How to Clear the App Cache on an LG Smart TV

Your LG smart TV used to launch apps instantly, and now Netflix, Disney+, or YouTube hangs on the loading screen, freezes mid-stream, or refuses to open at all. Clearing the cache is usually the first thing people try, and on an LG TV it works a little differently than you might expect.

Here is the key thing to know up front: webOS, the system LG TVs run, does not give you a per-app "Clear Cache" or "Clear Data" button the way Android TV or Roku does. Instead, LG provides a small set of tools that accomplish the same thing: a Memory Optimizer that frees system memory, a full power cycle, the ability to close and reinstall apps, and a browser data control.

The steps below are ordered quickest and most common first. Start at the top and stop as soon as your app behaves again. Where a menu path changes between webOS versions, each version is spelled out so you can match your set.

Run the Memory Optimizer

On newer LG TVs, the Memory Optimizer is the closest thing to a one-tap cache clear. It closes background apps, frees up RAM, and clears temporary files in about ten seconds.

1. 1.Press the Settings button (the gear icon) on your Magic or standard remote.
2. 2.Open Settings, then go to Support. On some models this tool lives under General > Device Self Care instead, and on OLED sets it can appear under OLED Care.
3. 3.Select Device Self Care (it may be labeled TV Device Self Care).
4. 4.Select Memory Optimizer.
5. 5.Choose Start and let it finish.

If you cannot find Memory Optimizer, check both the General and Support menus, since its location moves between webOS versions. If it is not present at all, your model is too old for this tool; skip to the power cycle below. Availability and effect vary by model, so do not be alarmed if an older or even some newer sets behave differently.

Power Cycle the TV (Soft Reset)

A full power cycle flushes volatile system memory and terminates every running app, which clears cached fragments that build up over time. Turning the TV off with the remote alone is not enough; you have to pull power from the wall.

1. 1.Turn the TV off using the remote.
2. 2.Unplug the TV's power cord from the wall outlet.
3. 3.Wait at least 60 seconds. Optionally, press and hold the physical power button on the TV itself for about 15 seconds while it is unplugged to drain residual power.
4. 4.Plug the cord back in and turn the TV on normally.

This works on every LG model regardless of age, which is why it is the universal fallback when the Memory Optimizer is missing.

Close Individual Running Apps

If only one or two apps feel sluggish and you do not want to restart the whole TV, you can terminate them from the Recents area to release their in-memory session data.

1. 1.Open the Recents (recent preview) row of recently used apps.
2. 2.Hover over an app tile to reveal its close control.
3. 3.Click the X (close) button at the upper-right corner of the tile to terminate that app.
4. 4.Repeat for any other open apps.

This is a lightweight stand-in for a per-app cache clear. It does not wipe stored data, but it does free the memory the app was holding.

Delete and Reinstall the Problem App

When a single app stays broken after the steps above, LG's official remedy is to uninstall it and reinstall it. Removing the app deletes its corrupted cache and stored files; reinstalling gives you a clean copy. Note that this signs you out, so have that app's login details ready.

1. 1.Press the Home button on the remote to open the app launcher.
2. 2.Highlight the problem app (for example, Netflix).
3. 3.Press and hold the Wheel (OK) button until EDIT MODE appears, then click OK to confirm. On some remotes, press the Up arrow on the app icon to reveal the menu instead.
4. 4.Click the app again, then click the X button shown above it (or select Uninstall or Remove).
5. 5.Click YES to confirm removal.
6. 6.Open the LG Content Store from the home screen, search for the same app, select it, and click INSTALL.
7. 7.Launch the app and re-enter your login credentials.

Try the press-and-hold OK gesture first; the exact motion varies by model year and remote, but that one is the most common starting point. Deleting an app only affects that app, so your other apps and their logins are untouched.

Clear the Built-In Web Browser's Data

If the sluggishness is in the LG web browser rather than a streaming app, the browser keeps its own cache and cookies, and it has a dedicated control to clear them.

