How to add and rearrange apps on your Samsung smart TV

Samsung smart TV owners who want more than the preinstalled streaming services can add new apps directly from the television, according to Engadget. The process starts on the home screen, where a search bar at the top lets viewers type in the name of the app they want.

Most popular services are already there. Engadget notes that Samsung sets typically arrive with Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Prime Video and Apple TV installed, though the exact lineup varies by region. Anything outside that group has to be downloaded from the built-in search.

If a search turns up nothing, the app may not be offered in that country or may not work on Samsung TVs at all. Engadget points out that the company has publicly blocked some smart TV apps. Viewers without a particular app in mind can browse the apps menu, which groups available options by category.

Installing is simple. Once a download finishes, a prompt to place the app on the home screen should appear, and selecting the icon with the remote completes the install. Anyone who skipped that step can still pin an app later by opening the apps menu, holding down on the chosen app and choosing the add to home option.

Ordering the home screen is just as straightforward. On the home screen, viewers select an app and hold the select button to bring up a menu, then pick the move setting and slide apps left or right. Engadget notes that older models may need a different command, such as the down key, to open the same menu. The same menu also handles removing an app from the home screen or deleting it from the TV entirely.

The appeal of a smart TV is that it reaches streaming services and self-hosted media servers such as Plex without an extra streaming stick. Engadget suggests that owners who have not customized their set may not be getting everything it can do.