If you want your Samsung Smart TV to work at its best, it is recommended that you update the system software regularly. Samsung TV system software updates add news apps and fix bugs in the software. To enjoy your TV, you need to know how to update apps on Samsung Smart TV.
If your TV is not working properly or a new app is available, it is time to check if a new version is available for download.
Samsung makes some of the best screens in the world, including screens for other TV manufacturers. But their intelligent apps and the entire smart TV ecosystem leave much to be desired.
Smart TVs have changed the way people consume media for the better. Everyone no longer needs set-top boxes and media servers or even third-party dongles. Why should you buy more hardware if you have Netflix or Hulu on your TV?
Regardless, a smart TV is only intelligent if the apps are working properly and kept up to date. Along with a decent internet connection, these are the basics of using your smart TV.
With Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, PLEX, HBO Now, YouTube, Spotify, and other services that offer apps for Samsung smart TVs, you don’t have to.
However, you may like the advanced features of some devices like a Chromecast with Google TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick 4K, or even a Roku.
Table of contents
About Samsung Smart TV
Samsung Smart TVs offer a balanced range of applications. Be aware, however, that over time, some apps will no longer be compatible with the latest operating system updates.
The situation is common with brands, but not as bad as LG TVs and even more so with their Blu-Ray players. LG has been known to not provide many updates mainly due to its newer webOS system but even more due to its earlier Netcast system.
Auto-updating is still the way to go when you need to update your Samsung HDTV apps! However, not all apps can be updated. Automatic updates are generally just easier, so you don’t even have to think about manual intervention.
How to update apps on Samsung Smart TV
Since updates to Samsung TV apps and system software are essential for reliable performance, it is crucial to understand how to update them. Let’s start by updating apps on your Samsung TV.
Update apps on your Samsung Smart TV
The easiest way to update your apps on a Samsung Smart TV is to set them to update automatically. Like your phone, computer, or tablet, the Samsung operating system checks for updates when you turn on the TV or at certain times, depending on the option.
That way, you don’t even have to think about keeping them up to date. Here’s how to set Samsung TV apps to update automatically.
- Press your TV remote control’s “Smart Hub” or “Home” button. The models vary depending on the TV.
- Select “Apps” from the menu.
- In the open menu, select “My Apps” and then “Options”.
- Activate “Auto Update”.
The above steps will automatically keep your apps up to date so you can move on to more important things.
The disadvantage of setting auto-update is that the Smart Hub is usually accessed the first time you turn on your TV for the first time. You will see a message saying, “Your Smart Hub is being updated and unavailable,” or equivalent words. Give it a minute, and this message will stop.
If you want to update your apps manually, open “My Apps” as described above and look at the main menu. You should see an update box a few next to options. Select that option, and you will find a list of apps that need to be updated. From there, please choose one or all of them and let them update.
Updating Your Samsung Smart TV
Aside from updating apps on your Samsung HDTV, the operating system often requires an update to fix performance issues and errors and to improve features.
You may even need to update the TV to get a new version of the Smart Hub and, therefore, new updates for specific apps that otherwise couldn’t be updated.
You can do a TV update in the Settings menu if you’re lucky. If not, you’ll need to download the latest software from Samsung manually, load it onto a USB drive, and tell the TV to update.
Update via the Internet:
- Turn on your TV and select “Settings”.
- Select “Support” and then “Software Update”.
- Select “Update Now” if an update is available.
An update doesn’t always need to be installed, or the TV won’t find an update even if there is one. You should also see an automatic update setting in the Software Update menu. You can set the option if you want to keep everything updated.
Update via the USB:
If you need to update your TV via USB it is fairly easy to do, but it will take some time.
- Navigate to the Samsung support website.
- Enter your TV model number in the search box.
- Select “Manuals” and download the relevant file to your PC.
- Select your TV model from the list.
- Select “Downloads” to get the latest software onto your device.
- Load this software onto an empty USB stick.
- Insert the USB stick into your TV and let it be recognized.
- Select “Settings and Support” from the TV menu.
- Select “Software Update” and then “Update Now”.
- Point the TV at the USB drive and let the TV update.
Updating a Samsung TV via USB may take a while, depending on how outdated your TV is. There is a progress bar on the screen, but it sometimes freezes and then jumps forward.
If progress stops, let the TV set for a while before pausing.
Conclusion
Depending on which year and which Samsung Menu / Smart Hub version you have, there may be deviations in the appearance of the menus and access to the system and app update functions.
If you are unsure of the exact steps, see the printed user guide or the On-Screen E-Manual for your Samsung Smart TV.
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