1. 1.From the Home screen, open the Web Browser app.
2. 2.Click Menu > Settings. On some versions this is a three-dot menu.
3. 3.Optionally toggle Private Browsing to On to limit future caching.
4. 4.Click Clear Browsing Data to clear the cache and cookies.
5. 5.Click OK to confirm.

Update the TV Software and the App

App crashes are often blamed on cache when the real cause is stale firmware or an outdated app version. Installing updates frequently resolves loading and crash problems on its own.

1. 1.On webOS 5.0 and newer, go to Settings > All Settings > Support > Software Update and check for updates.
2. 2.On webOS 3.0 through 4.5, go to Settings > All Settings > General > About This TV > Check for Updates.
3. 3.Install any available update and let the TV restart.
4. 4.Then update the affected app itself: highlight it in the Home launcher and select the option to update.

Check Your Network Connection

LG points out that when apps freeze or will not open, the cause is frequently an unstable or slow network connection rather than the cache. It is worth verifying before you take more drastic steps.

1. 1.On 2025 (webOS 25) and 2021 and newer (webOS 6.0+): Settings > All Settings > General > Network.
2. 2.On 2020 (webOS 5.0): Settings > All Settings > Connection > Network Connection Settings.
3. 3.On 2019 (webOS 4.5): Settings > All Settings > Connection.
4. 4.On 2018 and earlier: Settings > All Settings > Network.

To isolate the problem, test the troublesome app over a phone hotspot. If it works on the hotspot, the issue is your router or ISP; if it still fails, the TV itself may need service.

Factory Reset as a Last Resort

A factory reset is the only built-in action that wipes every app, account, and cached file at once. Use it only when targeted methods have failed, because it removes everything and forces you back through initial setup.

1. 1.Open Settings, then All Settings.
2. 2.Navigate by webOS version. On 2021 to 2025 (webOS 6.0 through 25, 24, 23): General > System > Reset to Initial Settings. On 2020 (webOS 5.0): Support > Reset to Initial Settings. On 2019 and earlier (webOS 4.5): General > Reset to Initial Settings.
3. 3.Choose Reset All, or Reset All except network settings to keep your Wi-Fi or wired setup.
4. 4.If prompted for a PIN, enter your password, or the default 0000 if you never set one.
5. 5.Confirm. The TV deletes all account settings, installed apps, and passwords, then restarts into the initial setup screen.
6. 6.After setup, reinstall and sign back into your apps from the LG Content Store.

On some sets, Reset to Initial Settings can appear greyed out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an LG TV have a Clear Cache button for individual apps?
No. Standard webOS does not include a dedicated per-app Clear Cache or Clear Data option. The equivalents are running the Memory Optimizer, closing the app from Recents, power cycling the TV, or deleting and reinstalling the specific app.

Why can't I find the Memory Optimizer on my LG TV?
Memory Optimizer is only on newer LG TVs, and its menu location moves between webOS versions. Check both Settings > Support > Device Self Care and Settings > General > Device Self Care (or OLED Care on OLED models). If it is genuinely absent, your model does not support it, so use the power cycle or delete-and-reinstall method instead.

Will deleting an app erase my other apps or settings?
No. Uninstalling one app removes only that app's cache and stored data, and it signs you out of that app alone. Your other apps, logins, and TV settings stay intact. Only a factory reset wipes everything at once.

Is turning the TV off with the remote enough to clear the memory?
No. To fully flush system memory you must unplug the TV from the wall, wait at least 60 seconds, then plug it back in. Holding the TV's physical power button for about 15 seconds while it is unplugged helps drain residual power.

I cleared the cache but my streaming app still won't load. What now?
If your apps actually run on an external streamer (a Fire TV Stick, Roku, or Apple TV plugged into the TV), clearing cache on the LG TV does nothing; you must clear the cache on that external device. Otherwise, confirm your network connection, install any software update, and as a final step perform a factory reset.

What is the default PIN if the reset asks for one?
On webOS 23 and 24, the reset may prompt for a PIN. If you never set one, the default is 0000.