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Can you believe that the first Roku device launched 17 years ago? It was initially developed in partnership with Netflix to stream its "Watch Instantly" service. Since then, the company has released numerous generations of streaming players and its very own Roku TVs -- which means you might own one of these older devices.
What is a cache?
Just like your computer or smartphone, your Roku TV also stores temporary data (the cache) to help apps load faster. It's like a digital shortcut; when you open an app, instead of redownloading everything from scratch, your Roku remembers certain elements, like images or login information.
Over time, this cache can become cluttered, corrupted, or just plain too full. When that happens, it can lead to sluggish performance, apps freezing, audio-video sync issues, or even those dreaded error messages that pop up right when the show you're watching is getting good.
Also: I finally tried Roku's free live TV channels - and it feels like the cable I grew up with
While Roku is somewhat unique compared with other smart TVs that might have a direct "clear cache" button buried in the settings, it's still an option, and an important one to check now and then. Below are the two quickest and most effective ways to clear your Roku cache.
Soft reset your Roku using the remote
This operation reminds me of the cheat codes you'd punch into an original Nintendo game pad -- a bit antiquated, but also nostalgic. To be clear, this isn't a factory reset; you won't lose your downloaded apps or login information for your various streaming services. Grab your Roku remote and:
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