Disney Plus App Not Working On Samsung TV: How I Fixed It

Disney Plus App Not Working On Samsung TV: How I Fixed It

I am sure you already know that Avatar: The Way of Water was released some time ago.

Being a fan of James Cameron, I wanted to rewatch the first movie before I went to catch the sequel in theaters.

Lucky for me, the movie was available on Disney Plus.

I launched the Disney Plus app on my Samsung TV, but all I could see was an endless buffering screen. Even the Home menu of the app failed to load.

I rebooted my TV and streaming device and relaunched the app, but the problem persisted.

Of course, this spoiled my plans, but I was determined to watch the movie by the end of the day.

So, I started combing through Disney and Samsung forums to find a working solution.

After trying several troubleshooting tips, I finally came across a user comment that got Disney Plus working again on my TV. 

If the Disney Plus app is not working on a Samsung TV, power cycle the TV. To power cycle a Samsung TV, unplug it from the power source, wait for 30-60 seconds before plugging it back in, and turn it on. 

Check if the Disney Plus Servers are Down

Disney Plus won’t work on your TV if its servers are down in your area due to maintenance or a power outage.

You can check the Disney server status by visiting Downdetector. It’s a reliable third-party website that compiles user data and complaints to determine and inform people if a service or app is down.

You can also check Disney Plus Twitter handle, as major server outage notices are often posted there.

If the Disney servers are down, you will have to wait for their technical team to resolve the problem. 

Power Cycle Your Samsung TV

If the Disney Plus app is not working for you while its servers are up and running, you should power cycle your Samsung TV.

Power cycling is a straightforward method that clears the temporary files that a device stores as part of its usage and eliminates any built-up residual charge.

The temporary files hog a lot of memory and can lead to weird glitches like not allowing apps to function correctly.

On top of that, TVs accumulate residual charge over time, which can cause software glitches.

You can power cycle your Samsung TV by holding the Power button on its remote until the TV powers off and is back on.

You can also do it via these steps: 

  1. With the TV on, remove its power cord from the wall outlet.
  2. Wait for 30-60 seconds.
  3. Plug the TV back in and turn it on

Power cycling is also an effective solution if your Samsung TV won’t turn on.

Check Your Internet Connection

The Disney Plus app and your Samsung TV need a stable Internet connection to fetch the content you are trying to play and stream it.

If your Internet connection is slow or inconsistent, it can lead to Disney Plus not working correctly.

You can check your Internet connection speed using a reliable speed checker like Speedtest by Ookla.

If you find a problem with your download speed, you should power cycle your Wi-Fi router. 

  1. Unplug your router from the power outlet.
  2. Wait for 60 seconds.
  3. Plug the router back into the outlet and switch it on.
  4. Wait for the router to initialize and check if Disney Plus works. 

In case your Internet speed continues to be slow, you should consider contacting your ISP (Internet Service Provider). 

Clear the Disney Plus App Cache

The Disney Plus app constantly stores cache into your TV’s memory to remember your choices and load the app faster the next time you launch it.

These files are necessary for the smooth functioning of the TV and app, but they can also create problems if they take up a lot of space.

One such problem is the Disney Plus app not working.

You can quickly fix this problem by clearing the Disney Plus app cache on your Samsung TV: 

  1. Go to the Home screen on your TV.
  2. Launch Settings.
  3. Open Support.
  4. Choose Device Care and click on Manage Storage.
  5. Find and select Disney Plus.
  6. Select View Details.
  7. Tap on Clear Cache

Once done, launch Disney Plus to check if it works fine.

Clearing the app cache is also known to fix Disney Plus not working on Fire Stick.

Note: It’s a good practice to clear the cache on your Samsung TV once in a while, especially for the often-used apps. 

Reinstall the Disney Plus App

Sometimes, the Disney Plus app may not work on your Samsung TV due to installation flaws, software bugs, or corrupt file directories.

A fresh install of the app can assist in resolving all these problems. Doing so will also get you the version of the app.

Start by uninstalling the Disney Plus app: 

  1. Go to your Samsung TV’s Home screen.
  2. Open the Apps tab.
  3. Select Options.
  4. Choose Disney Plus.
  5. Hit Delete and confirm your choice.
  6. Restart your TV. 

Once the app is uninstalled, install it back: 

  1. Go to the Home screen.
  2. Select Apps.
  3. Use the Search bar to look for Disney Plus.
  4. Tap on the Install option. 

Once the installation is complete, launch the Disney Plus app and log into your account.

Note: The steps for deleting and installing an app may vary slightly depending on your TV model. 

Update Your Samsung TV

If you are trying to stream Disney Plus on a Samsung TV with outdated firmware, you are sure to run into trouble now and then.

Sometimes, the app may give you stuttering issues; other times, it may even fail to load.

You need to update your TV to the latest build to eliminate all such streaming problems.

  1. Go to the Home menu on your Samsung TV.
  2. Open Settings.
  3. Click on the Support tab.
  4. Choose Software Update and tap on Update Now

If an update is available, your TV will download and install it automatically. Also, the TV will restart a few times during the whole process. 

Reset the Samsung Smart Hub

All Samsung Smart TVs come preloaded with the Smart Hub, a customizable app store.

If none of the above-detailed solutions get Disney Plus working on your Samsung Smart TV, you should reset the Smart Hub.

Doing so will remove all the data and information about the apps installed on your TV and return its settings to default.

It will also help you fix the Disney Plus app as it purges all app data, which is where the root cause of most glitches lies.

To reset the Smart Hub on your Samsung TV: 

  1. Click the Home or Menu button on the TV remote (depending on the model).
  2. Open Settings.
  3. Find the Support tab.
  4. Click on Self Diagnosis.
  5. You should see the option to Reset Smart Hub. Select it.
  6. Enter your TV’s PIN. Enter 0000 if you never set one.
  7. Restart your TV. 

The Way of Watching Without any Issues!

Disney Plus hosts a fantastic collection of movies and shows, some of which are my absolute favorites.

However, an expansive library is worth nothing if you can’t access the app on your Samsung TV due to software bugs or a server outage.

Luckily, you can solve this problem by power cycling the TV.

If power cycling proves no help, clearing the Disney Plus app cache should do the trick.

In case none of the solutions covered in this article work for you, try contacting Disney Plus Help Center or Samsung Support

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Disney Plus service region-locked?

Yes, the Disney Plus content is region-locked. It means you can only watch their content in certain countries. 

How do I refresh my Disney Plus app?

You can refresh the Disney Plus app on your smartphone or tablet by dragging a finger down from the top of the screen. For TVs and streaming players, close the app and relaunch it. 

Do Samsung TVs come with a warranty?

Samsung usually provides a standard 3-year warranty for their TVs, but this can vary from country to country. 

About the author

Maria Chan, or MC, as we call her, is the genius girl-boss who gave up on her cushy silicon-valley job to grind it out with us. Her undying pursuit of wanting Zeebox to the best makes it very clear that she has no interest in running a generic tech-site.

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