Fix your TV

My TV says storage is full: how to free up space

Smart TVs often have only 8 or 16 GB of storage, and the system takes a big part of it. The good news is that you can usually get space back without a factory reset.

What fills a TV

  • The apps themselves

    Apps and their updates grow over time, and games are the biggest of all.

  • Offline downloads

    Streaming apps that let you download videos can quietly hold several gigabytes.

  • Caches

    Browsers and streaming apps keep temporary data that is rebuilt when needed.

  • Apps you forgot

    Apps installed once and never opened again, and apps the manufacturer pre-installed.

  • A small disk to begin with

    On an 8 GB TV, the system alone can use half.

How to get space back

  1. See what uses the space

    Open the TV’s Settings and look for Storage, usually under Device Preferences. Some TVs list apps by size.

  2. Uninstall apps you don’t use

    Go through Settings › Apps and remove anything you haven’t opened in months. Games first.

  3. Delete offline downloads

    Open your streaming apps and remove downloaded videos you have already watched.

  4. Clear the cache of big apps

    In Settings › Apps, open the biggest apps and choose Clear cache. Avoid “Clear data” unless you want to start the app from scratch.

  5. Disable what you can’t remove

    Pre-installed apps often can’t be uninstalled, but many can be disabled in the same screen, which stops them running.

  6. Use a USB drive, if your TV allows it

    Some TVs can format a USB drive as extra storage for apps. Check your TV’s manual before you format anything.

  7. Factory reset, as a last resort

    It frees everything, and you start from scratch. Do this only if nothing else worked.

Where HView helps

HView makes the clean-up shorter. From its app menu you can open an app’s info or uninstall it right on the home screen, and hide the apps you can’t remove so they stop cluttering your rows. The All apps view shows everything installed in one place.

HView itself is a small app.

Where it doesn’t

HView doesn’t scan for junk, clear caches or free space on its own. You still decide what goes; it just gets you there in fewer steps.

Coming soon to Google Play Installation guide

Questions

Is it safe to clear the cache?

Yes. The cache is only temporary data that the app rebuilds. “Clear data” is different: it resets the app, so you would sign in again.

Can I put apps on a USB drive?

Only some TVs and boxes allow it, by formatting the drive as device storage. If yours does, the option appears in the storage settings. Formatting erases the drive.

What if I can’t uninstall a pre-installed app?

Disable it in Settings › Apps if the option is there. You can also hide it from your home screen in HView so it no longer gets in your way.

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