How to Lock Individual Apps on Samsung TV Using Phone: Let’s be honest—your TV isn’t just a TV anymore. It’s a streaming center, a music player, a gaming screen, and sometimes even a web browser. And if you’ve got kids at home, nosy relatives, or roommates who don’t know when to stop binge-watching, you’ve probably wished for a way to lock certain apps on your Samsung TV. Perhaps you want to keep YouTube out of your toddler’s hands or prevent someone from accessing your Netflix profile. But when you dive into the TV settings, you quickly realize—Samsung doesn’t make it easy to lock individual apps.
That’s where your smartphone (yes, the one in your pocket) comes to the rescue.
With just a few steps, you can link your phone to your Samsung TV and use its fingerprint sensor to lock and unlock apps, giving you the kind of control that PIN codes and basic parental settings just can’t offer. It’s smart, it’s secure, and surprisingly simple once you know how to do it. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything—what you need, how it works, and how to make sure your apps stay locked unless your finger says otherwise.
Understanding App Locking on Samsung Smart TVs
Samsung Smart TVs do include several security features like general parental controls, PIN-based restrictions, and Samsung Kids mode. However, when it comes to locking down specific apps like Netflix, YouTube, or web browsers, the native options are surprisingly limited. Samsung’s built-in app lock settings mostly rely on numeric PINs and basic profile controls. These might work for some, but in households where kids quickly memorize PINs or where you want granular control over who accesses what, this system falls short.
Unlike smartphones, Smart TVs are still catching up in terms of user-level app locking. That’s where a phone-linked method can change the game, allowing biometric-level protection for each app you want to keep private.
Why Use Fingerprint-Based Locking via Phone?
Using a fingerprint-based app locking through your smartphone gives you several advantages over traditional TV PIN systems. First and foremost, biometric security is more personal and secure. Unlike a four-digit PIN that can be guessed or shared, your fingerprint is uniquely yours. It ensures that only the person holding the phone—and authorized to use the fingerprint—can unlock specific apps on the TV.
This method is beneficial for parental controls. Say your child has access to basic kids’ content on your TV, but you want to make sure they don’t end up watching something inappropriate or rack up charges by opening a paid streaming app. With fingerprint access, you can instantly lock that app and control it remotely.
There’s also the convenience factor. Since your smartphone is usually with you, you can manage these settings even when you’re not right in front of the TV. It turns your phone into a smart remote that also doubles as a digital key.
What Things Do You Need to Link Your Phone to Your Samsung TV
Here’s what you need before setting everything up:
| Requirement | Details |
| Samsung TV Model | 2020 or later with SmartThings compatibility |
| Smartphone | Samsung Galaxy or an Android device with a fingerprint sensor |
| SmartThings App | Installed and updated on your smartphone |
| Samsung Account | Logged in on both the TV and the phone |
| Biometric Authentication Support | Enabled fingerprint login on your smartphone |
| Wi-Fi Network | Both the TV and the phone must be on the same Wi-Fi |
| Bluetooth | Turned on during the initial pairing process |
| Software Updates | The latest firmware on both the TV and the phone |
Step-by-Step Guide to Linking Your Phone and Samsung TV for App Control
Setting up the phone-TV connection through SmartThings is quick. Just follow these steps:
- Open the SmartThings app on your smartphone.
- Tap the ‘+’ icon to add a new device.
- Ensure your Samsung TV is powered on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- When your TV appears in the list of devices, select it and start the pairing process.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to allow permission and link your phone to the TV.
- Once the TV is successfully added, you’ll see a TV control dashboard in the app.
- Tap on the Settings icon and navigate to App Management or App Permissions.
- Head over to Security Settings in the app and enable Fingerprint Authentication.
- The app will prompt you to verify your fingerprint once during setup. Do this to enable access.
Once done, your TV is now connected to your phone and ready for individual app control using your fingerprint.
How to Lock Individual Apps on Samsung TV Using Fingerprint from Your Phone
Now that the setup is done, here’s how you can start locking specific apps:
Open the SmartThings app, go to the App Management section, and view the full list of installed apps on your Samsung TV. Choose the app you wish to lock—for example, YouTube, Prime Video, or the internet browser. Tap the lock option and verify your fingerprint when prompted.
When someone tries to open a locked app, the TV will send a notification to your phone asking for authorization. Once you scan your fingerprint, the app unlocks remotely and temporarily allows access. It works quickly and feels seamless—almost like unlocking your phone, but from a distance.
Privacy Tips for Securing Your Samsung TV
If something goes wrong or the unlock notification doesn’t show up, don’t worry. Make sure that your Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are both active, and double-check that your phone and TV are using the same Samsung account.
If the SmartThings app crashes or seems unresponsive, try reinstalling it and re-linking the TV. It’s also a good idea to restart your devices to refresh the system.
Want to keep things more secure? Don’t allow multiple phones to control the TV if security is a priority. Stick to one trusted device, and check your SmartThings-linked devices list regularly.
And always set up a TV PIN as a fallback, just in case your phone battery dies or the fingerprint sensor fails to recognize your fingerprint. You can even set up automation routines that auto-lock all streaming apps at certain times—for example, after bedtime or during school hours.
Closing Thoughts
Samsung Smart TVs are already packed with impressive features, but combining them with your smartphone’s fingerprint security gives you even greater control. Whether it’s about protecting kids, keeping your data private, or simply managing access with ease, this method adds the peace of mind every smart home deserves.
So next time someone reaches for the TV remote, you can rest easy. Because now, you know how to Lock Individual Apps on Samsung TV using your phone.