Netflix is one of the popular apps that come preinstalled on your Samsung Smart TV.
However, your Netflix app may stop working, fail to load, freeze, or crash for one reason or another.
Whichever your situation, uninstalling and reinstalling Netflix on your Samsung Smart TV will resolve the issue and allow you to enjoy your favorite programs.
Here’s how to reinstall Netflix on your Samsung Smart TV:
- Delete/uninstall the Netflix app from your smart TV.
- Return to the smart hub.
- Find the Netflix app in the app library.
- Click ‘install’ and wait for the app to download.
- Open the Netflix app and sign in to your account.
The steps to uninstall and reinstall Netflix may have minor variations depending on your Samsung Smart TV model.
Nonetheless, I have tried to be as universal and as practical as possible in giving you the nitty-gritty details of each step so you can resume your Netflix streaming ASAP.
1. Delete/Uninstall the Netflix App From Your Smart TV
Before deleting Netflix from your Samsung Smart TV, ensure you have your Samsung TV account login details. Deleting the app will sign you out, and you’ll have to sign back in.
Follow these steps to delete the Netflix app:
- Push the Home button on your Samsung Smart TV remote control. The Home button is often marked by the sketch of a house on your remote. Pressing the button will take you to the Samsung TV Smart Hub.
- A list with all your options will be visible on the displaying screen at the bottom of the screen. Scroll with the directional keys to select the Apps tab.
- Once on the Apps screen, navigate with the arrow keys on your remote to find the Settings cog at the top right. The settings cog has the universal gear image used in all your gadgets. The apps in your Samsung TV smart hub will be displayed.
- Find the Netflix app and use the arrow keys on your remote to get it, then ‘Select’. This will highlight the app and display a drop menu with a few options, among which Delete.
- Select ‘Delete’. A popup menu with ‘Delete’ and ‘Cancel’ options will appear, asking you if you want to delete Netflix. Choose ‘Delete’ to complete the uninstall process.
- Depending on your Samsung Smart TV model, you may find that the ‘Delete’ option on the dropdown menu is grey and non-responsive. A grayed Delete option means that the app is a recommended default app, and you cannot delete it. In such cases, you need to find the ‘Reinstall’ option on the drop menu and click on it.
If your case is the previous (you’ve deleted Netflix), proceed to the next step.
2. Return to the Smart Hub
Ensure you have a Samsung TV account and you are signed in before proceeding to install/reinstall Netflix on your Samsung Smart TV. You also need to be connected to the internet.
Navigate back to your Samsung TV Smart Hub by pressing ‘Return’ if you’ve just finished deleting the Netflix app.
If you went back to your Samsung TV home screen or another program, you need to restart the process by pressing the Home button on your remote control to go to the Smart Hub.
3. Find the Netflix App in the App Library
On the Smart Hub, a list of your options will be displayed at the bottom.
Navigate to the left (or right, depending on where the highlight is) to find the Apps tab and ‘Select.’
On the Apps screen that appears, scroll through the presenting apps to spot Netflix and hit the ‘Select’ button.
Alternatively, you can use the search icon (the one at the top right that looks like a magnifying lens) to find Netflix.
In this case, select the search icon, and a keyboard will appear. Type ‘Netflix’, select, and the app appears on your screen.
4. Click ‘Install’ and Wait for the App To Download
The ‘install’ option comes automatically highlighted when the Netflix app opens.
Hit ‘Select’ to start downloading the app.
Once the download is complete, you have three options: ‘Open’, ‘Close’, or ‘Add to Home’. Select ‘Add to Home’ so you can access your Netflix app on the Smart hub each time you press the Home button.
5. Open the Netflix App and Sign In to Your Account
Open Netflix to confirm that reinstalling has resolved previous issues.
You will need to sign in to your account again, so follow the prompts to do so.
Afterward, browse through the app and test the remote to ensure there are no further issues. Then, you can continue enjoying your favorite programs.
Alternatives to Reinstalling Netflix on a Samsung Smart TV
As stated earlier in the article, the most probable reason you are considering reinstalling is that Netflix on your Samsung Smart TV is not working.
Before opting for the Netflix delete and reinstall processes to resolve your issue (or if reinstalling does not work), here are a few other options you could try to fix or reset Netflix on your Samsung Smart TV.
Reset Your Samsung Smart TV
Give your Samsung Smart TV a cold boot by turning it off, unplugging, waiting for a few minutes, then plugging and turning it back on.
A cold boot should reset your TV and get the Netflix app working again.
If it doesn’t, you may need to resort to other troubleshooting alternatives.
Log Out of Netflix
Logging out of Netflix and logging back in will refresh the app.
Go to your Netflix profiles or use the remote to find the ‘Options’ on the left side of your screen.
Scroll to the Help menu, choose the ‘Log out’ option and log back in after a minute.
Be patient as the screen loads when logging back in.
Disable ‘Samsung Instant On’
If you have enabled ‘Samsung Instant On’ so that Netflix and other Apps are active as soon as you turn on your Samsung Smart TV, you might want to disable it to limit the data demand on your TV and help it run more efficiently.
- Simply find the Settings cog and choose the General section.
- Find the ‘Samsung Instant On’ and turn the toggle button off.
Check Other Settings
Before going on with complex options to fixing Netflix on your Samsung Smart TV, consider checking these settings first:
- Make sure your Samsung Smart TV is connected to the internet.
- Check your Netflix streaming plan.
- Assess your router settings.
- Ensure the country setting on your Netflix subscription is correct.
- Update your Samsung Smart TV software in the support section.
Reset the Smart Hub
If none of your other options is working, consider resetting the Smart Hub as a last resort before seeking support from Netflix or Samsung.
To reset your Samsung Smart Hub:
- Press the Home button on the remote.
- Navigate to the ‘Settings’ tab.
- Choose ‘Support’ on the dropdown menu.
- Select the ‘Device Care’ menu.
- Go for the ‘Self Diagnosis’ option.
- Select Reset Smart Hub.
- Enter your TV’s PIN and notice the 0000 default. Your Samsung Smart TV Home hub is now reset, and so is Netflix.
Final Thoughts
Reinstalling is one of the ways you can resolve problems with Netflix on your Samsung Smart TV. Start by deleting Netflix, then re-downloading it.
If you think simpler solutions like resetting the TV could resolve your Netflix problem, try that first. If reinstalling does not get your Netflix working, reset the Smart Hub or seek support from the manufacturer.