How to Disable Samsung TV Plus: A Step-by-Step Guide

Turning on your television to relax should not result in a blast of noise from a channel you never selected. Samsung TV Plus is a free ad-supported streaming service baked directly into your device's operating system.

While it offers free content, many users find the automatic playback and cluttered interface intrusive. If you are tired of accidentally launching this app or hearing unwanted audio the moment your screen lights up, you are in the right place.

Because this software is a core part of the Tizen interface, you cannot always permanently delete it. However, you can effectively silence it.

Removing the App Shortcut from the Home Screen

The first step to decluttering your Samsung TV is addressing the visual row of apps that appears at the bottom of the screen. Known as the Smart Hub, this ribbon often places the Samsung TV Plus icon in a prominent position.

While you cannot fully uninstall the application on most modern models because it is hardcoded into the operating system, you can remove the shortcut so you do not have to look at it or accidentally click it.

Accessing the App Menu

To begin managing your home screen layout, grab your remote and press the Home button. This will bring up the bottom ribbon containing your apps and inputs.

Use the directional pad to scroll left or right until you highlight the Samsung TV Plus icon. Do not press “Enter” or “Select” to open the app; simply hover over it so it is the active selection.

The Difference Between Remove and Delete

When you attempt to modify this app, you will notice a distinct lack of a “Delete” option. On newer Tizen OS versions, the system protects core applications from being uninstalled to ensure stability.

The “Delete” function is typically grayed out or missing entirely for Samsung TV Plus. Instead, you must use the “Remove” function.

This action strips the icon from your immediate list of favorites on the home screen, effectively hiding it from view, even though the software remains installed in the background.

Step-by-Step Removal Process

Once you have the Samsung TV Plus icon highlighted on the Smart Hub ribbon, follow these steps to hide it:

1. Press the Down arrow on your remote’s directional pad. A small context menu will appear below the icon.
2. Select Remove from the list of options.
3. A confirmation prompt will appear asking if you are sure. Select Remove again.
4. The icon will immediately disappear from your home row, leaving space for the apps you actually use.

Clearing the Channel List to Prevent Accidental Access

Even after removing the app icon, the TV may still default to Samsung TV Plus channels if you press the “Channel Up” or “Channel Down” buttons. This often happens because the TV treats these streaming channels like standard antenna broadcasts.

To stop this, you need to edit your channel list and remove these stations from the rotation.

Accessing the Channel List

You need to open the main channel guide to manage what stations are visible. Press the CH List or Guide button on your remote.

If you are using a minimal Smart Remote, you may need to press and hold the channel rocker button. Alternatively, you can go to the Home screen and select the Live TV tile to find the Channel List option.

Filtering the Source

Your channel list likely contains a mix of over-the-air antenna channels and hundreds of streaming channels. To make the deletion process easier, you should filter the list to show only the internet-based stations.

1. Inside the Channel List menu, look for an option labeled Filter or Category.
2. Select Samsung TV Plus from the source options. This will isolate the list so you do not accidentally delete your local broadcast channels.

Batch Deletion

Manually deleting hundreds of channels one by one is inefficient. Fortunately, you can remove them in bulk.

1. Navigate to the Edit Channels button, usually found at the bottom of the screen or within a settings gear icon depending on your model year.
2. In the edit menu, verify that you are looking at the Samsung TV Plus category.
3. Select the check box next to Select All. This will place a checkmark next to every streaming channel provided by the service.
4. Select Delete on the right side of the screen.
5. Confirm the action when prompted. The channels will be removed from your browsing index, preventing the “Channel” buttons on your remote from cycling through them.

Disabling Automatic Playback on Startup

One of the most disruptive features of Samsung TV Plus is its tendency to start playing video at high volume the moment you turn on the television. If you do not have a cable box or another active source connected, the TV often defaults to its own internal tuner.

You can change the startup behavior settings to ensure the TV launches into a quiet state or a specific input.

Using the Autorun Last App Feature

The most effective method to bypass the default tuner is to force the TV to remember what you were doing previously.

1. Press the Home button and go to Settings (the gear icon).
2. Select General and then open Smart Features.
3. Locate the option labeled Autorun Last App.
4. Ensure this setting is checked or turned On.

