Clearing Your Smart TV’s Cache Can Instantly Speed up Its Performance.

A smart TV is designed to meet all your entertainment needs in one device. The thing is, I always opt for a separate streaming box, even though my TV handles most, if not all, of my streaming needs. There are a few reasons for this: My Apple TV is much more private than my LG Smart TV, and I can easily replace it when the time comes to upgrade to a new generation. Replacing an entire TV is no easy task.

But one of the reasons I prefer the Apple TV to the built-in smart TV apps is speed. My smart TV is slow and it’s pretty annoying to use for streaming. If your TV is in the same situation, there’s a way to restore performance: clear the cache.

As our friends at ZDNet explain , a full cache can slow down the speed and performance of your smart TV. But it’s not just smart TVs; most devices in your life have a cache, and for good reason. The cache stores temporary files and data meant for apps, websites, and the OS to access when needed. In theory, this should speed up your devices, since apps and services can quickly tap into an existing data set rather than generating or searching for that information themselves.

However, over time, the cache can accumulate too much and begin to negatively impact your device’s performance. This isn’t just about speed. If the cache contains outdated or incorrect data, it can cause some apps to crash or not work properly. For example, if you can’t open the Prime Video app on your Smart TV, the cache may be the culprit.

More specifically, this isn’t a panacea for a slow Smart TV. Smart TVs, like all devices, can simply start to slow down over time because new apps and programs prove too powerful for their hardware. Incidentally, this hardware probably won’t be as powerful as a dedicated streaming device, which only exacerbates the problem. Clearing the cache regularly can help speed things up, but if you want the best streaming experience, I’d recommend a dedicated device like the Apple TV.

How to clear tv cache

Every smart TV is different, so the exact instructions for clearing your TV’s cache will likely vary by model. For exact instructions, identify your TV model by its device number and look for instructions on clearing the cache.

However, as ZDNet notes, there are general steps that will likely work for many TVs. Try this: Open your TV’s Settings, then go to the Apps or App Manager menu. Select an app, then select the option to clear the cache for that app.

Below are general device-level instructions for popular TV brands. (Again, these may vary by device, so if these instructions don’t help, look up your exact model.)

Clearing Cache on Samsung TVs

1. Open Settings , then All Settings.

2. Select Support , then select Device Care .

3. Select Manage Storage .

4. Select an app, then tap View details .

5. Select Clear data or Clear cache .

Clearing Cache on LG TVs

1. Press Home , then open Settings .

2. Go to the General section, then to the Storage section .

3. Select Clear Cache .

Clearing Cache on Sony TVs (Google TV Model)

1. Open Home , then Gmail .

2. On Google TV, select Display , then Settings .

3. From here, select Apps , then See all apps .

4. Select an app, then choose Clear Data or Clear Cache .

Clearing Cache on Sony TVs (Android TV Model)

1. Open Settings .

2. Open Apps , then select Show all apps . (You may need to tap Show system apps if available.)

3. Select Apps , select the app you want, then select Clear Data or Clear Cache .

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