How to Clear the Cache on an LG Smart TV

Fixing Sluggish Performance on WebOS

Modern LG Smart TVs run on a proprietary operating system called webOS. While webOS is generally praised for being fast, intuitive, and colourful, it is essentially a lightweight computer. Just like your smartphone or laptop, as you open apps, stream 4K movies, and browse the built-in web browser, the TV stores temporary data—known as cache—to help those apps load faster the next time you use them.

However, LG TVs typically only have 2GB to 8GB of internal storage. If that storage fills up with old, corrupted cache files, the TV will begin to suffer. You might notice apps crashing back to the home screen, Netflix refusing to load past 25%, the remote control responding slowly, or a dreaded “Out of Memory” error message appearing on the screen.

Unlike Android TVs (which have a dedicated button in the settings menu to clear all app cache instantly), LG’s webOS is slightly more locked down. There is no magic “Clear Cache” button for the entire system. Instead, you must use a combination of three different methods to effectively dump the memory and restore your TV’s performance.

Method 1: The Quick Restart (Power Cycling)

Because webOS does not have a software button to clear the system memory, the absolute best way to force the TV to dump its active cache is to perform a hard reboot, also known as power cycling. Note: Simply pressing the power button on the remote does not work. Pressing the power button puts the TV into “Standby” mode; it does not actually turn the operating system off.

To properly power cycle the TV:

1. Turn the LG TV on.
2. Unplug the power cord directly from the wall outlet (or the back of the TV, whichever is easier to reach). Do not just switch off the power strip.
3. While the TV is unplugged, press and hold the physical Power button on the TV itself (usually located underneath the LG logo at the bottom centre, or on the back right side) for 15 seconds. This discharges any residual electricity left in the TV’s capacitors, ensuring the memory is completely wiped.
4. Leave the TV unplugged for a full two minutes.
5. Plug the TV back into the wall outlet and turn it on using the remote.

The LG webOS logo will appear, indicating the operating system is booting up fresh. This process clears the RAM and deletes temporary system files, often instantly curing sluggish performance and app crashes.

Method 2: Clear the Built-in Web Browser Cache

If you frequently use the LG TV’s built-in web browser to watch videos on websites that do not have dedicated apps, that browser will rapidly consume the TV’s limited storage space with cached images and tracking cookies.

To clear the browser’s specific cache:

1. Press the Home button on your LG Magic Remote to open the app ribbon.
2. Scroll through the apps and select the Web Browser.
3. Look in the top right corner of the browser window and click the Menu icon (three vertical dots or three horizontal lines).
4. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
5. Scroll down to the bottom of the Settings menu and look for the option labelled Clear Browsing Data.
6. Click OK to confirm you want to delete the browsing history, cookies, and cached data.

This will free up a significant chunk of the TV’s internal storage.

Method 3: Uninstall and Reinstall Problematic Apps

Because you cannot go into an LG settings menu and click “Clear Cache” for a specific app (like Netflix or Disney Plus), the only way to clear a corrupted app cache is to delete the app entirely and download a fresh copy from the LG Content Store. This deletes both the app and its associated hidden data.

1. Press the Home button on your remote.
2. Scroll to the far right of the app ribbon until you see the Edit button (it looks like a small pencil icon), and click it.
3. The app ribbon will enter “Edit Mode.”
4. Use the directional arrows on your remote to highlight the app that is crashing or freezing (e.g., Hulu).
5. Press the Up arrow to highlight the small ‘X’ icon that appears above the app tile.
6. Click the ‘X’ and select Yes to confirm you want to delete the app.
7. Once deleted, exit Edit Mode.
8. Open the LG Content Store (or the “Apps” tile on newer models).
9. Search for the app you just deleted and reinstall it.

You will need to log back into the app with your username and password, but the fresh installation will be free of the corrupted cache files that were causing the performance issues.