If you are a Sports enthusiast like me and own a Samsung Smart TV and rely on the ESPN app to watch your favorite sports events.
It’s a good choice to watch your favorite sport on HD streaming and it gives us an amazing experience, But on the last “Aus Vs India Cricket Test world cup” day first, suddenly my ESPN App stops Working On my Samsung smart TV.
Your favorite team is playing, but you’re stuck dealing with a broken app, it is just a frustrating moment, especially for me and I hope for you also same. If so, you may have been disappointed when you found out that the app wasn’t working. Don’t worry – you’re not alone.
Though most apps are fairly reliable, even they can experience technical difficulties that lead to frustration and missed games. Here I will outline simple solutions to get your ESPN app working again on Samsung TVs.
ESPN App Not Working On Samsung TV:
Why is my ESPN app not working on Samsung TV?
In my case, there is a technical Glitch by which I am not able to watch the test cricket world Cup on my Samsung TV but when I investigated on this I found that the ESPN app is not working on Samsung TV models which are before 2016.
That’s why I have mentioned TV models with their manufacturing year with support ESPN app before this I have mentioned how you can install the ESPN app on your Samsung TV.
Common Issues with the ESPN App on Samsung TV
Not only the TV models that don’t support the ESPN app is responsible but also there are many technical or nontechnical issues that occur which I have mentioned below:
- Streaming Quality Problems: Users may encounter issues related to poor streaming quality, such as buffering, pixelation, or stuttering during playback.
- ESPN App Crashes or Freezes: This issue occurs when the ESPN app becomes unresponsive or fails to load properly, leading to crashes or freezing of the application.
- Error Messages: The ESPN app may display various error messages, such as “Playback Error,” “Content Unavailable,” or “Network Connection Lost,” preventing users from accessing desired content.
- Login or Authentication Issues: Users may face difficulties signing into their ESPN accounts or encounter authentication errors, preventing them from accessing premium content.
Now that we are familiar with the common issues, let’s proceed with the troubleshooting steps to overcome these problems and get the ESPN app on your Samsung TV back up and running smoothly.
So keep reading this article:
How To Install ESPN App on Samsung TV:

The ESPN app is available on all Samsung Smart TVs from 2016 or later. To install the app, follow these steps:
- Press the Home button on your Samsung TV remote.
- Select Apps from the on-screen menu.
- Select the Search icon (the magnifying glass) in the Apps screen.
- Enter ESPN in the search box.
- Press the Install button.
Once the app is installed, you can log in with your ESPN+ account credentials.
Resolving: Issues with ESPN App Not Working On Samsung TV
Step 1: List Of ESPN App Working Models of Samsung TVs:
Here is a list of Samsung Smart TVs that are compatible with the ESPN app:
Year | TV Models |
---|---|
2016: | HU8500, JS9000, JS8500, KS8000, KS7500, KU8000, KU7500 |
2017: | MU8500, MU7500, NU8000, NU7500, NU7100 |
2018: | Q60R, Q70R, Q80R, Q90R |
2019: | Q60T, Q70T, Q80T, Q90T |
2020: | Q60A, Q70A, Q80A, Q90A |
2021: | QN90A, QN85A, QN95A |
If you have an older Samsung Smart TV that is not on this list, you can still watch ESPN content by connecting a streaming device to your TV, such as a Roku, Fire TV Stick, or Apple TV. These devices have their own apps for ESPN, and they can be connected to any TV with an HDMI port.
How to deal with this Issue?
If your TV is not on this list or you have old model TV then there are two possibilities you have either you can change and upgrade your TV by buying a new one or you can use external devices like fire stick and many more.
Step 2: Streaming Quality Problems:
Slow internet speeds can often result in buffering issues with ESPN+ and other video and streaming apps, and may even prevent you from connecting to its servers altogether.
Accessing content via the ESPN app requires an internet connection that supports streaming video content. To have an enjoyable viewing experience, this connectivity must support streaming video content seamlessly.
1. Internet Connection Test:
To ensure a seamless streaming experience, follow these steps to establish a stable and reliable internet connection:
- Check that your Samsung TV is connected to the internet by accessing its network settings and verifying it has joined your Wi-Fi network.
- Reboot your Wi-Fi router or modem to renew your internet connectivity.
- Consider switching to an Ethernet connection if you are experiencing buffering or streaming issues on a regular basis. This may provide more stable internet access.
2. Internet Speed and Ping Test:

