The short version
- 01Compare a second built-in TV app and the failing service on another device.
- 02Check the TV's network connection when several apps fail.
- 03Cold boot a Samsung TV using a sustained Power press or 30 seconds unplugged.
- 04Check Samsung TV software and reinstall the affected app with login details ready.
- 05Remove unnecessary LG apps when an explicit memory warning appears.
- 06Prepare all app credentials before a Samsung Smart Hub reset and report persistent failures.
Start here
Does one app fail, or do several apps fail?
Open a second app on the TV. If several fail, check the TV's network connection before reinstalling anything. If one fails, restart the TV properly, check its software and repair that app. On Samsung TVs, leave Smart Hub reset until you have the login details for every app. An LG memory warning needs its own branch.
Applies to: Built-in apps on Samsung Smart TVs and LG webOS TVs. Exact menus depend on model, year and region. Apps on an external streaming box use that box's support instructions.
Choose the failure you can reproduce
An app that will not open needs a different investigation from a movie that buffers after playback starts. Compare apps on the TV first, then keep each repair limited to the part that failed. The comparisons below are our diagnostic recommendations; the repair steps are identified by manufacturer.
Several TV apps will not load
Can another app reach its service?
Compare apps and connectionOne app freezes or crashes
Does a proper TV restart change the result?
Restart and updateOne Samsung app still fails
Can the affected app be reinstalled?
Repair that appLG says to restart for memory use
Is there a memory warning before the failure?
Follow the memory branchSamsung apps fail after earlier checks
Do you have every app's sign-in details?
Consider Smart Hub reset1. Compare two apps before changing the TV
Our first test is to open another installed app and play something briefly. Also try the failing service on a phone or computer. One working TV app narrows the investigation, but does not prove that every service's network path is healthy.
If several apps fail, use the TV's connection test and the linked Wi-Fi guide. If the service also fails on another device, check that provider's support information. Record any sign-in or error message; it may give a more specific route than general app repair.
2. Samsung: cold boot, then check software
Samsung distinguishes standby from a cold boot. Hold the remote's Power button until the TV switches off and on again, or unplug the TV for 30 seconds before reconnecting it. Retest the same app after startup.
For Samsung updates, open Settings > All Settings > Support > Software Update > Update Now where available. If the option is greyed out while an app is running, switch to the TV source first. Leave the TV powered on until the update finishes; picture and audio settings may return to defaults.
3. Samsung: reinstall the affected app
Have the app's login information ready before reinstalling. Samsung's app instructions use Home > Apps > Settings, then the affected app > Delete. Search for the app and install it again. If Delete is unavailable for a recommended app, use Reinstall instead.
Our recommendation is to retry that app before touching other apps. If the failure remains specific to one service, give its support team the TV model, software version, displayed message and the repair results.
4. LG: follow an explicit memory warning
LG documents a memory warning that asks for an app restart, and recommends deleting unnecessary apps. On webOS 22 and webOS 6.0, open Home > Edit App List, choose an unwanted app and confirm deletion using its trash icon. Earlier menus differ.
LG also notes that older TVs may lack newer web-standard support. Clearing space cannot promise compatibility with a service that has stopped supporting the model. If the warning or app failure persists, contact the app maker with the TV model and exact message.
5. Samsung: prepare before resetting Smart Hub
Samsung places Smart Hub reset after restarting, updating and reinstalling. The reset signs you out of the Samsung account and every app; gather all those credentials first. Use Support > Self Diagnosis > Reset Smart Hub on older models, or Support > Device Care > Self Diagnosis > Reset Smart Hub on newer ones, subject to the model's manual.
After setup, reinstall any needed apps and repeat the original test. Our recommendation is to ask Samsung or the app provider about persistent failures before taking a broader reset. A working HDMI input does not establish that the TV's app platform is working.
Frequently asked questions
Why does HDMI work while TV apps fail?
Our diagnostic distinction is between the external input and the built-in app platform. Compare another built-in app and the TV's network connection before investigating HDMI cables.
Does turning a Samsung TV off restart its apps?
A normal power press can leave the TV in standby. Samsung's cold boot uses a sustained remote Power press or 30 seconds unplugged.
Will resetting Smart Hub sign me out?
Yes. Samsung says Smart Hub reset signs you out of the Samsung account and all apps. Have the credentials ready before starting.
Sources and review notes
Checked on . Based on Samsung's app, update and regional reinstall instructions and LG's memory troubleshooting, checked October 1, 2026. Comparisons across apps and devices are editorial diagnostics. Brand-specific menus apply only to that brand and vary by model. Glitchary is independent of Samsung and LG.