Is your Disney or Netflix app frozen and you don’t know how to restart an app on Samsung TV? That’s a painful spot to be in, especially if you’ve planned out a cozy TV night in advance. Unfortunately, electrical gadgets and glitches go hand in hand. If an app is frozen on a Samsung TV, it’s probably because of glitches.
The good news is that you are the only person on the Internet, frustrated with glitches and trying to learn how to restart an app on your Samsung TV. The Internet is full of Samsung users complaining about this specific problem. In this article, I’ll try to simplify all the troubleshooting techniques that Samsung itself recommends.
I’ll also provide some of my own theories on how to reset apps on Samsung TV. But, before that let’s try to understand the three situations when you must reset Samsung TV apps:
- The app is running extremely slowly, with multiple glitches
- The app keeps crashing
- Certain features in the app are frozen
If you’re experiencing any of these three issues, it’s time to restart the problematic app on your Samsung TV. Here’s how.
Do you have a particular question about restarting an app on Samsung TV? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page.
Here's what we'll cover:
When Should I Restart Apps On The Samsung TV?
If you’re puzzling over the question, “When should I restart apps on my Samsung TV?” you’re not alone. Many Samsung Smart TVs users find themselves needing to restart an app that’s gone rogue. Perhaps your streaming app has frozen, or you’ve noticed that your app doesn’t operate as smoothly as it should. That’s when you press and hold the power button on the remote until the TV turns off, effectively initiating a simple restart.
Sometimes, apps crash or stop unexpectedly, and a way to restart them can be your secret weapon. Try “cold booting” your Samsung TV – a solution that allows the TV to shut down completely before it starts up again. This method can be especially effective when every app seems to be on strike.
Why are my apps not working on my Samsung TV?
A Samsung TV with malfunctioning apps can rain on your streaming parade. If you find your Samsung TV doesn’t launch the app you want to use or an app freezes consistently, it might be time to pull out your troubleshooting hat.
Start with a simple restart. Just press and hold the power button on your remote until the TV turns off and on again. If the problem persists, try to switch to another app. Should the issue spread across multiple apps, you might need to reset your Samsung TV. Remember, resetting the Smart Hub will remove all apps, allowing you to start afresh.
If you’re dealing with a stubborn app, you might need to delete and reinstall the app from the Samsung App Store. If it’s a particular app causing trouble, like Netflix or HBO Max, consider resetting the specific app.
If following these simple steps doesn’t fix the problem, it may be time to contact Samsung support. Regular updates and keeping an eye on the Smart Hub’s performance will ensure that you’re always ready to watch TV without hitches.
Another way to deal with the problem is resetting the app in question. And that’s what we are talking about in this blog.
How to Reset an App on Samsung TV?
If a Samsung TV app is awfully slow and almost on the verge of crashing, take the following steps to reset it:
Power Cycling
If an app is frozen on your Samsung TV and pressing the home button on your remote garners no response, power cycle your Samsung TV by taking these steps:
- Unplug your Samsung TV from the power outlet
- Wait for 30-60 seconds
- Plug the TV back in and restart the TV
- Try launching the problematic app/s again to see if the issue persists
Software Update
Another easy way to prevent app freezing and restart apps on Samsung TV is by updating the apps via the Samsung App Store. Here’s how:
- Go to Settings
- Select Support
- Select Software Update.
- Your smart TV will automatically check for updates
- If any updates are available, the TV will prompt you to install them
Install all the updates and then restart the app/s to see if the issue persists. If it does, try updating the TV’s software itself. Here’s a simple video guide on how to do that:
Check Your Wi-Fi/Internet Connection
The Samsung TV restart app process would be impossible without an active Internet connection. So, make sure that your Samsung smart TV is connected to an active and functioning Wi-Fi network. To do that, use your smartphone to connect with your home Wi-Fi network. Then, check the Wi-Fi signal strength icon on your phone.
Stream a YouTube video to see if it plays. If your Wi-Fi allows you to stream HD videos on your phone, it’s probably good enough to facilitate your use of streaming apps like Netflix or Disney on your smart TV.
Clear App Cache
Clearing the problematic app’s cache may reset it and eliminate all glitches. Here’s how you can clear an app’s cache on your Samsung TV:
- Go to Settings
- Go to Apps
- Select the app you want to restart
- Select “Clear data”
- Select “Clear cache”
- Restart the app
Is the app working correctly now? If not uninstalling and then re-installing the app. Here’s how you can reinstall Samsung TV apps
- On your Samsung TV remote, press the home button to launch the main menu
- Find and select the option titled “Settings”
- Find and select the option titled “Samsung Apps Store”
- Find the app you want to restart and select it
- on your remote control, press the Enter button
- Of all the options that pop up, select “Uninstall”
- Confirm your decision by re-selecting the Uninstall button
Once the app is uninstalled, re-visit the Samsung App Store, find it, download it, and then re-install it. Now, launch the updated version of the app to check if it’s working correctly.
Use Samsung Device Care to Clean the Active Apps
Samsung Device Care is a built-in feature found in most Samsung TVs. It allows users to automatically shut down all the apps that are running in the background but are not active. To clean up your active apps:
- On your Samsung TV remote, press the home button to launch the main menu
- Find and select the option titled “Settings”
- Inside Settings, find and select the option titled “Support”
- Inside the Support page, find and select the option titled “Samsung Device Care”
- In the Samsung Device Care page, tap on the tab titled “Optimize”
- Select the option titled “Close apps”
- Select the app/s you aim to close
- Select the “Close” button
All selected apps will now be shut off. Restart them when you need them. Check if those apps are still experiencing the same glitches. If not, enable the “Auto-close apps” setting on the Samsung Device Care page. Activating this feature means that all apps running in the background will get automatically shut down if you do not use them for a specific period of time. You can use device care for some other cool things too, such as:
Factory Reset Your Samsung TV
This is a “last-resort” type of solution. As you probably already know, factory setting your TV means reinstating its original settings. All of your pre-saved settings, including your app passwords and Samsung account login details will be deleted after the factory reset. So, take the following steps only when all other options fail:
- On your Samsung TV remote, press the home button to launch the main menu
- Find and select the option titled “Settings”
- Inside Settings, find and select the option titled “Support”
- Inside the Support page, find and select the option titled “Self-Diagnosis”
- Now, select “Reset”
- If you receive a prompt saying “Enter your PIN,” type in your TV’s PIN code (default code is 0000)
- Then, select the Reset button again and confirm your decision
Now, your Samsung TV will restart all pre-installed apps and hopefully, that will solve your “app frozen on Samsung TV” problem. However, bear in mind that resetting your Samsung TV may sign you out of all the apps on your TV, including your Samsung Account. So, before you reset Samsung TV apps, make sure you remember the passwords for these apps. Or try out some of the following less complicated troubleshooting techniques first.
Credits: Thanks for the photo to Canva.
At ipoki.com we only mention the products that we’ve researched and considered worthy. But it’s important to mention that we are a participant of several affiliate programs, including Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate ipoki.com earns from qualifying purchases.
