Many Roku users look for instructions on how to clear the cache on Roku to improve the device’s performance when it starts freezing, slowing down, or having other performance issues. And, while there’s no “official way” to clear the cache, there are ways to do so.
Rokus has a cache system called cachefs and according to their developer’s documentation this allow developers to save some data in RAM:
| Storage | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| cachefs |
Files are read/write; an arbitrary amount of data can be written. cachefs use is per developer ID. Files in cachefs are stored in RAM; therefore, a reboot will evict them from cachefs. | Data is evicted when more space is required for another Channel |
| Registry | Data is read/write; data is retained when the application exits and when the system reboots | Data size is limited. Each channel has access to only 16kb of registry space. |
There’s an additional Registry storage but that only allows for 16Kb of data and it will only contain very basic information.
How to Clear Cache on Roku?
Method 1: Using the Secret Menu
Here’s how to “clear the cache” on Roku by pressing multiple buttons several times, which others refer to as the “secret menu.”
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Step 1. Press the “Home” button from the Roku remote.
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Step 2. Choose “Home” from the list.
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Step 3. Press the “Home” button five times.
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Step 4. Press the “UP” button once.
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Step 5. Press the “Rewind” button 2 times.
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Step 6. Press the “Fast Forward” button 2 times.
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Step 7. Wait 10-20 seconds and your Roku device will be restarted.
Clearing the cache can help if your Hisense Roku TV is turning on and off.
Method 2: Restart Roku From Settings
Here’s how to clear the cache on your device by restarting your Roku from settings.
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Step 1. Go to the “Settings” menu & press “OK”.
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Step 2. Choose “System” & press “OK”.
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Step 3. Choose “Power> System Restart > Restart”.
Note: If you do not see the “Power” submenu, look directly for “System Restart”.
Check out this article if your Roku keeps on restarting.
Method 3: Deleting a Specific Roku Channel
You can clear the cache from a specific Roku app by deleting it. Here’s how to clear the cache on Roku tv by deleting a specific channel
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Step 1. Press the “Home” button on the remote.
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Step 2. Choose the app that needs cache removal.
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Step 3. Press the “asterisk” button.
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Step 4. Choose the “Remove Channel” option.
The data associated with the deleted channel such as user profile, account details, and customized settings are also removed.
Need more channels? Discover how to watch the SEC Network on Roku.
Method 4: Resetting Factory Settings
Resetting the factory settings may help address the poor performance of your Roku. Here’s how to clear the cache on your device by resetting the factory settings of your Roku.
Warning: doing a factory reset will delete everything you saved on your Roku device.
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Step 1. Press the “Home” button.
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Step 2. Choose “Settings > System > Advanced System Settings”.
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Step 3. Choose “Factory Reset > Factory reset everything” & enter the code requested.
Some smart TV makers started offering built-in Roku operating systems. How to clear the cache on TCL Roku TV or any other TV with built-in Roku via factory settings reset follows the same steps as above.
Related article: Can You Use Firestick on Roku TV?
Method 5: Resetting From Physical TV Button
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Step 1. Locate the “Reset” button at the back of the TV.
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Step 2. Press & hold the button with the tip of a pen until the TV restarts.
Does Clearing Cache Delete Everything?
Clearing the cache does not delete everything unless you do a factory reset to clear it. Restarting your Roku to clear the cache (from settings or the secret screen) won’t delete all data or saved settings. Deleting the channel to clear the cache only removes the channel that’s performing badly.
However, if you choose to do a factory reset to “clear” the cache, then you can lose everything. Consequently, do not do a factory reset if you want to keep your data.
Does Factory Reset Delete Everything on Roku?
Yes, resetting to the factory setting on your Roku device will delete everything you saved on it. A factory reset generally reverts the device to how it was when it was first purchased. It removes the user’s information and everything else that was saved on the device but does not remove the operating system.
The following changes will happen when you do a factory reset on your Roku:
- Unlinking of the Roku account from the device.
- Removal of personal preferences.
- Resetting all personalized device settings.
5 Benefits of Clearing Cache on Roku
So, what does clearing the cache do on Roku?
Clearing your Roku TV cache has many benefits. Like most smart devices, cleaning the cache will help improve the importance of Roku. These are the main 5 benefits:
- More storage space.
- Increase loading time.
- Improved speed.
- Could possibly fix minor bugs.
- Helps you avoid problems with old cache files.
Clearing the cache means cleaning storage space, which is very useful in increasing loading time and speed. Cache clearing also helps fix minor bugs.
This, in turn, helps Roku run more smoothly and can address the problem of sluggishness or repeated freezing.
For example, one of the solutions recommended to fix problems with HBO Max being slow on Roku is to clear Roku’s cache.
What to Do If Clearing Cache Doesn’t Fix My Issues With Roku?
If you’re still having problems with your Roku after clearing the cache by restarting the device, deleting a channel, or resetting factory settings, then it’s time to get in touch with the Roku Support Service. Roku offers various support options depending on your issue.
You can also ask for help from the community of Roku users and experts. Plus, Roku offers agent-assisted support for specific devices and issues. Just have your sign-in account details ready to receive more personalized support.
You Can Fix Roku Performance by Various Means
If you are experimenting with sluggishness, freezing, or displaying non-updated content, then you should try clearing your cache and see if those issues disappear.
You can use any of the methods we’ve described here and see which one fits your needs.
Usually there won’t be any harm doing this unless you know what you are doing, so hopefully, we’ve explained it good enough to avoid any surprises when attempting to clear the cake of your Roku TV.
