Hisense Smart TVs have multiple operating systems depending on the region and model. Thus, installing apps on a Hisense Smart TV will depend on your TV OS.
You can download apps on a Hisense Smart TV by going to your TV’s app store. For example, if your TV is Android, download an app to the Google Play Store. Also, if you run Fire TV, add apps to a Hisense Smart TV through the Amazon app store.
However, you may not find your desired app on the app store. In this case, you can download apps on a Hisense Smart TV with no app store by side-loading them from a third-party website.
How to install Google apps on a Hisense Smart TV
If you have an Android-powered Hisense Smart TV, you can connect it to the Google Play Store and download and update apps as they go live. Do the following:
- Press the Home button on your remote.
- Select the Apps tab from the home screen.
- Locate Google Play Store from the apps list displayed.
- Open Google Play Store.
- Search for the app you want to install in the search bar and select it.
- Select Install.
Wait for your OS to install the app. Once done, open and start using the app.
How to install apps on a Hisense Fire TV
Most Hisense TVs sold in North America have Fire TV built-in. You can install apps by doing the following:
- Power up your Smart TV.
- Go to the Home screen.
- Look for the Find option and select it.
- Enter the name of the app you want to install.
- Select the app from the search results.
- Press Get to install the app.
After the app installs, open and start using it.
How to install apps on Hisense Roku Smart TV
The Hisense Smart TV also features the Roku OS built-in. Therefore, you can add apps to the device through the Roku Channel Store.
- Press the Home button using the remote.
- Use the arrows on the remote and select Streaming Channels.
- Open the Channel Store.
- Locate the Search Channels tab.
- Select the tab.
- Enter the name of the app you want to install.
- Select the app from the displayed list.
- Press Add Channel.
The Roku OS will add the channel to your list. You will find the channel under Home on the main screen.
How to install apps on Hisense VIDAA Smart TV
VIDAA is an operating system on most Hisense Smart TVs. If you have a Hisense Smart TV running this OS, here is how to install apps on VIDAA.
- Go to the Home screen.
- Select My Apps.
- Press the OK button.
- Within My Apps, select App Store to open the VIDAA App Store.
- Press the OK button.
- Use the arrow buttons on the remote to scroll through the App Store.
- Select the app you want to install.
- You can also use the Search tab to find your preferred app.
- Press the OK button.
- After choosing the app, select Install.
- Press the OK button.
- The VIDAA OS will install the app.
Once done, you are ready to use the app.
How to install apps on Hisense Smart TV using the VEWD App Store
VEWD is an online storefront offering apps designed for most Smart TVs, including Hisense Smart TVs.
All the apps are in the cloud and can only be accessed via the VEWD App Store. You can download these apps to your Hisense Smart TV by doing the following:
- Go to the Home screen.
- Use the remote’s arrow buttons and navigate to the Apps Menu.
- Select the VEWD App Store from the displayed list.
- Press the OK button.
- VEWD will display a list of all the available apps.
- Select an app from the list.
- You can also use the Search tab to search for your preferred app.
- Select OK on the remote once you get the app.
Unlike other operating systems, the app you select from the VEWD App Store will not install. That is because the app is cloud-based.
Therefore, after selecting the app, it will launch immediately without installing it.
If you do not want to go through these steps next time you want to open the app, add it to your Favourites folder on your Hisense Smart TV.
How to install 3rd Party apps on Hisense Smart TV
If your Hisense Smart TV does not have an app store, you can download apps by side-loading them from a third-party website.
Ideally, side-loading works best if your Smart TV runs the Android OS and you have not installed the Google Play Store.
Also, you can side-load apps using a USB stick or the web browser. If you prefer the USB method:
- Go to your computer and visit a third-party website hosting your preferred app.
- Download the .apk file.
- Transfer the .apk file to your USB stick after downloading.
- Plug the USB stick into your Hisense TV.
- Go to the File Manager on Hisense TV.
- Open the contents of the USB stick.
- Navigate and locate the .apk file.
- Select the file to start installing.
Open the app and use it.
You can also side-load an app using the web browser. Do the following:
- Open the web browser on the Hisense Smart TV.
- Go to a third-party website to download a .apk file.
- Open the File Manager on your TV and locate the .apk file.
- Click and install the app.
Understand that downloading apps from third-party websites may put your Smart TV at risk. Therefore, only use reliable sites.
How to update apps on Hisense Smart TV
After downloading apps to your Hisense Smart TV, you must update them to fix bugs and get new features.
Updating apps will depend on your device’s OS and the application store. In other words, go directly to the application store, locate the app you want to update and update it.
Alternatively, remove or reinstall the app to update it:
- Go to the Home screen.
- Select the app you want to remove or reinstall.
- Press the red button on your remote.
- Confirm you want to remove the app by pressing OK.
- Reinstall the app again by going to the App Store.
You will have the most updated version of the app installed on your Hisense TV.
Another option is to update the firmware on your Hisense Smart TV. The device has apps you cannot delete. Therefore, updating the firmware will also update the factory-installed apps.