It is important to check whether you will get sufficient internet speed and ping to run your ESPN Sports app on your Samsung TV, in the internet speed test there are many online internet speed testing websites available where you can perform your internet speed test.
The internet speed is really on downloading speed, uploading speed, and ping or latency, which I can explain in detail so you can check by yourself:
Download Speed: 100 Mbps
Upload Speed: 20 Mbps
Ping: 20 ms
- Download speed: The speed at which data is downloaded from the internet to your computer. This is important for activities such as streaming video, downloading files, and gaming.
- Upload speed: The speed at which data is uploaded from your computer to the internet. This is important for activities such as sending emails with large attachments, uploading photos to social media, and video conferencing.
- Ping: A measure of the latency or delay, between your computer and a remote server. A low ping time is important for activities that require real-time communication, such as gaming and video conferencing.
Step 3: Your ESPN App Crashes or Freezes:
Here we already discussed the reasons of ESPN app is not working on Samsung Tvs and ESPN App Crashing or Freezing is one of the tops of our list and most occurring problems, so I have some ideas by which we can resolve this issue easily:
1. Restart the App:
Start by exiting the ESPN app completely and relaunching it. A simple restart can sometimes resolve minor glitches and get the app back on track.
2. Check for Updates:
If you are running your ESPN Sports app on the old version, now this is the time to update your app’s version to the latest one. Outdated versions can sometimes be the cause of crashes or freezing.
- Go to the app store on your TV,
- search for the ESPN app,
- check if an update is available.
- If so, proceed with the update to the latest version.
3. Clear Cache and Data
Clearing the cache and data of the ESPN app can help resolve various issues related to app performance. Here’s how you can do it:
- Access the settings menu on your Samsung TV.
- Navigate to the “Apps” or “Applications” section and find the ESPN app.
- Select the ESPN app and choose the “Clear Cache” and “Clear Data” options. Confirm your selection when prompted.
4. Reinstall the ESPN App
If the previous steps haven’t resolved the issue, reinstalling the ESPN app on your Samsung TV can help eliminate any potential software glitches. Follow these instructions:
- On your Samsung TV’s home screen, navigate to the app store.
- Search for the ESPN app and select it from the search results.
- Choose the “Uninstall” or “Remove” option to uninstall the app from your TV.
- After the uninstallation is complete, restart your TV.
- Return to the app store, search for the ESPN app again, and select it.
- Choose the “Install” option to reinstall the app on your Samsung TV.
- Once the installation is finished, launch the ESPN app and check if the issue has been resolved.
All these above 4 steps will recover your ESPN app crashes and freeze issues on your Samsung smart TV, If anything else remains we will cover it in our next Issue.
Step 4: “Playback Error,” Or “Content Unavailable,”
Most of time our given solution of Step 3, will recover almost of your playback errors, but sometimes Content Unavailable issues stuck you’re watching your favorite sports, here’s how to deal with this issue:
To recover this follow these things:
- Verify ESPN Subscription: Confirm that you have an active subscription to the ESPN service. Visit the official ESPN website and log in to your account. Verify the status of your subscription and ensure that it is up to date. If there are any issues with your subscription, contact ESPN customer support for further assistance.
- Verify Regional Restrictions: Certain sports events or content on the ESPN app may be subject to regional restrictions. Make sure that you are accessing the app from a supported region or location. If you are in a restricted region, consider using a virtual private network (VPN) service to bypass the restrictions and access the content. However, keep in mind that using a VPN may violate ESPN’s terms of service, so proceed with caution.
Step 5: Login or Authentication Issues:
Sometimes it happens that we logged out from our streaming platforms because of a changed of password from mobile phones therefore as a result we automatically logged out from TV as well, sometimes we forget credentials.
These minor thing we forget to watch while occurring issues, However, fret not! We have some effective troubleshooting steps to help you overcome these issues and get back to enjoying the thrilling world of sports. Let’s dive in:
1. Double-Check Credentials:
The first step is to ensure that you are entering the correct login credentials for your ESPN account.
- Verify that you are using the right username and password combination.
- Pay close attention to any uppercase or lowercase letters, special characters, or numbers.
- Passwords are case-sensitive, so be mindful of any typos.
2. Reset Your Password:

If you’re certain that your login credentials are correct but still unable to authenticate, consider resetting your password.
- Visit the ESPN website on a computer or mobile device and follow the “Forgot Password” or “Reset Password” prompts.
- Provide the necessary information to reset your password and then try logging in again on your Samsung TV.
3. Verify ESPN Subscription:
Ensure that your ESPN account has an active subscription. Log in to the official ESPN website and check the status of your subscription.
If your subscription has expired or encountered any issues, it may affect your ability to log in on the app.
Contact ESPN customer support for assistance in resolving any subscription-related problems.
Conclusion:
By following these comprehensive troubleshooting steps, you should be able to overcome the issues you were facing with the ESPN app on your Samsung TV.
Remember to check your internet connection, update the app, clear cache and data, install firmware updates, reinstall the app if necessary, and reset the Smart Hub. If all else fails, don’t hesitate to contact ESPN’s support team for further assistance.
We hope this guide has been helpful in resolving the problems you encountered and improving your overall experience with the ESPN app. Enjoy watching your favorite sports content hassle-free on your Samsung TV!