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Can you believe the first Roku device launched 17 years ago? It was initially developed in partnership with Netflix to stream its “Watch Instantly” service. Since then, the company has released several generations of streaming players and its own Roku TVs — meaning you may have one of these older devices.
What is cash?
Like your computer or smartphone, your Roku TV also stores temporary data (cache) to help apps load faster. It’s like a digital shortcut; When you open an app, your Roku remembers certain elements, like images or login information, instead of re-downloading everything from scratch.
Over time, this cache can become disorganized, corrupted, or completely full. When this happens, it can cause sluggish performance, freezing of apps, audio-video sync issues, or even dangerous error messages that pop up right when the show you’re watching is going great.
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While Roku is somewhat unique compared to other smart TVs in that there may be a direct “Clear Cache” button hidden in Settings, it’s still an option, and it’s important to check from time to time. Below are two of the fastest and most effective ways to clear your Roku cache.
Soft reset your Roku using the remote
This operation reminds me of the cheat codes you’d punch into the original Nintendo game pad – a little dated, but also old. To be clear, this is not a factory reset; You won’t lose your downloaded apps or login information for your various streaming services. Grab your Roku remote and:
- Press the Home button five times.
- Press the up arrow once.
- Press the rewind button twice.
- Press the fast forward button twice.
If you entered the sequence correctly, your Roku TV will pause for a moment and then restart, clearing that pesky cache. It may take a minute or two for it to reboot completely, so be patient and let it do its thing.
Too: How to Clear Your TV Cache (And Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Do It)
Once your Roku TV is back up and running, try opening the last app that was giving you grief. Often, you will find that it is behaving much better. The lethargy is gone, the accidents have stopped, and you can get back to your regularly scheduled binge-watching.
Restart your Roku system
If that specific button combination doesn’t work, another simple, but surprisingly effective method is the classic “turn it off and then on again” maneuver – but with a slight twist for a more thorough cache clear. Keep in mind that this is also not a hard reset, so it won’t uninstall your channel, reset your network settings, or erase your personal preferences.
- Go to Settings on your Roku.
- Select System.
- Select Power (if you don’t see Power, go straight to a system restart).
- Select System restart, then Restart.
- After the restart, unplug your Roku TV from the power outlet. is key.
- Wait for about 60 seconds. This allows any electrical charge in the capacitor to dissipate, ensuring that the cache is completely cleared.
- Plug your Roku TV back in and turn it on.
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This power cycle method ensures that all temporary files are cleared.
if all else fails…
If your Roku is still having issues, there’s the atom-bomb option of a true hard (factory) reset. I hate to even recommend it because it’s a pain to re-enter your account details, data and settings. But, before you buy a new Roku device or a new TV, try it first.
- Go to Settings.
- Select System.
- Select Advanced system settings.
- Select Factory reset.
There may also be a physical reset button on your Roku TV (often a small recessed button that requires you to press a paperclip) that you can hold down for about 10-30 seconds while the tv is on,
Also: 6 settings I changed on my Roku TV to instantly improve the user experience
Clearing the cache is not a one-time solution for eternity. If you dream too much, or if you feel that performance begins to degrade again, don’t hesitate to repeat the process. The first two procedures above are easy maintenance tasks that can save you a lot of headaches and delays in your next big streaming device purchase. the third option would be Definitely Clear your cache, but you’ll start fresh with your Roku account.
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