I was enjoying my Samsung 55” TV days ago when a message popped up telling me that the storage space was about to be filled up — and that’s how cache files messed up my world from thereon.
Cache files are useful, this cluster of data grows over time, giving your smart TV little room to operate. If you don’t handle the issue directly you’ll be unable to use the TV — yikes!
To clear the cache on your Samsung TV, open the settings menu and navigate to Support > Device Care > Manage Storage. From there, select the desired app and clear its app cache.
But that’s not the only way to do it. In this post, we’ll show you how to clear the cache on Samsung TV using eight proven-and-tested methods, from very easy to easy! We’ll even show you how to factor it into different models, so read on!
1. Restart your TV using the power button on its remote.
Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
Number of steps | 2 |
Time to perform fix | 10 seconds |
Things you need | Samsung TV Samsung TV remote control |
Performing a restart sequence is a quick and easy way to clear the cache on Samsung TV with a single push of a button. This action resembles how computers are restarted, freeing up the cached memory and closing running apps.
This method is a fast way to resolve minor issues that emerge while using your Samsung TV. You need to press the power button on your Samsung TV remote control to initiate the restart sequence, but you can do it without one.
Just a quick backgrounder. The cache is temporary data the TV stores every time you access apps and websites; it’s useful, said storage can grow immensely, slowing down the electronics and causing connectivity issues.
Step 1: Point the Samsung remote control on your TV while powered on. |
Step 2: Press/hold the power button on the Samsung remote control to shut down the TV and boot it back up. |
It’s best you wait for 30 seconds before powering it back on. This way, any remaining electricity dissipates, giving the restart a greater chance of success.
2. Reset your TV’s Samsung Smart Hub.
Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
Number of Steps | 6 |
Duration | 40 seconds |
Things you need | Samsung TV Samsung TV remote control |
Samsung TV Smart Hub is a menu system designed to organize and manage your account information, system settings, and downloaded apps. Resetting the Smart Hub lets you wipe your account data, clearing any of its stored cache data.
We recommend resetting the Smart Hub if you want to clear the cache on Samsung TV. Not only do you reset your account data, but you also get to fix all the issues affecting the behavior of the apps installed on your Samsung TV.
WARNING: This action removes your Samsung account from your TV, meaning you must sign in again after the reset. We suggest ensuring you know your Samsung account’s login details before proceeding.
Step 1: Reveal the Samsung Smart Hub on the display screen by pressing the home button on your TV remote control. |
Step 2: Scroll left/click Settings to continue to the settings menu. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click Support to continue to the support options. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click Self Diagnosis to continue to the troubleshooting options. |
Step 5: Scroll down/click Reset Smart Hub to restore the Smart Hub to its default settings. |
Step 6: Enter the PIN of your Samsung TV to continue with the reset. Note: The default PIN on Samsung TV models is “0000.” If you haven’t changed the PIN on your TV before, this should work for you. |
You should not worry that the procedure will go sideways. Just make sure you follow the steps detailed above for the best results.
3. Have your Samsung TV unplugged for 60 seconds.
Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
Number of Steps | 3 |
Duration | 1 minute and 5 seconds |
Things you need | Samsung TV Samsung TV remote control |
Another way to clear the cache on Samsung TV is to unplug the unit from the wall/electrical outlet. This action serves the same purpose as the first method in this guide; the difference being that you keep your Samsung TV turned off for longer.
Doing so allows the Samsung TV to shut down all the apps and processes running beforehand completely. You can ascertain that your Samsung TV wipes the app data loaded in its system memory so that it reboots with an empty cache.
Plus, while your Samsung TV is unplugged during this entire procedure, it also discharges the residual energy stored inside its capacitors. It should help improve your Samsung TV’s performance, which we think is a good bonus.
Step 1: Pull the power cable of your Samsung TV from the wall/electrical outlet. |
Step 2: Leave your Samsung TV unplugged for 60 seconds. |
Step 3: Insert the power cable of your Samsung TV back into the wall/electrical outlet. Note: Ensure that the power cable of your Samsung TV is plugged in securely into the wall/electrical outlet to avoid any power supply issues. |
4. Update the TV’s firmware by installing a new version.
Performing a firmware version update is also one way to clear the cache on Samsung TVs. By installing the latest firmware on your Samsung TV, you remove the old version of the firmware along with all of its cached memory and data.
