Old Smart TV cannot install apps: your options

If your TV is several years old, you may find the app store has no entry for a streaming app, or the app installs but will not run.

Why it happens

Older TVs stopped receiving new software. App stores stop offering new versions to them, and the processor and memory may be too small for the newer apps.

How to tell

• The app is not found in the store even with the exact name.
• The TV software has not been updated for years.
• On LG, the webOS version is old, and sets from before about 2019 are often affected.
• On Samsung, the app store lacks the app for your model year.

Send us the model number and we tell you honestly what will work.

The simple fix

Connect a small Android TV box or stick to the HDMI port. It adds a modern, updatable system to the old screen. Any brand works, and we then set up the app on it for you. Choose a device with at least 2 GB of memory, and more is better.

Not a reason to replace the TV

The screen is fine. Only the smart part is old, and a box replaces it for a small cost.

FAQ