7 Ways to Improve Android TV Performance

Just like smartphones, Android TVs can get slow over time. This happens for a variety of reasons, like running outdated software or lacking cached data. So if you find your Android TV running slow, try these 7 ways to speed it up.

1. Delete cache and unnecessary files

Cache is temporary application data that the device stores to allow for faster initialization after power-up. Caching is good because it reduces the need for applications to fetch the same information from the Internet, resulting in better application performance. Cached animations can also help make navigating the device smoother and more responsive. However, excessive or outdated cache can have the opposite effect: slowing down the device.

Clearing the cache ensures that Android TV isn't clogged with excess or outdated data. You can do this by opening Settings > System > Storage > Internal shared storage , then selecting Cached data  and clicking OK to clear.

After clearing the cache, you should delete unnecessary files. Just like your phone, Android TV can slow down 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 apps you no longer need

Another common culprit that can slow down Android TV is installing too many apps. Installing too many apps can strain your TV's hardware, especially 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 experiencing performance issues.

To uninstall apps from Android TV, navigate to Settings > System > Storage > Internal shared storage > Apps > See all apps .

Then, select any app you want to uninstall, select Uninstall , and confirm by selecting OK on the confirmation screen. For system apps, you won't see the uninstall option. For such apps, you can select the Disable option if available.

3. Turn off automatic updates

Automatic updates are a convenient feature on your device that allows you to check for new updates and install them automatically. While this feature has many advantages, it can negatively impact performance by using background resources and taking up your internal storage.

To prevent Android TV from automatically checking for and installing system updates, go to Settings > System > About > Software Update and turn off Auto Update .

You can turn off app updates on Android TV via Google Play.

4. Update the application

App developers often update apps to fix existing software bugs or add new features. If your TV is only slow when accessing a particular app, you should check to see if there is an update for that particular app and install it immediately. Always make sure you have the latest versions of the apps you have installed.

5. Turn off or adjust animation settings

Animations on Android TV are a nice aesthetic feature that makes the user interface smooth to navigate. However, animations can slow down your device's performance. With animations, your TV has to render them before performing an action, which increases CPU and GPU usage, which can impact performance, especially on low-spec or older TVs.

To disable animations, you'll first need to enable Developer options, as this feature is hidden from the standard settings by default. To enable Developer options, open Settings , navigate to System > About , and tap Android TV OS Build 7 times.

Once done, go back 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 altogether by selecting Animation off for all three.

6. Restart the TV

Restarting may seem simple, but it's one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve your Android TV's performance. Restarting can also fix most smartphone issues. If you haven't turned off your TV in a while, you may experience slowdowns due to background apps, software bugs, and even high memory usage.

Restarting can fix these issues by clearing memory, reducing the number of background apps, and fixing temporary software bugs. To restart your Android TV, go to Settings > System > Restart and select Restart again to confirm.

7. Restore TV to factory settings

If all else fails, a factory reset is your 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 your 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 a number of different reasons why Android TV can become sluggish, hampering your viewing experience. By trying the fixes discussed, you should be able to get your device running like new again.

Micah Soto

Update 17 January 2025