlessly with a stable WiFi connection.
However, users have come across a problem when their Samsung TV is not loading apps. It can be due to glitches and network-related issues. In this guide, we’ll show you how to fix your Samsung TV when its apps are not working. Note, this is a different issue than if your Samsung TV Won’t Download Apps.
Read this guide to know more.
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How to Fix Apps Not Working on Samsung TV
To stream content and do basic tasks on your Samsung TV, you’ll need to access its applications. When apps are not working on your Samsung TV, however, you can fix this by following the workarounds below. Remember to go over them individually to see which fix works best for your smart TV.
Fix #1: Power Cycle your Samsung TV
Power cycling your Samsung TV is a quick fix to most glitches. It resets all apps and processes on the smart TV which might be causing problems. It gives a fresh start to your TV compared to turning it off to Standby mode.
To power cycle your Samsung TV, follow these steps:
- Turn off your Samsung TV and unplug its power cable from the socket.
- Wait for forty seconds before plugging the power cable back in.
- Then, turn on your smart TV and navigate to its apps. Check if the issue is solved.
Alternatively, you can do a cold reboot for your Samsung TV, it also resets all background apps and processes on the smart TV, including ones that are causing bugs. To do this using its remote, follow these steps below:
Note: Make sure that the batteries on the Samsung remote are working. If not, replace it first to use your smart TV effectively.
- With your Samsung TV turned on, press and hold the Power button on the remote.
- Your Samsung TV will now turn off and back on in a few seconds.
- Then, navigate to a specific app and see if it’s working.
If it is still not working, you can also clear the Samsung TV cache.
Fix #2: Check your Internet Connection
Apps sometimes cannot be opened without a stable internet connection. Luckily, you can check your smart TV’s Network Status by going to its settings. To check if your Samsung TV is connected to your wireless network, follow the steps below:
- Open your smart TV and press the Home button on the remote.
- Navigate to Settings > General > Network and select Network Status.
- Here, you’ll see a diagram of your smart TV’s internet connection. A green color on all indicators means that it has a good connection.
- If you see a red X in between the connections, it means that there’s a connection issue between your TV and WiFi router. Try power cycling your router and see if this solves the issue.
- Once you have a stable internet connection, reboot your smart TV and try launching your desired app.
Fix #3: Reset the Smart Hub
The Smart Hub is an all-in-one menu system for all Samsung smart TVs. It can sometimes be bugged or have some problems with launching apps. What you can do is temporarily reset the Smart Hub to fix this issue.
Important: All existing apps on the Smart Hub will be uninstalled during the reset. Also, app data will be deleted.
To reset the Smart Hub on your Samsung TV, do the following:
- Open your Samsung TV and select Menu.
- Go to Smart Hub and choose Smart Hub Reset.
- Enter your PIN. The default PIN for Samsung smart TVs is 0000.
- After the reset is finished, download the apps and check if you can now open them after installing.
Fix #4: Update the TV’s Firmware
Another cause for errors and glitches on apps is if the TV’s firmware is outdated. If your Samsung TV is connected to a stable WiFi network, you can easily download the latest software update and install it later.
To update the Samsung TV’s firmware, follow these steps:
- Open your Samsung TV and press the Home button on the remote.
- Go to Settings > Support and choose Software Update.
- Wait for the update to be downloaded and installed on your Samsung TV.
- Once it’s done, launch an app and check if it is working.
Fix #5: Change your Samsung TV’s Country Code
If you’ve already tried reinstalling all apps and installing their latest updates, you can try changing the country code of your Samsung TV. It’s effective on some location-restricted apps, which appear missing on the Smart Hub.
To change your Samsung TV’s country code, follow the steps below:
- Press the Home button on the remote and press the following number keys on your remote: 2, 8, 9. A new window will appear.
- Accept the Terms and Conditions. Then, change your country to any of the listed options and choose the Update button on the Data Services Setup option.
- The Smart Hub will now update based on your chosen location.
- Reboot your smart TV and check if all apps are now working.
Final Thoughts
You can install various apps on your Samsung TV, aside from the preinstalled apps in the Smart Hub. However, you might experience problems opening an app from the Smart Hub due to a glitch, unstable WiFi, outdated firmware, etc. Hopefully, these fixes can help you solve the Samsung TV apps not working issue.