The ABC app allows you to stream full episodes and live TV from the ABC network on your Samsung Smart TV. 

However, sometimes the ABC app may not function properly and you may see an error message like "ABC app is unavailable" or a blank screen. 

There are a few things we will explain here at Smart Home Apt you can try to get the ABC app working again on your Samsung TV.

 

 

Common Causes for the ABC app not working on Samsung Smart TV:

  • Software or App Out of Date: If your Samsung TV's software or the ABC app itself is out of date, it can sometimes cause compatibility issues that lead to the app not working. Update to the latest versions to fix this.
  • Internet Connectivity Issues: The ABC app requires an internet connection to stream content. If your home Wi-Fi network is down or your TV has lost internet connectivity for any reason, the ABC app will not work. Check your network connectivity and router to ensure your TV has a working internet connection.
  • Region Blocking: Some ABC content may be region blocked and unavailable to stream from outside the US. If you're located outside the US, some or all content on the ABC app may be unavailable.
  • Samsung Account Problems: If you're unable to sign in to your Samsung account on the TV, or there are issues with your account, it can prevent some apps from working. Sign in with the correct credentials or reset your Samsung account password to fix any account issues.
  • Corrupted App Data: At times the data for an app can become corrupted, causing the app to malfunction. Uninstalling and reinstalling the app can refresh this data and get the app working again. Uninstall the ABC app and then download and install it again.
  • Storage Space Issue: If your TV's internal storage is nearly full, it may prevent some apps from working properly. Free up storage space by uninstalling unused apps and media you no longer watch. Leave at least 100MB of free space for the ABC app to work.
  • Conflict with Other Apps: In rare cases, the ABC app may conflict with other apps installed on your Samsung TV, causing it to not function. Do a factory reset of your TV to remove all apps and accounts, then reinstall one by one to identify any app causing conflict issues.
  • Hardware Fault: If none of the software related steps work and other apps seem unaffected, there may be a hardware fault with your TV that's preventing the ABC app from working. You may need service to repair or replace any damaged components. See if the ABC app works on other devices to confirm if it's a hardware or software TV issue.

 

How to fix ABC app not working on Samsung Smart TV ?

1. Ensure that your Samsung TV is compatible with ABC

Samsung smart TV models from 2016 or later, running Samsung's Tizen OS, are compatible with the ABC app. To verify the year and operating system version of your Samsung TV, visit their website here.

If you have a Samsung TV from before 2016, it's usually more cost effective and hassle-free to add a streaming stick rather than replacing the whole TV.

You can enjoy ABC on any type of TV, be it a smart TV or otherwise, by plugging in either a Fire TV Stick or a Roku streaming stick. Setup is simple, and both devices offer access to all the major streaming apps.

 

2. Restart or Power Cycle Your Samsung TV

If you're having issues with an app, it may be due to a random software glitch. To address this, the most common and effective solution is to power cycle the device by turning it off and back on again.

The easiest way to restart Samsung TV apps is to do a full power-off of the TV. Pressing the power button on the remote only puts the TV into standby mode, meaning the active app will not be restarted.

Two methods exist for restarting a Samsung TV: performing a power cycle or resetting the TV.

 

To Restart your TV using the remote:
  • Ensure your TV is not in standby mode. 
  • Press and hold the power button on your remote, and keep it held until your TV powers back on. 
  • After that, press the Home button and launch ABC app.

 

To Restart your TV manually:
  • Disconnect the power cable from your TV's wall outlet or surge protector.
  • Allow two minutes to pass.
  • Reconnect the power cable to its source and switch the TV on.
  • Press the Home button and select the ABC app.

 

3. Test the Speed of Your Internet Connection

Buffering and connection problems are often caused by slow internet speeds. This can make it difficult to use ABC and other streaming or video apps. In the worst cases, your connection may be too weak or inconsistent to even establish a link to the ABC servers.

To check your internet speed, run an Internet Speed Teston your computer or phone while connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your TV. Ensure that your phone is not using mobile data and is connected only to Wi-Fi.

If your internet connection speeds are below 3-4 Mbps for standard streaming and 5-8 Mbps for HD streaming, you will need to take the below steps to improve it:

  • Look for factors that could be causing interference, such as too many walls between your router and TV. 
  • Try restarting your router and modem (see the next tip). 
  • Additionally, contact your internet provider to determine if there are any network issues or if you require an upgrade.

