Like smartphones, Android TV can become slow after a while. This happens for many reasons, such as running outdated software or missing cache data. So, if you notice your Android TV running slow, use these 7 ways to speed it up.
1. Delete cache and unnecessary files
Cache is temporary application data that the device stores to allow faster initialization after power on. Cache is great because it reduces the need for applications to fetch the same information from the Internet, leading to better application performance. Pre-cached animations can also make device navigation smoother and more responsive. However, excessive or outdated caches can have the opposite effect: Slowing down the device.
Clearing cache ensures your Android TV isn't stuck with excessive or outdated data. You can do this by opening Settings > System > Storage > Internal shared storagethen select Cached data and click OK to delete.
After clearing the cache, you should delete unnecessary files. Like phones, Android TV can be sluggish if it doesn't have enough free space. So, delete old media files or old APKs from the apps you have installed. You can use the best file manager for Android TV to get the job done.
2. Delete or disable applications that are no longer needed
Another common culprit that can slow down Android TV is installing too many apps. Installing multiple apps can strain your TV's hardware, especially for apps that are constantly running in the background. If you don't need an app, there's no need to keep it installed on your TV, especially if you're having performance issues.
To uninstall an app from Android TV, navigate to Settings > System > Storage > Internal shared storage > Apps > See all apps.
Then select any app you want to uninstall Uninstallthen confirm by selecting OK on the confirmation screen. For system apps, you won't see an uninstall option. For such applications, you can choose the option Disable if any.
3. Turn off automatic updates
Automatic updates is a convenient feature on your device that allows you to check for new updates and automatically install them. Although it has many advantages, this feature can negatively affect performance through using background resources and taking up your internal memory.
To stop Android TV from automatically checking for and installing system updates, go to Settings > System > About > Software Update and off Auto Update.
You can disable app updates on Android TV via Google Play.
4. Update the application
App developers often update apps to patch existing software bugs or add new features. If your TV is only slow when accessing a certain app, you should check if there is an update available for that specific app and install it immediately. Always make sure you have the latest versions of installed applications.
5. Turn off or adjust animation settings
Animations on Android TV are a beautiful aesthetic feature that makes the user interface smooth to navigate. However, animations can slow down your device's performance. With animations, your TV must display them before performing the action, leading to increased CPU and GPU usage, which can impact performance, especially for low-spec or older TVs .
To disable animations, you need to enable Developer options first as this feature is hidden from the standard settings by default. To enable Developer options, open Settingsnavigate to System > About and click Android TV OS Build 7 times.
Once done, return to the previous screen, scroll down the list, and select Developer options from the menu.
On the next screen, set the transition animation, window animation, and transition animation scales to lower numbers like 0.5x, or even better, turn off animations completely by selecting Animation off for all three.
6. Restart the TV
Restarting may seem simple, but this is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve Android TV performance. A reboot can also fix most smartphone problems. If you don't turn off your TV for a while, you may experience slowdowns due to background apps, software errors, and even high memory usage.
A restart can resolve these issues by clearing memory, reducing the number of background apps, and fixing temporary software errors. To restart Android TV, go to Settings > System > Restart and choose Restart again to confirm.
7. Restore the TV to factory settings
If all of the above doesn't work, a factory reset is the last resort to help speed up your TV. This will erase all existing settings, linked accounts, and data (including any installed apps or app updates), restoring the TV to its original state.
Warning: Factory reset will erase all data. If important data is stored in the TV's internal memory, make sure you back it up first by transferring it to an external storage device.
Navigate to Settings > System > About > Reset > Factory Reset and confirm by clicking Factory Reset.
There are many different reasons why Android TV can be slow, hindering your viewing experience. By trying the discussed fixes, you will be able to get your device running as fast as new again.
