Last verified: August 3, 2026. I checked the current Samsung, LG, Google TV, and Roku support paths linked below. App updates and TV/system updates remain separate, and menu labels can vary by model, region, and software version.
To update apps on a smart TV, identify the operating platform first. Samsung uses Apps settings and Auto Update, LG provides an Update action in Apps or the Content Store when one is available, Google and Android TV use Google Play, and Roku checks for both system and app updates through System Update. Menu names vary by television year and software version.
An app update and a television firmware update are separate. Update the affected app first when one service has a problem; check television software when several apps fail, the store is unavailable, or the app requires a newer platform version.
If the television is not online yet, use the smart TV Wi-Fi setup guide before attempting app downloads or firmware checks.
Table of Contents
Choose the correct update route
| TV platform | App-update route | What the system update does |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Smart TV | Home → Apps → App Settings → Auto Update | Updates Samsung TV software; may add compatibility or apps |
| LG webOS TV | Home → Apps or Content Store → app page → Update, when offered | Updates webOS/TV firmware, features, and fixes |
| Google TV / Android TV | Google Play Store → profile → Manage apps & games → Updates | Updates Android/Google TV system software separately |
| Roku TV | Settings → System → Software update → Check now | Checks Roku OS and installed apps together |
Do not apply Samsung, LG, Google, or Roku instructions to a television merely because it has Netflix or YouTube. Check Settings → About, Support, System, or the model label to identify the actual platform.
Before updating any smart TV app
Prepare a reliable baseline:
- confirm the television is connected to the internet;
- open another app to distinguish an app fault from a network outage;
- verify the correct store or platform account where required;
- check available storage using the model's supported menu;
- keep the TV on stable power;
- allow an update already in progress to finish;
- record the app, TV model, software version, and error code.
Google warns that a TV can become temporarily slower while app updates are running. Do not unplug the television, switch off a power strip, or factory-reset during visible update activity.
If the television cannot reach the internet, use the smart TV internet connection diagnostic before troubleshooting the app store.
Update apps on a Samsung Smart TV
Samsung's current support route for automatic app updates is:
- Press Home.
- Open Apps.
- Scroll to and select App Settings.
- Set Auto Update to On.
On Samsung's illustrated interface, the enabled control appears blue. The exact location may differ on older models; use the model's electronic manual when Apps or App Settings looks different.
Samsung TV app updates are generally managed through this automatic setting rather than a universal phone-style “Update all” screen. Leave the television connected to the internet so eligible updates can install.
If one Samsung app still fails:
- cold-start or restart the television through its supported method;
- verify the app is still listed for the TV model and region;
- check the provider's service status and account;
- update Samsung TV software;
- reinstall or reset only the affected app where supported;
- use Smart Hub reset only after recording its sign-in impact.
Samsung says a Smart Hub reset removes Samsung-account and linked-service information, Smart Hub agreements, and Smart Hub apps. It is not the same as turning Auto Update on and should not be a first step.
Update Samsung television software separately
Samsung's current software-update guide uses the television's Settings → Support → Software Update area. Auto Update can be enabled for TV software, or a supported update can be installed from Samsung's exact model page by USB.
If Software Update is greyed out, Samsung says a streaming app may be running in the background. Switch to the TV source or Samsung TV Plus, then check again.
Television software can improve compatibility or add applications, but it does not guarantee that a discontinued app will return. Samsung also warns that some video and audio settings may return to defaults after a TV software update.
Update apps on an LG Smart TV
LG's app-support guidance says to:
- Open Home.
- Select the Apps or Content Store card.
- Find and open the affected app's information page.
- Select Update when the button is available.
- Reopen the app and test it.
The card names and appearance vary by webOS version and model year. If no Update button appears, the current compatible version may already be installed—or the app may no longer support that model or region.
LG says app availability depends on the country, TV model, and webOS version. Check the LG Content Store for the actual country and model rather than assuming that an app shown on a phone or newer television must be available.
For one LG app error, LG recommends updating, deleting and reinstalling the app, or contacting its developer. Deleting an app can remove local sign-in and settings; confirm credentials first.
Update LG television firmware separately
For current webOS generations, LG documents:
Settings → All Settings → Support → Software Update → Check for Updates
On webOS 4.x and some earlier models, LG places the control under All Settings → General → About This TV. Auto Update can be enabled where available.
LG also supports a model-specific USB firmware route. The download must come from the exact LG model page, and LG's current instructions require the extracted firmware in an LG_DTV folder. Do not use another model's file or interrupt installation.
Firmware may fix bugs or add features, but an older television can remain incompatible with a newer app after reaching its final supported firmware.
Update apps on Google TV or Android TV
Google's current Google TV route is:
- Open or search for Google Play Store on the TV.
- Select the profile picture or initial.
- Choose Manage apps & games.
- Open Updates.
- Select Update all, or update the available app where the interface permits.
To allow automatic app updates, open Google Play Store settings and enable Auto-update apps. The exact Play Store layout can vary by Android TV version and television manufacturer.