 

4. Restart Your Router and Modem

Your TV or ABC app may not be the root of the problem; it might be your local Wi-Fi network.

Rather than attempting to troubleshoot any potential network issues, it is simpler to just reset your network. This should be done on a monthly basis to keep your network in optimal condition. Doing so may help to resolve any issues that you may be facing.

Before continuing, ensure that no one in your household is currently using the internet. This process will temporarily disconnect all network and internet services for approximately five minutes during the reboot.

Alright, let's begin.

  • Disconnect the power supply from your router and modem.
  • Pause for 30 seconds.
  • Reconnect the power cables.
  • Allow a few minutes for the modem and router to boot up.

 

After your TV reconnects to the network, attempt launching the ABC app. If you experienced a sluggish connection when testing your speeds previously, now is the ideal moment to conduct another speed test. Resetting your router can temporarily enhance your speeds, but it won't identify and address any fundamental issues.

 

5. Perform Samsung TV Firmware Update

Firmware updates can be a helpful solution to any issues you may be having with your TV apps – similar to app updates.

Samsung Smart TVs still update automatically, yet they have the added convenience of being able to manually force a firmware update should the automatic updates fail without notification.

Do the below:

  • Using the remote control for your Samsung TV, press the Home button to open the smart hub. 
  • Navigate to Settings in the menu.
  • Select the Software Update tab. 
  • Click Update Now and wait for the download to complete. 
  • Once finished, follow the on-screen instructions to install the update.

 

After updating the firmware, give the ABC app another go.

 

6. Empty the Cache of Your ABC App

Rather than reinstalling an app on a Samsung TV, users can opt to clear the app's cache. This is comparable to deleting cookies from a web browser, and can be a useful way to resolve occasional issues.

To do this:

  • Using the Samsung TV remote, press the Home button to access the Smart Hub. 
  • Once the menu appears on the screen, click on Settings
  • Then, select the Apps tab, followed by System Apps
  • Now, locate the ABC app and choose the Clear Cache option. 
  • Finally, press OK to confirm the action.

 

7. Delete and reinstall the ABC App

In order to repair particularly troublesome app glitches, clearing the cache isn't enough. You'll need to delete the app and then reinstall it from scratch.

 

To uninstall the ABC App from your Samsung TV:
  • Press the Home button on the remote.
  • Select Apps from the on-screen menu.
  • Click Settings.
  • Navigate to the ABC App and select Delete
  • Confirm the deletion by pressing Delete in the pop-up.

 

To Reinstall the ABC app on your Samsung TV:
  • Press the Home button on your remote.
  • Select Apps from the on-screen menu.
  • Then select the Search icon (the magnifying glass). 
  • Type in ABC and press the Install button.

 

Try to log in to the ABC app once again. Your login credentials will need to be entered again as they will not have been saved from the prior setup.

 

8. Turn Off VPN if applicable

If you are using a VPN, this step applies to you; otherwise, you can disregard it. If you are unsure whether or not you are utilizing a VPN, it is likely that you are not.

Most video applications and streaming services attempt to stop VPN traffic. If ABC has managed to prevent your VPN from running, then you probably won't be able to access your streaming content. The most straightforward way to determine this is to switch off the VPN and attempt running ABC App once more.

 

9. Try to Use ABC on a Different Device

If you can't access ABC on your TV, try opening it on your computer or any other device connected to your network. 

If it works on those other devices but not your TV, contact Samsung support for assistance. 

However, if ABC isn't working on any of your devices, the issue might be with your ABC account or with ABC's servers.

 

10. Check the Operational Status of the ABC Server

Using Downdetector, you can confirm if other people in your area are experiencing issues with ABC. Generally, these outages are localized and easily solved. 

If there is no information on Downdetector, then it is best to reach out to ABC support to get more details. 

You can also check their Official Support Twitter page for the latest information and can help you troubleshoot any concerns.

 

11. Perform Samsung TV Factory Reset 

It's time to give a factory reset a go as a last resort. This will erase all of your TV settings, including those related to your ABC app. This could potentially resolve any streaming app issues you're having, though all of the settings and app data will be wiped out.

