I have plenty of pet peeves.
And here’s one of them…
It’s when my favorite streaming app crashes on my Samsung TV.
I’m sure many of you can relate to that.
And so I investigated how to fix it.
Turns out that clearing the TV’s cache is what did the trick.
Gladly, it’s just a quick process.
Continue reading to discover:
- 5 easy steps to clear your Samsung TV’s cache.
- Other ways to delete your TV’s cache if you can’t find the Clear Cache option.
- A simple explanation of what cache is and why you need to clear it periodically.
- And much much more…
How to clear cache on Samsung TV – 5 steps
What exactly is cache?
And why do you even need to clear it?
Well, in simple terms, cache refers to files or data that a device saves. Mainly for quicker access in the future.
Smart TVs, smartphones, and computers all have cache storage.
An example of cache data includes your search history on streaming apps.
So the next time you use the app…
You won’t have to type an entire title or genre when searching. The app will simply auto-complete your searches. With the help of its cache.
Other examples are pages and images from the websites that you visited.
So the next time you open the website…
These cache files will help load the pages faster.
“If cache files are helpful, why should I clear them?”
Because eventually, they’ll take up too much space on your device.
Before you know it, your Samsung TV’s memory is full.
And this will affect its overall performance.
Moreover, cache files can also get corrupted. And it’s usually why certain apps would sometimes malfunction.
That’s why it’s a good practice to periodically clear your TV’s cache.
“How often should I do that with my Samsung TV?”
As soon as you notice any performance issues with your device. Or with your installed apps.
Clearing cache is a good troubleshooting fix for many of Samsung TVs’ issues.
And with that, let’s proceed with the steps.
#1: Go to your Samsung TV’s Smart Hub home screen
A quick way to do it is by pressing the remote’s Home button.
#2: Open the Settings menu
Just click the gear icon. You can find it on the bottom left portion of the home screen.
#3: Select Support
From the Settings menu, scroll down and click Support. It’s the one with the cloud and question mark icon.
#4: Click the Device Care option
This will take you to the Device Care page. Where you’ll see 4 options:
- Self Diagnosis.
- Manage Storage.
- Request Support.
- Start Device Care.
#5: Select Start Device Care
When you select this option, the Device Care system will start scanning your entire TV.
It’ll look for any issues and attempt to fix them.
In addition, the system will also automatically clear your TV’s cached memory. And close any background apps that you’re not using.
The scanning process should take anywhere from 1 to 3 minutes.
In rare cases, it may take longer. It depends on the number of apps in your TV’s storage.
When the Device Care scan finishes, you should immediately notice the result. Apps should load much faster. And the overall TV performance should improve.
Bonus: How to clear cache and data of individual apps
“What if I only want to clear the cache of a particular app?”
It’s certainly possible. And 2020 or later Samsung TVs have an option for that.
These are the steps to delete the cache and data of an app:
- Click your Samsung TV remote’s Home button.
- Navigate to Settings and select it.
- Select Support.
- Select Device Care.
- Click the Manage Storage option.
- Highlight an app and select View Details.
- Click the Clear Cache button.
- Select Clear Data.
While those steps are easy to follow, a visual guide should help even more.
So check out this video demonstration on clearing an app’s cache:
No clear cache option on Samsung TV – what should I do?
If your Samsung TV has no Clear Cache option, there are other things you can do. One is to perform a power cycle on your TV. In addition, you may also uninstall and reinstall your apps. Or reset the Smart Hub. Performing a factory reset will also clear your TV’s cache.
Below, I’ll further discuss how you can clear your Samsung TV’s cache. Even if it doesn’t have the Clear Cache option.
Power cycle your Samsung TV
Do you know the fastest way to clear your TV’s cache?
It’s actually by power cycling.
This means all you have to do is restart your Samsung TV.
By completely powering off the TV, you’re also instantly ending all processes. In turn, this will automatically delete cache or temporary files.
Now, there are 2 ways to power cycle your Samsung TV.
First is through the remote.
You can do it by simply pressing and holding the Power button for 5 seconds. Then wait for about half a minute. And press Power again to turn on the TV.
Another way to restart your Samsung TV is by unplugging it. Here’s how to do it:
Step #1: While the TV’s still on, unplug it from the power source.
Step #2: Press and hold the TV’s power button for 15 seconds. This is to completely drain your TV’s residual charge.
Step #3: Wait for about 30 seconds to a minute.
Step #4: Plug your TV back into the outlet.
