Try this 30-second refresh on your Roku TV before replacing it for good

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source on Google.

Can you judge that the archetypal Roku device launched 17 years ago? It was initially developed successful concern with Netflix to watercourse its "Watch Instantly" service. Since then, the institution has released galore generations of streaming players and its precise ain Roku TVs -- which means you mightiness ain 1 of these older devices.

What is simply a cache?

Just similar your machine oregon smartphone, your Roku TV besides stores impermanent information (the cache) to assistance apps load faster. It's similar a integer shortcut; erstwhile you unfastened an app, alternatively of redownloading everything from scratch, your Roku remembers definite elements, similar images oregon login information.

Over time, this cache tin go cluttered, corrupted, oregon conscionable plain excessively full. When that happens, it tin pb to sluggish performance, apps freezing, audio-video sync issues, oregon adjacent those dreaded mistake messages that popular up close erstwhile the amusement you're watching is getting good.

Also: I yet tried Roku's escaped unrecorded TV channels - and it feels similar the cablegram I grew up with

While Roku is somewhat unsocial compared with different astute TVs that mightiness person a nonstop "clear cache" fastener buried successful the settings, it's inactive an option, and an important 1 to cheque present and then. Below are the 2 quickest and astir effectual ways to wide your Roku cache.

Soft reset your Roku utilizing the remote

This cognition reminds maine of the cheat codes you'd punch into an archetypal Nintendo crippled pad -- a spot antiquated, but besides nostalgic. To beryllium clear, this isn't a mill reset; you won't suffer your downloaded apps oregon login accusation for your assorted streaming services. Grab your Roku distant and:

1. Press the Home fastener 5 times.
2. Press the Up arrow once.
3. Press the Rewind fastener twice.
4. Press the Fast Forward fastener twice.

If you've entered the series correctly, your Roku TV volition frost for a infinitesimal and past restart, clearing retired that troublesome cache. It mightiness instrumentality a infinitesimal oregon 2 to afloat reboot, truthful beryllium diligent and fto it bash its thing.

Also: How to wide your TV cache (and wherefore you shouldn't hold to bash it)

Once your Roku TV is backmost up and running, effort opening the past app that was giving you grief. More often than not, you'll find it's behaving overmuch better. The sluggishness is gone, the crashes person ceased, and you tin get backmost to your regularly scheduled binge-watching.

Restart your Roku system

If that circumstantial fastener operation doesn't look to bash the trick, different simple, yet amazingly effectual method is the classical "turn it disconnected and connected again" maneuver -- but with a flimsy twist for a much thorough cache clearing. Keep successful caput this is besides not a hard reset, truthful it won't uninstall your channels, reset your web settings, oregon erase your personalized preferences.

1. Go to Settings connected your Roku.
2. Select System.
3. Select Power (if you don't spot Power, spell consecutive to System Restart).
4. Select System Restart, past Restart.
5. After it restarts, unplug your Roku TV from the powerfulness outlet. This is key.
6. Wait for astir 60 seconds. This allows immoderate electrical complaint successful the capacitors to dissipate, ensuring the cache is afloat cleared.
7. Plug your Roku TV backmost successful and crook it on.

Also: Which Roku streaming instrumentality should you bargain successful 2025? I urge lone these models

This powerfulness rhythm method ensures that each impermanent files are wiped clean.

If each other fails...

If your Roku is inactive having issues, there's the atomic-bomb enactment of a existent hard (factory) reset. I hatred adjacent recommending it due to the fact that it is simply a symptom to re-enter your relationship details, data, and settings. But, earlier you spell buying for a newer Roku instrumentality oregon a caller TV altogether, springiness this a effort first.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select System.
3. Select Advanced System Settings.
4. Select Factory Reset.

There mightiness besides beryllium a carnal reset fastener connected your Roku TV (often a tiny recessed fastener you request a paperclip to press) that you tin clasp successful for astir 10-30 seconds while the TV is powered on.

Also: I changed 6 settings connected my Roku TV to instantly amended the idiosyncratic experience

Clearing the cache isn't a one-time hole for each eternity. If you're a dense streamer, oregon if you announcement show starting to degrade again, don't hesitate to repetition the process. The archetypal 2 processes supra are casual attraction tasks that tin prevention you a batch of headaches and hold your adjacent large streaming instrumentality purchase. The 3rd enactment volition definitely wide your cache, but you'll beryllium starting anew with your Roku account.

Get the morning's apical stories successful your inbox each time with our Tech Today newsletter.