How to Clear Roku Cache (2022 Guide)

Roku streaming media players have relatively straightforward hardware and software. They are designed to work out of the box and mostly require zero troubleshooting from the end-user. Regardless of that, even the simplest of electronic devices are bound to malfunction sometimes, and your Roku is no exception.

Since Roku devices generally don’t have any hardware defects, most of their slowdowns, glitchy video playbacks, and interface abnormalities are caused by the software that powers the whole experience.

Now you could factory reset your device to get rid of such issues, but then you need to spend the next hour or so to get it up and running again. It includes re-adding your favorite streaming channels and painstakingly signing back on the services with proper credentials.

Instead, you might wonder whether clearing the cache helps, which you probably learned about in the past from some lost forum discussion on the web. But, there are no legitimate sources that confirm it as a real fix. Even Roku themselves don’t provide any info about it on their support site.

Don’t worry; we’ve got your back. In this article, we will explain How to Clear Roku Cache. Let’s get started.

Clear Roku Cache – What does Clearing Cache Actually do?

Before we get to the explanation, it’s worth mentioning that someone else more knowledgeable on this topic can probably explain the intricate details behind cache and its working principle than us. With that said, here’s how most of us understand it:

Most devices often store specific data from the memory to their non-volatile storage space. That stored data is called “cache.” It makes it easier for the device to retrieve frequently used data instead of requesting it every time the user needs it. Thus, the whole exchange between the hardware and software is more efficient and less time-consuming.

Now when a cache gets obsolete, corrupted, or stores incorrect bits of data, it results in a significant performance impact when your device tries to offload it to the memory during a specific task. In this case, you can tell your device to retrieve fresh data by manually clearing the existing cache. Hence, it should be able to perform its tasks correctly once again.

Unfortunately, the same theory doesn’t hold true when it comes to Roku players and TVs. Here’s why.

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Can you Clear Cache on Roku?

NO. The reason is pretty straightforward; Roku devices simply don’t rely on a cache partition, so there’s no cache to clear. Considering that this statement comes from an exchange of emails between a Roku representative and us, we can say for certain that “clearing cache” on Roku is nothing but a general misconception.

In fact, several websites claim to know a secret button combination that users can perform with the remote to clear their Roku player’s cache. To be clear, that doesn’t do anything at all except force rebooting the device. We advise you not to believe in such hearsays.

What can you do Instead of Clearing Roku Cache?

If your Roku device runs into performance issues, we recommend giving it a restart by following the below steps:

• Go to Settings from the Roku Home screen.
• Next, scroll down the options and select System.
• Now select System restart, and then click the Restart option on the following screen.

Your device should shut down, closing all the channels and services running in the background. In a minute or so, it should boot you back to the Home screen again, and the problems should get fixed. There’s also a simpler way to initiate a restart on Roku, which is the same remote button combo others suggest for “clearing the cache.”

• Roku restart code: Home (5x), Up, Rewind (2x), Fast Forward (2x)

If your Roku device gets frozen for some reason, you can force reboot it by simply unplugging its power cord, then plugging it back again after thirty seconds or so.

For those who encounter glitches and video playback errors on only a particular streaming channel, chances are it isn’t the Roku device’s fault but the channel itself. In that case, we recommend following these steps:

• Highlight the misbehaving channel from your channel grid on the Roku Home screen.
• Press the star (✱) key on the Roku remote to open the Options menu for the selected channel.
• Click Remove channel to delete it from your channel grid.
• Now restart your Roku device by following the instructions above.
• Once you return to the Home screen, visit the Channel Store from the Streaming Channels.
• Finally, add the channel you choose to remove before restarting your device.

Re-adding or reinstalling a non-functioning channel on Roku should resolve the glitches and video playback errors you faced before.

Most of the time, such issues appear simply because of running an older version of the channel. Hence, make sure to check for updates for your streaming channels every now and then. You can do this in the same menu as you would remove the channel.

The same applies to your Roku player or TV. Although Roku OS is set to download the latest updates and install them automatically when you are not using your device, you should routinely check for the updates manually from the Settings > System > System update menu.

Check – How to Access Roku Secret Menus

What if None of the Above Fixes Work for you?

If nothing works, factory resetting the Roku device is your last hopeful resort to addressing the frequent slowdowns and playback errors. The process goes as follows:

• Head to the Settings menu from the Roku Home screen.
• Visit the System page, followed by scrolling down and selecting Advanced system settings.
• Now select Factory reset on the next screen, then click the “Factory reset everything”
• Follow the on-screen instructions and wait for your Roku device to complete the resetting process.

Note that factory reset removes all your added channels from the device, resets your settings to default, and signs you out of your Roku account. Once the reset finishes, you will need to go through the initial first-time setup wizard again.

In extreme cases, your Roku player or TV might not even respond to your button presses, even after a force reboot. In that case, you must perform the factory reset by pressing the hardware Reset button on the back or bottom of your Roku device for about ten seconds.

Some Roku devices have a pinhole Reset button, which you need to poke with a paperclip (or other smaller tool) to initiate a factory reset.

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Roku TV: How To Clear Cache & Cookies (Quick Video Guide)

Conclusion

While you possibly can’t clear cache on Roku, you still have other ways to fix the problems on your particular Roku player or TV. This guide has walked you through every possible option.

If the following fixes don’t work out and you continually experience slowdowns, glitches, and errors on your Roku device, please refer to Roku’s official support site or contact them for further technical help.