Smart TV Apps: Play Store, YouTube, Netflix and Browser
Which apps you can use on a smart TV depends on its system: Google TV, Samsung Tizen, LG webOS or Hisense VIDAA. Here is what each one offers, how to install apps, and how to stay safe with official apps only.
Updated 11 November 2026
Which apps does a smart TV have?
All smart TVs in our list run YouTube and the big streaming apps. The difference is the size of the app store:
- Google TV and Android TV: the Google Play Store, the largest choice of TV apps and games. Used by TCL, Haier, Xiaomi, Hisense, iFFALCON, Philips, Orient and Dawlance.
- Tizen: Samsung's own store with all the main streaming apps.
- webOS: LG's own store, similar to Samsung's.
- VIDAA: on a few Hisense models, with a smaller store.
Read Google TV vs Android TV for the difference between those two.
How to install apps on Google TV and Android TV
- Sign in with a Google account during setup.
- On Google TV, open the Apps tab or use Search and type the app name. On older Android TVs, open the Google Play Store app.
- Select Install. The app appears on the home screen.
You can also install apps from the Play Store website on your phone and send them to the TV. Google TV models in our list include TCL 43P79K 43 Inch QLED TV, Haier H43S80EUX 43 Inch QLED TV and Xiaomi TV A Pro 43 2026 43 Inch QLED TV.
Apps on a Samsung smart TV (Tizen)
Press Home, go to Apps and search the Samsung store. Samsung TVs do not have the Google Play Store, and Android APK files do not run on Tizen. The main streaming services, YouTube and many local apps are in the Samsung store, and the TV has a built-in web browser.
If you need a Google Play app on a Samsung TV, plug a Google TV device into HDMI. A popular Samsung pick is Samsung QA55Q6FAAUSMM 55 Inch QLED TV.
Apps on LG webOS and Hisense VIDAA
On LG, open the LG Content Store from the home screen. LG TVs also include a web browser and work with the LG ThinQ phone app. See LG 55NANO80ASA 55 Inch NanoCell TV.
Hisense VIDAA has its own store with the popular streaming apps. Most Hisense models in our list use Google TV instead, such as Hisense 55Q6Q 55 Inch QLED TV.
Web browser on a smart TV
- Samsung and LG come with a built-in browser.
- Google TV usually has no browser on the home screen. Install a TV browser from the Play Store. Phone browsers like Chrome are not made for TV remotes, so a TV-friendly browser is easier.
- Typing is slow with a remote; use the phone remote app's keyboard or a Bluetooth keyboard.
Pakistani channels, news and sports on a smart TV
Most Pakistani news and entertainment channels stream live on their official YouTube channels, and several channels and streaming services have their own official apps. Search the app store on your TV for the channel or service name.
Cricket and football rights change from season to season, so check which official app holds the rights for the tournament you want. We advise against unofficial live TV apps: they break often and can be unsafe.
Games, music and video calls
- Games: the Play Store has casual games you can play with the remote; a Bluetooth game controller helps. For serious gaming, connect a console to a 120Hz gaming TV.
- Music: Spotify and YouTube Music have TV apps on all main systems.
- Video calls: most TVs have no camera. WhatsApp has no TV app, so video calls on the big screen usually mean mirroring your phone, as explained in how to connect mobile to TV.
Playing videos from USB: supported formats
Plug a USB drive into the TV and open the media player or file app. Most smart TVs play MP4 files with H.264 or H.265 video, and many also play MKV. MP3 and AAC audio are widely supported; some formats like DTS sound play only on models that list DTS.
If a file will not play, convert it to MP4 (H.264 video, AAC audio) on a computer, or install an official media player app from the TV's store.
Storage, sign-ins and kids profiles
Smart TVs have limited storage, so install only the apps you use and remove the rest. Sign out of streaming apps before you sell or give away a TV, or do a factory reset.
Families can set a PIN for purchases and adult content. On Google TV, a kids profile shows only the apps a parent approves, and screen-time limits are available on many models. Samsung and LG have parental controls in their settings menus.
Why we recommend official apps only
Sideloaded APKs and unofficial streaming apps get no updates, may carry malware, can stop working at any time and often break the TV's other apps. Stick to the TV's own store. For settings and updates, see the smart TV settings and reset guide.