Reset the Smart Hub
The Smart Hub is your Samsung TV’s menu system.
It’s what allows you to do these on your TV:
- Browse the web.
- View photos and videos.
- Download, install, and access apps.
- Easily navigate through the various settings options.
If you reset the Smart Hub, the following will happen:
- All Smart Hub settings will revert to default.
- The cache will be deleted from all your apps.
- You’ll be logged out of your Samsung account.
That’s why resetting it is another good alternative if you can’t find the Clear Cache option.
Important Note: Ensure that you change your Samsung TV’s input source to Live TV or HDMI first. Otherwise, you won’t be able to perform a reset.
Here are the steps to reset your Samsung TV’s Smart Hub:
- Press the Home button on your remote.
- Scroll to the left and select Settings.
- Go to Support and click it.
- Select Device Care.
- Click the Self Diagnosis button.
- Select the Reset Smart Hub option.
- Enter your Samsung TV’s PIN. Or 0000 if you don’t have one.
Delete and reinstall the apps
Another alternative way to clear cache is by simply deleting apps. And then reinstalling them.
Now, there’s really no option on Samsung to delete multiple apps at once. So you’ll have to do it one by one.
But don’t worry. It only takes a few seconds to do that.
How to delete an app on Samsung TV
- Click your remote’s Home button.
- Select Settings.
- Select Support.
- Click the Device Care option.
- Select Manage Storage.
- Highlight the app that you want to delete.
- Select the View Details option.
- Click the Delete button.
- Click Delete again to confirm.
“Wait, why is the Delete button grayed out on some apps?”
It’s because those are preinstalled apps. Meaning they came with your TV when you first bought it.
And Samsung generally prohibits deleting those kinds of apps.
However, there’s a simple workaround. And that’s by going to Develop Mode.
How to go to Develop Mode and delete preinstalled apps
Step #1: Go to the Smart Hub’s home page.
Step #2: Select Apps and then click the Settings icon.
Step #2: Pull up the virtual keyboard and type in the digits 1,2,3,4,5.
Step #3: You should now see a Develop Mode window on your screen. Toggle the Develop Mode option to on. And click the OK button.
Step #4: Restart your TV. You may do it by pressing and holding the remote’s Power button.
And then turn it back on. Also by clicking the Power button.
Step #5: Go to the Apps page and click Settings again.
Step #6: Highlight the app that you want to delete.
Step #7: Scroll down and select Deep Link Test.
Step #8: When a message box appears, click the Cancel button.
Step #9: You should now be able to select the Delete button. Just click it. And then click Delete again to continue.
At this point, all you have to do is reinstall the app.
But you may also choose to restart your TV first. This helps completely wipe out any remaining data from the deleted app.
After restarting, you may go ahead and download the deleted app.
How to reinstall an app on Samsung TV
- Click your remote’s Home button.
- Navigate to Apps and select it.
- Click the Search icon and type in the name of the app.
- Click the Install button.
You might also want to know: (7 Ways) How to Restart Apps on Samsung TV
Update your Samsung TV’s firmware
It’s possible that your Samsung TV actually has a Clear Cache option. But you’re somehow unable to find it due to a glitch or a bug in the TV’s OS.
A solution to that would be to install software updates.
Just see to it that your TV has a stable WiFi connection before updating it.
How to manually install updates
- Press Home on your TV remote.
- Select Settings.
- Scroll down and click Support.
- Click Software Update.
- Select Update Now.
Your Samsung TV should then start downloading and installing the updates. It should take 3 to 5 minutes to complete. So ensure that you keep your TV on while the process is ongoing.
Now, you may also choose to receive updates automatically. That way, you don’t have to keep checking if there are available ones.
How to get updates automatically
- Click your remote’s Home button and select Settings.
- Select Support.
- Select Software Update.
- Click the Auto Update option.
Perform a factory reset
Now, this option’s a bit more drastic. But a factory reset’s another way to clear your TV’s cache.
In fact, it won’t just delete the cache. It’ll also wipe out pretty much everything.
Including your downloaded apps. And your personal settings and preferences.
Moreover, your account will also be unlinked from your TV.
But if you still want to proceed with a factory reset, the steps are actually simple.
Note: Make sure you close all running apps first. You won’t be able to access the factory reset option if there’s an open application.
This is how to factory reset a Samsung TV:
- From the home screen, select Settings.
- Click General.
- Scroll to the bottom and select Reset.
- Click Yes to confirm your selection.