10 Life Hacks Every Smart TV Owner Should Know
Whether you’re a seasoned smart TV user or just connecting your first TV to the internet, you have a lot to learn. Modern TVs are essentially computers with their own operating systems and app ecosystems. This means you can customize them to run more efficiently—or just the way you need them. Here are a few tips, tricks, and life hacks every smart TV owner should know.
Turn off motion smoothing on your smart TV.
Wondering why all the TV shows and movies you watch on your new TV look like a soap opera or a cheap amateur theater production? It’s probably because of motion smoothing.
This “feature,” enabled by default on too many TVs, artificially increases the frame rate from 24 or 30 frames per second to 60 or 120 frames per second, or even higher. This effect can add dynamism to live broadcasts, such as sporting events, but it’s not very suitable for regular TV. Where does the TV get these extra frames? It creates them itself, often resulting in a strange blurring effect reminiscent of old VHS tapes. I recommend disabling this feature immediately after installing your TV, and our friends at PCMag have prepared a guide on how to disable this feature for all major Smart TV platforms.
Connect an Ethernet cable to speed up your smart TV.
Streaming 4K video requires a lot of bandwidth. Modern Wi-Fi routers can usually handle this without any issues, especially if your TV is close to the router. However, if possible, it’s recommended to physically connect your smart TV to the network using an Ethernet cable.
There are several reasons for doing this. Firstly, wired connections are more stable, primarily because they’re not susceptible to interference from nearby wireless networks and other devices, so the likelihood of image freezes or audio interruptions is significantly lower. Secondly, connecting your TV via Ethernet frees up wireless range for all your other devices, which is important if you live in a house with other internet users (not to mention other smart devices).
Customize your smart TV’s home screen.
Smart TVs typically come pre-installed with numerous apps, all located on the home screen. You can and should move the apps you actually use to the top of the list. The method for doing this varies depending on your operating system, but it typically involves long-pressing the desired app at the top of the list and then dragging it. Otherwise, you may have to dig through the settings to find the information.
Block ads on your smart TV
Tired of ads on your TV? You might be able to block them using your router. Lifehacker has a guide on ad blocking on Samsung, LG, and Roku smart TVs, which explains how to change your internet settings so your TV can no longer access ads in the interface.
Disable the fast startup feature to save energy and speed up your smart TV.
Smart TVs are essentially computers, meaning they should boot up when turned on. However, most users don’t want to wait every time they turn on their TV, so smart TVs don’t actually turn off—they suspend their functions, like your phone or laptop. This is fine if you use your TV constantly, but it’s a real waste of power for a TV you only turn on occasionally. And completely turning off your TV can have another benefit: reducing crashes. Again, a smart TV is essentially a computer, and every computer user knows that restarting the computer can fix occasional problems .
Some TVs allow you to disable this feature—just look for the “quick start” option in the settings. Others, including Sony , recommend unplugging TVs you won’t be using for several months to completely turn them off.
Use an antenna to receive free channels.
Streaming TV is great, but don’t forget about traditional broadcast television, either. Most major cultural events, from the Super Bowl to the Oscars and baseball’s World Series, are still available to watch for free on network TV, as are the most popular shows. If you live in or even just near a major city, there’s a good chance you can watch network TV for free with just a small TV antenna. This could mean free access to channels like NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and PBS—no need to pay for cable or an expensive streaming subscription. All you need to do is plug in the antenna, scan for channels, and you’re good to go. (Lifehacker has a guide to the best digital TV antennas to help you get started.)
Clear your smart TV’s cache.
I don’t want to repeat it again, but a smart TV is a computer, and just like a computer, all sorts of junk can accumulate in its memory over time. If your smart TV has suddenly started running slower than you remember, or even freezing, it might be time to clear its cache. Get started with this guide to clearing cache on all major brands of smart TVs .
Enable security features on your smart TV.
Your smart TV poses a potential security risk. It’s a computer like any other, meaning you need to keep it updated, secure all accounts connected to it, and monitor its built-in microphones and cameras. Learn more about these and other tips in our smart TV security guide .
Turn off the “automatic content recognition” feature to prevent your smart TV from spying on you.
I’ve already written about why smart TVs are so cheap , and it turns out that a large part of it has to do with automatic content recognition (ACR). Most smart TV brands constantly track what you watch and use this data to create a profile of your viewing habits, which is then sold to third parties, generating huge profits for TV manufacturers. If this bothers you, consider disabling this feature to protect your privacy. Lifehacker has a guide on disabling ACR on major smart TV platforms.
Install a different launcher for your smart TV.
If you want your smart TV to look and function completely differently, you can install a different launcher, which will give you much more control. For example, Google TV users can install Projectivy to completely replace the default launcher . This option isn’t available for all smart TV models, but it’s worth considering if you feel limited by the preinstalled software.