If all that sounds alarming, don’t worry because this action doesn’t wipe your account data, installed apps, and system settings. You’re only installing an updated firmware version on your Samsung TV to replace the outdated version it was using.
Choose between two different methods to update the firmware version of your Samsung TV. A USB stick with the firmware update can be used for a manual installation, or you can download the new firmware version directly via the internet.
We’ll show you first factoring the upgrades using the internet as it’s much faster. But if your internet is unreliable, the USB stick method should be the better option.
Follow the steps below to download the firmware update from the internet:
Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
Number of Steps | 6 |
Duration | 20 minutes |
Things you need | Samsung TV Samsung TV remote control |
Step 1: Reveal the Samsung Smart Hub on the display screen by pressing the home button on your TV remote control. |
Step 2: Scroll left/click Settings to continue to the settings menu. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click Support to continue to the support options. |
Step 4: Select/click Software Update to continue to the update options. |
Step 5: Select/click Update Now. |
Step 6: Wait for your Samsung TV to finish “Checking for updates.” Download/install any available firmware update. |
Follow the steps below to install the firmware update with a USB stick:
Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
Number of Steps | 17 |
Duration | 25 minutes |
Things you need | Samsung TV Samsung TV remote controlUSB |
Step 1: Reveal the Samsung Smart Hub on the display screen by pressing the home button on your TV remote control. |
Step 2: Scroll left/click Settings to continue to the settings menu. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click Support to continue to the support options. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click About This TV to continue to the device’s specifications. |
Step 5: Look for its model number and current software version. Keep a note of this information for reference. |
Step 6: Use a PC and go to Samsung’s official Manuals & Software page. Enter the model number of your Samsung TV on the search bar of their page. |
Step 7: Scroll down to the Firmware/Software section on your TV’s download page. Go to “Upgrade File(USB type)” and click the Download button below. |
Step 8: Extract the firmware upgrade file to the PC desktop. Note: Don’t try renaming the firmware upgrade file because you won’t be able to install it on your Samsung TV. |
Step 9: Insert a USB stick into your PC and move the firmware upgrade file in there. |
Step 10: Pull the USB stick from the PC and insert it into the port behind your TV. |
Step 11: Reveal the Samsung Smart Hub on the display screen by pressing the home button on your TV remote control. |
Step 12: Scroll left/click Settings to continue to the settings menu. |
Step 13: Scroll down/click Support to continue to the support options. |
Step 14: Select/click Software Update to continue to the update options. |
Step 15: Select/click Update Now to begin the update check on your TV. |
Step 16: Select/click Yes to search for the firmware upgrade file inside the USB stick. |
Step 17: Select/click Yes to install the firmware upgrade found inside the USB stick. |
It’s easy to get lost in such a long procedure, so we recommend you understand the steps first before factoring them all. That way, you lessen your chances of missing a step.
Now, there’s a stronger pill to swallow if you really want to know how to clear cache on your Samsung. And that’s via a factory reset.
5. Restore your TV by conducting a factory reset.
Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
Number of Steps | 8 |
Duration | 5 minutes |
Things you need | Samsung TV Samsung TV remote control |
We believe that performing a factory reset is the best way to clear the cache on Samsung TV. Unlike a firmware update, this action will wipe everything on your Samsung TV, such as your account data, system settings, and installed apps.
It means the cached data on your Samsung TV’s system memory and app cache will all be gone once the factory reset ends. Your Samsung TV will be restored to its original state went it was first packed and shipped out of the manufacturing facility.
WARNING: A factory reset deletes all your apps and personal TV preferences so it’s best you save a copy. Or you can lose them all for good.
You can think of it like having a new TV that hasn’t been set up or taken out of the box. As such, you’ll need to re-enter your Samsung account, set up Smart Hub, and reinstall your favorite apps.
