Try these quick fixes to eliminate lag and juddering from your TV viewing experience.
Is your smart TV acting not-so-smart? Does it exhibit lag in sequences or a slow response to your remote control? You aren’t the only one who’s experienced the frustration of watching a juddering screen or disconcerting digital hang-ups.
Modern TVs have plenty of features and apps (and services that run in the background) which can leave them bogged down over time. Fortunately, there are some simple actions to take that might just rectify your flatscreen’s sketchy performance.
The simplest fix can sometimes be the quickest fix, so let’s start with the most basic function — an old-fashioned reboot. Before proceeding with more advanced troubleshooting methods, access your TV’s settings menu and look for a Restart option.
Restarting closes background apps and processes, which can help free up resources, just like with your computer or smartphone. In conjunction, I further recommend unplugging the power cord entirely from the outlet and waiting at least 30 seconds for your TV to fully discharge before plugging it back in.
Also like computers and smartphones, your TV stores temporary data in a cache so that its operating system doesn’t have to load startup information every time you want to use it. This cache can become full over time and cause slow performance. Navigate to your TV’s settings and locate the Clear Cache option. If you’re experiencing issues with specific apps, like Netflix or YouTube, you can also clear the cache for individual apps.
All smart TVs have a limited amount of random access memory (RAM), which ultimately dictates its speed and functionality for streaming and playback. And unlike many computers, there is no way to upgrade your RAM because it is integrated directly into the TV’s motherboard.
