Samsung's app guidance says app problems on a Smart TV are usually temporary glitches, outdated software or corrupted app data. Start by restarting: press and hold the power button on the remote until the TV turns off and on again, about five seconds, which restarts Tizen and clears many faults. Check the internet: run the network status test under Settings, General, Network, since an app that will not open is often a connection problem. Update the TV software under Settings, Support, Software Update, and update the app from the Apps screen.
Delete and reinstall the app: open Apps, Settings, choose the app and Reinstall, or Delete and reinstall from the Samsung Apps store; on some models you clear an app's cache and data first under Settings, Support, Device Care, Manage Storage. Sign out and back in to the streaming service.
The checks in more detail
Check the date and time under Settings, General, System Manager, Time, since a wrong clock breaks secure connections and makes apps refuse to load. Check the app's region and that your TV model and year still support the app, because streaming services drop support for old Tizen versions; Samsung's page lists common app issues. Reset Smart Hub under Settings, Support, Device Care, Self Diagnosis, Reset Smart Hub, which removes apps and settings, and finally factory reset the TV as a last resort.
Use another device to confirm the service works. Note the exact error code an app shows, since streaming services publish what each code means, and a code often names the cause, such as the network, the account or the device, far faster than trial and error. If an app works on your phone but not the TV, the service may not support your TV's year, and the service's help page lists the supported devices.
Differential
Likely causes of “Samsung TV line apps will not open, update or install”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A temporary glitch
What separates it The app will not open because of a temporary glitch on the TV
How to confirm Restart the TV, and open the app again to see whether it loads
- 2
Outdated TV software
What separates it The app crashes because the TV software is out of date
How to confirm Update the TV software, and then try the app again
- 3
Corrupted app data
What separates it The app loads and then fails because its data is corrupted
How to confirm Reinstall the app, by deleting it and adding it again from the store
- 4
A wrong date and time
What separates it The app refuses to load because the date and time on the TV are wrong
How to confirm Set the date and time to automatic, so that the app can load
- 5
An unsupported model year
What separates it The app has been dropped because the model year is no longer supported
How to confirm Check the streaming service's list of supported devices, to see whether yours is still on it
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which app is failing, and the exact error that it shows
- The TV model year and Tizen version
- Whether the network connection works on the TV
- When the app stopped working, and what changed
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedRestart the TV
ReversibleRestart the TV by holding the Power button for five seconds, and then let it start.
Check the network
ReversibleCheck the network, running the status test to be sure that the TV is connected.
Update the software
ReversibleUpdate the software on the TV and the app, so that they work well together.
Reinstall the app
ReversibleReinstall the app by deleting it, and then add it again from the app store.
Check the date and time
ReversibleCheck the date and time, and set it to automatic, since apps rely on the right time.
Reset Smart Hub
ReversibleReset Smart Hub if needed, which clears the apps' data and signs you out of them.
Test another device
ReversibleTest another device with the same service, to confirm whether the service itself is working.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Tizen
- Older Tizen versions lose support for new streaming apps first.
- 2023 models
- Samsung has an OS upgrade to Tizen 8.0 for 2023 models.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models CU8000, Q80C, Q90T, QN900D, QN90B, QN90C, QN95D, S90C, S95C, S95D, LS03D.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If several apps fail after a Smart Hub reset, contact Samsung
- !If one app fails on an old model, check the service's support list
- !If the network is at fault, fix wifi first
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
App fixes.
App troubleshooting steps.
Wi-Fi connection fixes.
Automatic, internet and USB updates.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why do my Samsung apps not work?+
A glitch, old software, bad app data or the network.
How do I restart the TV?+
Hold Power on the remote about five seconds.
What is Reset Smart Hub?+
A reset that removes apps and settings.
Can an old TV lose an app?+
Yes, an old TV can lose an app, when the service stops supporting that model.
Should I update software?+
Yes, update the software, since new versions fix problems with apps.
Does the network matter?+
Yes, the network matters, since apps need a stable connection to load.
Should I sign out and in?+
Yes, sign out of the app and sign in again, which refreshes your account details.