Fix your TV

Apps lag, stutter or open slowly on my TV

Before changing anything, work out what kind of lag it is. Video that pauses to load is usually the network; menus that stutter and apps that take forever to open are usually memory, storage or an overloaded app.

What is usually behind it

  • Too little memory

    With 1 to 2 GB of RAM, the TV has to close one app to open the next, so apps reload from scratch every time.

  • A bloated or damaged app cache

    Streaming and browser apps store a lot of temporary data. It can grow large or become corrupted, and the app slows down.

  • An outdated app or system

    Old versions can be slow or buggy on new content, and old system software may not handle newer apps well.

  • The network

    Buffering, pauses and slow-loading rows point at Wi-Fi or the internet connection rather than the TV.

  • Heat

    A TV that gets hot slows itself down to protect the chip.

What to try, in order

  1. Find out whether it’s the network

    If the same video plays well on a phone on the same Wi-Fi, the network is probably fine. If not, move closer to the router or use a cable.

  2. Force stop the app and reopen it

    In Settings › Apps, open the app and choose Force stop, then start it again.

  3. Clear its cache

    In the same screen choose Clear cache. If the problem remains, reinstall the app.

  4. Update the app and the TV

    Update the app in the Play Store and check for a system update in Settings › Device Preferences › About.

  5. Lower the video quality

    On an older TV, a 1080p stream is often much smoother than 4K. Most streaming apps have a quality setting.

  6. Free up storage and memory

    Uninstall what you don’t use and restart the TV by unplugging it for a minute.

  7. Lighten the home screen

    The home screen stays loaded between apps. A lighter one leaves more room for the app you open next.

Where HView helps

HView doesn’t run your other apps, so it can’t make them faster. What it does is keep its own footprint small and load nothing you have switched off, which can leave more room for the app you open next. How much depends on your TV.

Your apps open straight from your own rows, and nothing is promoted to you along the way.

Where it doesn’t

If one particular app is slow on every TV, the fix is in that app or its settings. HView won’t change that, and it can’t make an old processor decode video faster.

Coming soon to Google Play Installation guide

Questions

Why does only one app lag?

Then the cause is probably that app: its cache, its version or its video quality setting. Follow the steps for that app first.

Is it my Wi-Fi or my TV?

Test the same content on another device on the same network. If it is smooth there, the TV is the bottleneck; if it lags there too, look at the network.

Should I reinstall the app?

After clearing the cache and updating, yes. A reinstall removes damaged data. You may need to sign in again.

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