With this feature active, if you were watching Netflix or using a game console on HDMI 1 before turning the TV off, it will return directly to that app or input next time. It will bypass the Samsung TV Plus interface entirely.

Disabling Autorun Smart Hub

If the Smart Hub menu launches automatically when you power on the device, it often triggers a preview window that starts playing live content. Preventing the menu from auto-launching can stop this preview.

1. Return to the Smart Features menu under General settings.
2. Find the Autorun Smart Hub option.
3. Uncheck this box or toggle it to Off.

Managing Power On Behavior

By combining these settings, you effectively tell the TV to ignore its internal streaming services upon boot. If you consistently use an external device, such as a streaming stick or cable box, the TV will prioritize that signal over the internal Tizen software.

If the TV still defaults to the live tuner, ensure your external device is powered on before the TV so the HDMI signal is detected immediately.

Handling Interface Differences (2016–Present)

Because Samsung updates its Tizen operating system regularly, the steps to modify your settings depend heavily on when your TV was made. Older models use a discreet ribbon at the bottom of the screen, while newer models utilize a full-screen smart hub. You must identify which version you have to locate the correct menus.

2016–2021 Models (Bottom Ribbon UI)

Televisions manufactured during this period feature the classic “Smart Hub” layout. When you press the Home button, a single row of app tiles appears along the bottom edge of the screen, overlaying whatever you are currently watching.

1. Press the Home button on your remote (the house icon).
2. Use the directional pad to move left or right along the bottom ribbon until you find Samsung TV Plus.
3. Press Down to open the sub-menu.
4. Select Remove and confirm your choice.
5. To edit channels, locate the Source icon on the far left of the ribbon, select TV, and then use the CH List button on your remote to open the guide.

2022–Present Models (Full Screen UI)

Newer models (such as the BU8000, QN90B, and S95C series) introduced a completely redesigned home screen that covers the entire display. This interface is more immersive but can make finding specific edit functions more difficult.

1. Press the Home button to launch the full-screen media hub.
2. Navigate to the Media section on the left sidebar.
3. Scroll horizontally through the app list until you highlight the Samsung TV Plus tile.
4. Press and hold the Select (center) button for two seconds, or press the Down arrow.
5. Choose Remove from the context menu.
6. To edit channels, you must navigate to the Samsung TV Plus tile, select Channel List from the quick menu, and then look for Edit Channels at the bottom of the screen.

Advanced Restrictions and Parental Controls

Sometimes standard removal methods are not enough. Software updates can occasionally reinstall the app or restore deleted channels without your permission.

If you find the service keeps returning, you can apply strict locks or network barriers to permanently silence it.

Applying Parental Locks

A highly effective workaround is to lock the app so it cannot launch without a PIN. Even if the icon reappears on your home screen or a button is pressed accidentally, the TV will stop and request a four-digit code, preventing the video from playing.

1. Go to Settings and select Broadcasting.
2. Select Program Rating Lock Settings.
3. Enter your PIN (the default is usually 0000).
4. Locate Samsung TV Plus in the application list or channel source list.
5. Select Lock. A lock icon will appear next to the service, ensuring it cannot be accessed freely.

Preventing Channel Reappearance

Samsung TVs are designed to update automatically. These updates often refresh the channel list, bringing back the hundreds of streaming stations you previously deleted.

You can stop this by disabling automatic updates, though this may prevent you from receiving other features or security patches.

1. Navigate to Settings > Support.
2. Select Software Update.
3. Turn Auto Update to Off.
4. If the channels have already returned, you will need to repeat the batch deletion process outlined in the previous section.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you have successfully transformed your Samsung TV from a noisy billboard into a quiet, personalized entertainment hub. You no longer have to worry about sudden blasts of audio or scrolling past hundreds of unwanted channels just to find your favorite apps.

While Samsung TV Plus is aggressive software that cannot always be permanently uninstalled, hiding the shortcut and clearing the channel list effectively neutralizes it. We encourage you to continue exploring your device’s settings, as taking charge of your input and startup behavior is the best way to enjoy a modern viewing experience.

Frequently Asked Questions