Samsung TVs have long been paired with the Tizen operating system. It isn’t perfect software, but over the last several years, Samsung and Linux (the developers behind Tizen OS) have done a lot to improve usability and app variety. Still, the latter tends to be a drawback for certain individuals; the Samsung App Store simply doesn’t offer the same breadth of software as the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
If you’re trying to download a niche app, chances are good that Samsung isn’t going to offer it. Part of the reason is that Tizen OS doesn’t natively support Android Package Kit (APK) files, a format used by the vast majority of third-party Android apps. Fortunately, I found a few workarounds.
Developer Mode
Your PC is key
Developer Mode on Samsung TVs is a setting that developers normally use to test apps and other software outside the Samsung App Store environment. If you’re looking to upload a third-party app that Samsung doesn’t officially support, Developer Mode is your best shot. You’ll first need to enable third-party installations on your Samsung TV (Settings > Personal > Security > set Unknown Sources to on).
To enable Developer Mode, navigate to your TV’s apps menu and select App Settings. Enter 1-2-3-4-5 in this menu, and now your Samsung should be in its developer state. This doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be able to start downloading third-party apps, though; you’ll actually need a computer for that part. Tizen OS primarily uses the TPK file format, so you’ll need to use software like Tizen Studio (Visual Studio Code) to manually install unofficial software on your TV.
Fortunately, the onboarding is pretty straightforward: Download the TPK file to your PC, connect your PC to your TV via USB, then open Tizen Studio (Visual Studio Code) to force the third-party app to the TV. Do keep in mind that this isn’t a foolproof method; some TPK downloads simply aren’t going to work.
Screen mirroring
Put your Galaxy device to work
Another “official” method you can use to add “unofficial” apps to a Samsung smart TV is screen mirroring. Instead of forcing third-party software onto your Samsung, mirroring uses a Samsung feature called Smart View to wirelessly cast the display of a Galaxy phone or tablet to your TV screen. Theoretically, this also means you’ll be able to cast certain Android apps to your Samsung set.
How exactly is this possible? Samsung phones and tablets have access to the Google Play Store. Not all APK software is going to play nicely — especially media playback apps protected by DRM restrictions — but there’s no harm in trying; the worst that’ll happen is you’ll get some type of “no signal” error message or a black screen.
To activate Smart View, swipe down from the top-right of the screen on your Samsung mobile device. This pulls up the Quick settings menu, where you’ll find the Smart View option. Tap it, choose your Samsung TV from the list of compatible devices, then tap Start now. You can also access the Smart View feature on both the mobile and desktop versions of the SmartThings app.
Use Apps2Samsung
Get ready to do some sideloading
My last suggestion for getting around Samsung App Store restrictions involves a little bit of extra software, but not to the degree warranted when we were using a PC to onboard via Tizen Studio. Instead, I’m going to teach you about a tool called Apps2Samsung, a GitHub-developed app that’s engineered to bypass Tizen Studio entirely. The software automatically detects Samsung TVs on your Wi-Fi network and lets you upload a range of preconfigured apps and other community plugins using TPK and WGT packages.
Apps2Samsung also handles certificate generation, and at the time of writing, more than 130 apps are built into the A2S database. Because the A2S app is a third-party tool, you’ll need to put your Samsung TV in Developer Mode to access it (I covered the step-by-step in the first part of this article). I also recommend using caution when installing apps from TPK and WGT files; just because the formats are compatible doesn’t mean that the files are safe.
Lastly, I’d like to mention the fact that you’ll need to manually update whatever A2S-loaded apps you install on your Samsung TV. You’ll want to stay on top of future firmware releases for things like security patches, because the Samsung App Store won’t have a way to update sideloaded apps.
A world beyond the Samsung App Store
The Samsung-Tizen architecture doesn’t present the easiest walls to bypass. Luckily, the vast majority of popular apps are all accounted for on Samsung’s turf — Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, etc. —, but for situations where you want more, I’ve done what I can to provide alternative app paths.
Let me finish with this, though: If you’re even the slightest bit unsure how to use Tizen Studio and Apps2Samsung, don’t risk your TV or computer’s health for the sake of a niche, third-party platform. You could accidentally damage your smart TV in the process.
- Brand
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Samsung
- Display Size
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43 Inch
- Display Type
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Mini LED
- Display Resolution
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4K
- Refresh rate
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120Hz
- Weight
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14.8 lb
The Samsung M70H Series is a 43-inch Mini LED 4K smart TV in Titan Black. It uses a Mini LED Processor 4K with Mini LED dimming and HDR for brighter highlights and deeper blacks, and Pure Spectrum Color for a wide range of colors. It has a Motion Xcelerator and DLG 120Hz refresh rate for gaming and sports, a Gaming Hub, Soccer Mode, and 2,700+ free streaming options through Samsung TV Plus.