How to Clear the Cache on Your Samsung TV, Step by Step (and Fix Laggy Apps)

Quick summary: If Netflix, YouTube or your other streaming apps keep freezing on your Samsung TV, or the menus feel sluggish, clearing the cache is one of the easiest fixes to try first. Engadget ran a good explainer on it today, and I checked every menu path below against Samsung’s own support pages. It takes a couple of minutes, and clearing the cache won’t delete your apps, picture settings or Wi-Fi password.

Why clearing the cache helps

Every app you open on your TV saves temporary files so it loads faster next time. Over time those files pile up, and smart TVs don’t have a lot of storage to begin with. Engadget notes most smart TVs have around 8GB of internal storage, and the operating system and preinstalled apps take a big chunk of that.

Clearing the cache can help with:

• Streaming apps that freeze, crash or buffer
• Laggy menus and slow app launches
• Freeing up a little storage space

The only catch: the first time you open an app afterward, it’ll take a few extra seconds to load while it rebuilds its temporary files. Posters and thumbnails may also pop in a beat slower that first time.

Before you start

• These steps are for Samsung smart TVs from 2020 and newer, which have Device Care. There’s a section for older models further down.
• Samsung says menus and steps can vary by model and region, so your TV may look slightly different.
• Clear Cache and Clear Data are two different buttons. Start with Clear Cache. Clear Data can reset that app’s saved preferences and may sign you out.

Step 1: Open Device Care

This follows Samsung’s support guide (the screenshots there are from a 2024 TV):

1. Press the Home button on your remote.
2. Go to Settings, then All Settings.
3. Select Support.
4. Select Device Care.

What you should see: The Device Care screen, with options including Start Device Care and Manage Storage.

Step 2: Clear the cache for one app

If one app is acting up (say, YouTube or Peacock), clear just that one:

1. In Device Care, select Manage Storage.
2. Highlight the app that’s giving you trouble.
3. Select View Details.
4. Select Clear Cache.

Samsung says the details screen shows the app’s data and cache usage, with buttons for Clear data and Clear cache.

What you should see: The cache number for that app drops to zero (or close to it). Open the app again and give it a few seconds on that first launch.

Step 3 (optional): Clean up the whole TV with Device Care

If the whole TV feels slow, not just one app:

1. In Device Care, select Start Device Care.
2. Let the scan finish.

Samsung says Device Care diagnoses the TV, shows its status as Good or Moderate, and then frees up memory by clearing cached memory and closing unused background apps.

What you should see: A status result plus a cleaned-up TV. Menus and app launches should feel snappier.

Step 4 (only if needed): Clear Data for a stubborn app

Still crashing after Step 2? Go back to Manage Storage > [app] > View Details and choose Clear Data. This resets the app, so have your sign-in info for that streaming service handy before you do it.

What you should see: The app opens like it’s brand new and asks you to sign in again.

Older Samsung TVs (2016–2019)

These steps come from Engadget’s guide, since older models use different menus:

• 2019 models: Settings > Support > Self Diagnosis > TV Device Manager, then Clean Now to clean up the whole TV, or pick an app and clear its cache from there.
• 2016–2018 models: You can’t clear the cache for individual apps. Engadget says you can clear browser cookies and some internet data under Settings > Broadcasting > Expert Settings > HbbTV Settings > Delete Browsing Data.

Last resort: a cold boot

This works on any Samsung smart TV, per Engadget:

1. With the TV on, press and hold the power button on your remote until the TV turns off and back on (about five seconds).
2. Or unplug the TV from the wall, wait 30 to 60 seconds, and plug it back in.

What you should see: The TV restarts fresh, with temporary files cleared out of memory.

Tips

• Make it a habit. The cache builds back up, so Engadget suggests clearing it every few months.
• Delete apps you never use. In Manage Storage, you can delete apps you’ve installed. Samsung notes that preinstalled default apps can’t be deleted.
• Clean the screen while you’re at it. A streak-free screen cleaner made for TVs is safer than random household sprays. I’ve got one in the shop box.
• Still slow after all this? If your TV is several years old, it might just be time. Black Friday is a great time to upgrade. The Samsung S95H and S90H OLEDs are in the shop box below.

Recap checklist

• Home > Settings > All Settings > Support > Device Care
• Manage Storage > [app] > View Details > Clear Cache for one problem app
• Start Device Care to clean up the whole TV
• Use Clear Data only if Clear Cache doesn’t fix it
• Older TV? Use Self Diagnosis > TV Device Manager (2019) or a cold boot

Sources: Engadget (November 14, 2026); Samsung Support: Clear App Cache and Data on your Samsung TV; Samsung Support: How to use Device Care on your Samsung Smart TV.