To clear cache on a smart TV, open Settings > Apps, choose the app that’s misbehaving and select Clear cache. It’s safe: you stay signed in and keep your settings. The exact menu differs by brand, so the steps for each are below.
If the whole TV is slow, not just one app, start with the fixes for a slow smart TV.
What clearing cache does (and does not)
Apps save temporary files (thumbnails, bits of video, old data) so they load faster. Over time this pile can get corrupted or fill the TV’s small storage, causing buffering, freezing, crashes or “storage full” warnings.
| Option | Removes | You lose |
|---|---|---|
| Clear cache | Temporary files | Nothing important |
| Clear data / storage | Everything the app saved | Logins and app settings |
Always try Clear cache first. Use Clear data only if the problem stays, and have your Netflix, YouTube or DStv Stream password ready.
Android TV and Google TV
This covers Sony, TCL, Hisense, Skyworth and other Android TVs, Android TV boxes and Chromecast with Google TV. Not sure which you have? See Android TV vs Google TV.
Android TV and TV boxes: 1. Press Home, open Settings (gear icon). 2. Go to Apps (sometimes Apps > See all apps). 3. Select the app, then Clear cache > OK.
Google TV (including Chromecast): 1. Select your profile icon > Settings > Apps > See all apps. 2. Pick the app and choose Clear cache. 3. To clear all apps at once: Settings > System > Storage > Internal shared storage > Cached data.
Fire TV Stick
- Go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications.
- Choose the app.
- Select Clear cache. Use Clear data only as a last resort.
Fire TV clears one app at a time; repeat for each problem app.
Samsung
On most Samsung TVs from about 2020 onwards: 1. Settings > Support > Device Care > Manage Storage. 2. Select the app, then View details > Clear cache.
Device Care’s Start Device Care option also clears cache for all apps in one go. Older models use Self Diagnosis or TV Device Manager > Memory Boost instead.
LG
LG webOS TVs usually don’t have a per-app Clear cache button. Instead: – Turn the TV off at the wall for a minute to clear memory. If Quick Start+ is on, the remote’s power button only puts the TV in standby, so switch that off in the General or System settings. – To fully reset an app, delete it and reinstall it from the LG Content Store.
Still slow after clearing?
Check for updates (how to update a smart TV), uninstall apps you don’t use, and restart your router. An old TV with tiny storage may simply be due for a cheap streaming stick.
Quick answers
Settings > Apps > select the app > Clear cache. On Google TV, go through your profile icon > Settings > Apps > See all apps.
Yes. It only removes temporary files; you stay logged in. Clear data is different: it signs you out and resets the app.