Step 1: Reveal the Samsung Smart Hub on the display screen by pressing the home button on your TV remote control. |
Step 2: Scroll left/click Settings to continue to the settings menu. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click General to continue to the general settings menu. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click Reset. |
Step 5: Enter the PIN of the TV and click Done to continue with the factory reset. |
Step 6: Select/click Yes. |
Step 7: Wait as your Samsung TV resets to the default factory settings. |
Step 8: Prepare your Samsung TV by setting up the Smart Hub. |
That should be easy. A factory reset shouldn’t be taken lightly and should only be done as a last resort if all the other solutions fail.
6. Clear the browser cache of your Samsung TV.
Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
Number of Steps | 7 |
Duration | 30 seconds |
Things you need | Samsung TV Samsung TV remote control |
If your Samsung TV has a built-in web browser, it will store all of your browsing data from your activities and the websites that you visit. You should clear the cached data stored by your Samsung TV’s internet browser since it gobbles up valuable storage.
You must go to its settings menu to clear the cache on Samsung TV’s built-in web browser. From there, you can delete its browsing history and browsing data.
Step 1: Reveal the Samsung Smart Hub on the display screen by pressing the home button on your TV remote control. |
Step 2: Scroll right/click Internet to open the built-in web browser. |
Step 3: Select/click the hamburger menu in the upper-right corner of the web browser to open a drop-down menu. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click Settings to open the browser settings. |
Step 5: Go to the Privacy & Security section and click the Delete All button under Delete History. |
Step 6: Scroll down/click the Delete browsing data button under Delete browsing data. |
Step 7: Select/click Delete to delete the cached browsing data on your Samsung TV. |
Clearing the cache files means you open your TV to greater efficiency. For one, you improve your Samsung TV’s screen mirroring experience when you do.
7. Uninstall and reinstall the apps on your Samsung TV.
Removing an app from your Samsung TV will wipe all of its data from the device. For this reason, uninstalling and reinstalling your apps is an effective way to clear the cache on Samsung TVs.
Though this action might seem extreme, you may find it useful when you want to make sure certain apps do not hold your Samsung TV hostage. Some of the apps that hog space are as follows:
- Amazon Kindle
- Facebook Messenger
- Google Maps
- Skype
- YouTube
- Google Chrome
- Tango
- Sp Mode Mail
As you can see, the apps you have here are also the most useful in many people’s preferences. So, you may have to be more vigilant while using them as they can occupy space in your TV enough to slow it down.
Please note that some apps like Netflix and Disney+ are built-in on your Samsung TV, so you can’t uninstall them. You can only reinstall them using the dedicated reinstall option in the app library menu.
Follow the steps below to uninstall the apps on your Samsung TV:
Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
Number of Steps | 6 |
Duration | 20 seconds |
Things you need | Samsung TV Samsung TV remote control |
Step 1: Reveal the Samsung Smart Hub on the display screen by pressing the home button on your TV remote control. |
Step 2: Scroll to APPS and open it to continue to the app library. |
Step 3: Go to App Settings by clicking the cog icon on the upper-right corner of the app library. |
Step 4: Select/click the app(s) you want to uninstall from the list. |
Step 5: Select/click Delete to remove the desired app from your Samsung TV. Note: If you scroll farther below, you’ll find a Reinstall option that will let you reinstall your chosen apps completely without having to delete them. |
Step 6: Select/click Delete to confirm the removal of the selected app. |
Follow the steps below to reinstall the apps on your Samsung TV:
Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
Number of Steps | 6 |
Duration | 40 seconds |
Things you need | Samsung TV Samsung TV remote control |
Step 1: Reveal the Samsung Smart Hub on the display screen by pressing the home button on your TV remote control. |
Step 2: Scroll to APPS and open it to continue to the app library. |
Step 3: Go to App Search by clicking the search icon in the upper-right corner of the app library. |
Step 4: Use the on-screen keyboard to find your desired app with a keyword search. Type the name of the until it shows up in the search results. |
Step 5: Select/click the desired app from the search results on the top part of the screen. |
Step 6: Select/click Install to download and install the desired app on your Samsung TV. |
8. Clear your Samsung TV’s app cache.
In this part of the guide, we will show the different ways to clear the cache on the Samsung TV apps you’ve installed. The process doesn’t differ much between Samsung TV models aside from the location or the name of the menu options.