To do this:

  • Press the Home button on the remote control of your Samsung TV to access the Smart Hub. 
  • Navigate to the Settings menu and open the General tab (or Support -> Self Diagnosis on some TVs). 
  • Choose Reset and, if prompted, enter your PIN or the default code of 0000
  • Finally, click OK to confirm the reset process.

 

Now Run the ABC app one last time to see if the firmware and software issues that may have been preventing its operation on your Samsung TV have been fixed.

Summary

In fact, there are several troubleshooting steps you can try to fix the ABC app not working on your Samsung Smart TV. The most common issues are usually software related and can often be resolved by restarting your TV, checking for updates or reinstalling the ABC app. If these initial steps do not work, you may need to perform a reset of your TV settings or Samsung account.

 

As a last resort, you may need to do a full factory reset of your Samsung TV to get the ABC app functioning again. However, this should only be done after trying all other options, as it will remove all data and settings from your TV. Before performing a factory reset, make sure to note down your Wi-Fi network details and sign-in credentials to easily set up your TV again.

 

If all troubleshooting fails, there could be an issue with your network connection or in rare cases, a hardware fault with your TV. 

Check if the ABC app works on other devices to determine if it's a software issue with your TV or a problem with the app itself. You may then need to contact Samsung or ABC support for further help or service if needed.

 

With the steps in this guide, you should be able to resolve most issues with the ABC app not working on your Samsung Smart TV.

 

21 possible fixes for the ABC app not working on Samsung Smart TV:

 

1. Restart your Samsung TV. A simple restart can refresh the software and fix minor issues.

 

2. Check for system software updates for your Samsung TV and install any available updates. Updates often contain bug fixes and patches.

 

3. Check for updates to the ABC app and update the app to the latest version. App updates also frequently contain stability and performance improvements.

 

4. Uninstall and reinstall the ABC app to refresh its data and software.

 

5. Power cycle your Samsung TV by unplugging the power cable for 2 minutes. This drains the residual power and restarts the TV.

 

6. Reset the Smart Hub apps on your TV. Go to Smart Hub > Apps > More Options > Reset Smart Hub. This will reset only your installed apps without deleting accounts or other TV settings.

 

7. Sign out of the ABC app and sign back in with your credentials to refresh the authentication. Make sure you're using the correct sign-in details.

 

8. Reset your TV to factory settings to do a hard reset of all software and apps. This will remove all data so note down settings before resetting.

 

9. If region blocked, use a VPN to mask your location and access ABC content. Some content may be unavailable outside the US.

 

10. Run a speed test to check your network bandwidth. The ABC app needs at least 25Mbps for live streams. Slow networks can impact performance and stability.

 

11. Reboot your Wi-Fi router and cable modem. If your network equipment needs a restart it can drop connectivity to devices and apps.

 

12. Forget your Wi-Fi network on the TV and re-connect your TV to the network. This can fix minor network configuration issues.

 

13. Try an alternate network source like an Ethernet cable. If Wi-Fi is unresponsive, Ethernet can temporarily provide network connectivity.

 

14. Free up storage space on your Samsung TV. Low storage can negatively impact app performance and stability. Leave 100MB of free space.

 

15. Check your router security settings. Strict security settings may block connectivity to app servers. Temporarily disable any firewalls or blacklists on your router.

 

16. Disable Power Saving mode on your TV if enabled. Power Saving mode can sometimes disrupt network and app functions.

 

17. Reset your Samsung Account password. If unable to sign-in to your Samsung account, resetting your password may help resolve any sign-in issues.

 

18. Uninstall conflicting apps on your TV one by one to check if another app is causing issues. Some apps may conflict with and disrupt the ABC app.

 

19. Contact your internet service provider if problems continue. There may be an outage or issue impacting your connectivity that requires service provider support to resolve.

 

20. Perform a hard reset of your modem and router. Unplug each for 5 minutes to fully power them off before restarting to refresh network equipment software.

 

21. Contact Samsung or ABC support for additional help. If all else fails, support can provide tailored guidance or service to determine if the issue is a software bug or hardware fault.

 

Hope this provides some additional solutions and steps you can try to fix issues with the ABC app on your Samsung TV.