App publishers target specific operating-system versions, hardware features, countries, and devices. If an app page says it is incompatible or no longer appears, installing a phone APK or another TV's package is not a supported update method.
If Google Play cannot update one app:
- confirm the correct Google profile;
- verify internet access and available storage;
- restart the TV;
- allow other active downloads to complete;
- update the TV system;
- clear the affected app's cache before more destructive data clearing;
- uninstall and reinstall only if the app remains compatible.
Use the Android TV lag guide when updates complete but menus, apps, or playback remain slow.
Update Google or Android TV system software separately
Google's documented route is:
Settings → System → About → System update
Install only the update offered for the exact device. A Google TV interface does not mean Google manufactures the television; firmware schedules and support periods can still belong to Sony, TCL, Hisense, Philips, or another manufacturer.
Do not flash generic Android firmware, another region's package, or an unofficial ROM to obtain a newer app. That can remove certification, break DRM playback, or make the television unusable.
Update apps on a Roku TV
Roku TV handles app and system updates together. Roku says devices check at setup, when powered on, and randomly every 24–36 hours; updates usually install automatically.
To run a manual check:
- Press Home on the Roku remote.
- Open Settings.
- Select System.
- Select Software update.
- Choose Check now.
Roku says this check downloads and installs available Roku software and app updates, then reboots when required. The screen also displays the current software/build version and last-update time.
For one Roku app that will not load:
- Highlight the app on Home.
- Press the Star button.
- Select Check for Updates.
- Reopen the app after the update completes.
If an app was just added from Roku.com or the mobile app but does not appear, Roku also directs users to Settings → System → System update → Check now.
Fix a failed or missing app update
Follow this order across platforms:
- Confirm whether one app or every app is affected.
- Check the television's internet connection.
- Verify the store/platform account and actual region.
- Allow any queued updates to finish.
- Restart the television normally.
- Check available storage and remove unused apps through supported controls.
- Check the app's model, operating-system, and region compatibility.
- Install the current supported television firmware.
- Reinstall only the affected app after recording sign-in and download impact.
- Contact the app provider or TV manufacturer with the error code.
Do not repeatedly start multiple downloads or power-cycle during installation. Do not use a third-party “updater,” APK mirror, service-menu code, or firmware package from another model.
Why an app may have no update button
No Update button can mean:
- the newest compatible version is already installed;
- the platform updates that app automatically;
- the update is staged and has not reached the device;
- the app or new version does not support that model or OS;
- the app is unavailable in the selected service country;
- the store account or internet connection is incomplete;
- the app has been discontinued for that television.
An app's phone, tablet, web, Fire TV, Roku, Samsung, LG, and Android TV releases can have different version numbers and schedules. Compare only the release intended for the exact TV platform.
When reinstalling helps—and what it changes
Reinstallation replaces the local app package and can repair damaged files. It does not repair an account outage, unsupported TV, expired subscription, regional restriction, or provider service failure.
Before deleting an app, record:
- sign-in method and authenticator access;
- profiles and parental controls;
- local downloads or offline media;
- app-specific picture, subtitle, or accessibility settings;
- whether billing is handled by the TV platform or directly by the provider.
Removing an app usually does not cancel its subscription. Manage billing through the service or platform where the subscription was purchased.
Frequently asked questions
Do smart TV apps update automatically?
Often, but the mechanism differs. Samsung provides App Auto Update, Google Play offers automatic app updates, Roku checks automatically every 24–36 hours, and LG exposes updates through its Apps or Content Store interface.
Is updating an app the same as updating TV software?
No. App updates change an individual application. TV firmware updates the operating system, drivers, security, and platform components. Some app compatibility problems require both.
Why will my TV app not update?
Common causes include no internet connection, low storage, another active download, wrong account or region, unsupported TV model, outdated TV software, a staged rollout, or a provider outage.
Can I update a smart TV app with a USB drive?
Usually not. Samsung and LG document USB routes for television firmware, not arbitrary app packages. Apps should come from the platform's official store or update system.
Will reinstalling an app cancel my subscription?
Normally no. App installation and subscription billing are separate, but local sign-in, downloads, and settings may be removed. Verify the billing provider before making changes.
Why is an app available on my phone but not my TV?
TV apps are separate platform builds. Availability depends on the TV operating system, model year, hardware, certification, country, and the app publisher's support policy.
Primary sources
- Samsung: Use apps and enable Auto Update
- Samsung: Update smart TV software
- LG: Smart features, app updates, deletion, and reinstallation
- LG: Update an LG Smart TV
- LG: Check app compatibility in LG Content Store
- Google TV Help: Update apps and fix a slow device
- Google TV Help: Google TV and Android TV app management
- Roku: Update software and apps
- Roku: Fix an app that will not load
- Roku: Add apps and trigger a system check
Reviewed by Start2Watch on August 2, 2026. App stores, menu paths, update schedules, model support, firmware, regional availability, account requirements, and app compatibility change by platform, television, and country.