Kerry Wan/ZDNET
Is your smart TV slow to respond or stuttering during scenes? You're not alone -- many people experience laggy performance and choppy playback. The good news? A few simple fixes can get things running smoothly again.
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Modern TVs have plenty of features and apps (and services that run in the background) that can slow them down over time. Fortunately, some simple actions can rectify your flat screen's sketchy performance.
1. Restart and reboot
The simplest fix can sometimes be the quickest fix, so let's start with the most basic function -- an old-fashioned reboot. Before proceeding with more advanced troubleshooting methods, access your TV's settings menu and look for a Restart option.
Restarting closes background apps and processes, which can help free up resources, just like with your computer or smartphone. In conjunction, I further recommend unplugging the power cord entirely from the outlet and waiting at least 30 seconds for your TV to fully discharge before plugging it back in.
2. Clear your smart TV's cache; delete unused apps and stored data
Also, like computers and smartphones, your TV stores temporary data in a cache so that its operating system doesn't have to load startup information every time you want to use it. This cache can become full over time and cause slow performance. Navigate to your TV's settings and locate the Clear Cache option. If you're experiencing issues with specific apps, like Netflix or YouTube, you can also clear the cache for individual apps.
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