Don’t be confused, as each app you’ve installed or pre-installed in your Samsung TV uses a cache to be able to operate. So, dealing with individual apps is a must to minimize this load.
You can refer to the methods below for step-by-step instructions on clearing the stored cache data on Samsung TV 7 Series models up to the present models.
1. Clear the app cache on 2020 and present-day Samsung TV models.
Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
Number of Steps | 7 |
Duration | 30 seconds |
Things you need | Samsung TV Samsung TV remote control |
For models manufactured in 2020 up to the present, the method to clear the cache on Samsung TV is to navigate to Settings > Support > Device Care. From there, head to Manage Storage, where you’ll select the app individually to clear its cache.
Step 1: Reveal the Samsung Smart Hub on the display screen by pressing the home button on your TV remote control. |
Step 2: Scroll to Settings and open it to continue to the settings menu. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click Support to continue to the support options. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click Device Care to continue to the diagnosis options. |
Step 5: Select/click Manage Storage. |
Step 6: Highlight the desired app and click View Details. |
Step 7: Select/click Clear Cache. Do the same to the other apps you want to clear the cache of. |
2. Clear the app cache on Samsung 7 Series and 2019 TV models.
Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
Number of Steps | 7 |
Duration | 40 seconds |
Things you need | Samsung TV Samsung TV remote control |
To clear the cache on Samsung TV 7 Series and 2019 models, you need to access the TV device manager by going to Settings > Support > Self Diagnosis.
Another way to do this is to scroll to the quick settings panel above Settings on the Smart Hub.
Step 1: Reveal the Samsung Smart Hub on the display screen by pressing the home button on your TV remote control. |
Step 2: Scroll to Settings and head up to the Quick Settings panel. |
Step 3: Scroll right/click TV Device Manager. |
Step 4: Select/click the Clean Now button for Memory Boost to clear your TV’s cached memory. |
Step 5: Select/click the Clean Now button for Clear Running Apps to shut down all unused apps running in the background. |
Step 6: Select/click Show App List to view the TV’s installed apps. |
Step 7: Select/click the app(s) you want to clear the cache of. |
You need to make a decision here. You can decide to clear the cache of the app taking up the most storage space.
Or you can just clear the cache of all apps. This can help fix speed issues on your TV and free up needed storage space.
3. Clear the cache data on all Samsung TV apps at once.
Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
Number of Steps | 5 |
Duration | 20 seconds |
Things you need | Samsung TV Samsung TV remote control |
If you don’t want to clear the cache on Samsung TV apps individually, you can also clear all of the cached data at once. Instead of heading to the manage storage option, you’ll need to select the device care option to perform this action instead.
Step 1: Reveal the Samsung Smart Hub on the display screen by pressing the home button on your TV remote control. |
Step 2: Scroll to Settings and open it to continue to the settings menu. |
Step 3: Scroll down/click Support to continue to the support options. |
Step 4: Scroll down/click Device Care to continue to the diagnosis options. |
Step 5: Select/click Start Device Care. |
So, there you have it, all you need to clear your Samsung TV cache. Take note that you need to know which particular model your unit is to factor things correctly.
FAQs About Samsung TV
App cache stores temporary data on your Samsung TV every time you use an application. This allows your Samsung TV to load the app faster each time you use it because it already has the necessary data to continue where you left off before.
It means your Samsung TV doesn’t need to redownload the necessary files repeatedly when using the same app. Plus, it also helps you save on your data usage.
Clearing the cache frees storage space on your Samsung TV. This helps prevent slow performance on your Samsung TV due to running low on system memory.
It’s also a reasonable precaution since it’s possible for the temporary data stored in the cache to be corrupted, which leads to more issues.
Having an open app on your Samsung TV will cause the cache-clearing options such as Device Care, Self Diagnosis, and Clear Cache to be greyed out on the menu. You need to close the active app before you can use these cache-clearing options.
Simply put, the option is not available when you haven’t chosen a particular app to apply it on.
The cache location differs between Samsung TV models. You can find it in Samsung Series 7 and 2019 TV models by going to Settings > Support > Self Diagnosis > TV Device Manager.
Meanwhile, you will find it by navigating Settings > Support > Device Care > Manage Storage on 2020 and later Samsung TV models.