Why Does My Smart TV Say Not Enough Memory? Fixes by Brand

Quick answer: Why does my smart TV say not enough memory? There are two kinds of memory involved. Either the TV’s storage is packed with apps and cached data, or an app or web page used up its working memory. Clear app caches, delete apps you don’t use, and fully power-cycle the TV. Older TVs may simply lack the memory modern apps expect.

Smart TVs are small computers. Their apps grow with every update, while the memory soldered inside the set never does.

So the warning isn’t a fault. It’s a squeeze. The fix depends on which kind of memory is short, and I’d figure that out before deleting a single app, because clearing storage does nothing for an app that’s choking on working memory and a power cycle does little for a drive that’s genuinely full.

Why Does My Smart TV Say Not Enough Memory? 4 Causes

1. Storage is full. Apps, updates and cached data fill the built-in flash storage. Samsung’s Device Care rates a TV’s status as Moderate when flash storage shows 0% or less than 70 MB of read-write storage is free.
2. An app or web page ran out of working memory. LG explains that a website too large for the TV’s memory can make the browser shut down or the TV reboot, and an app may show “This app will restart for more efficient memory use.”
3. The TV never fully restarts. Quick-start features keep the TV in a warm standby so it turns on faster. LG suggests turning Quick Start+ off and power cycling to clear a temporary memory shortage.
4. The TV is getting old. LG says some TVs from before webOS 3.5 (2017) may show memory notifications and fail to run apps, and that recent web standards may not be supported.

A quick rule of thumb helps. Warning during an install or update? Think storage. When it pops up while an app or the browser is already running, think working memory instead.

How to Fix It on a Samsung TV

Samsung keeps the tools in one place.

1. Press Home, open Settings, go to Support and select Device Care.
2. Select Start Device Care. Samsung says it clears cached memory and closes unused background apps.
3. Open Manage Storage, pick an app and choose View Details.
4. Select Clear Cache. Use Clear Data only if the app is misbehaving, since it wipes the app’s saved data and can sign you out.
5. To remove an app you don’t use, select it in Manage Storage and choose Delete.

Don’t waste time on the apps that came with the TV. Samsung says default preinstalled apps can’t be selected or deleted.

Menu names vary a little by model year and region. Samsung Australia’s version of the steps starts at Settings > All Settings > Support > Device Care > Manage Storage.

How to Fix It on an LG TV

LG’s fix has two parts. Clear memory, then free space.

Turn off Quick Start+ and power cycle. On webOS 24 and 25, go to Settings > All Settings > General > System > Additional Settings > Quick Start+ and turn it off. On webOS 22 and 23, it’s under General > Devices > TV Management. Then unplug the TV and plug it back in after 10 minutes.

Delete apps you don’t use. On webOS 24 and 25 with a Magic Remote, press Home, highlight the app, hold the wheel for about 3 seconds and select the trash icon. On webOS 23 and earlier, press Home, choose Edit Apps List, select the app and pick the trash icon.

If the warning keeps appearing in one specific app or website, LG’s advice is to contact the app maker or the site, because the problem may be on their side. My take: on a browser warning, try the same site’s app from the LG Content Store instead.

How to Fix It on Google TV and Android TV

Google’s steps for Chromecast with Google TV and Google TV Streamer follow the same pattern, and Google TV sets from other brands use similar menus.

1. Select your profile icon, then Settings > System > Storage > Internal shared storage > Cached data.
2. Select OK to clear cached data for all apps. Google says this only removes temporary data and you’ll stay signed in.
3. To uninstall apps, go to Settings > Apps > See all apps, pick one, select Uninstall and confirm.

What I’d Try in What Order

Step	Fixes	Erases anything?
Full power cycle (unplug)	Temporary memory shortage	No
Clear app cache	Storage, sluggish apps	Temporary files only
Delete unused apps	Storage	Those apps
Clear app data	One broken app	That app’s data and login
Smart Hub or factory reset	Everything else	Apps and accounts

Samsung’s Reset Smart Hub erases Smart Hub settings, downloaded apps and stored accounts, and asks for your PIN, which Samsung says defaults to 0000. Save that for last.

When It’s Time for a Different Fix

If a TV is several years old and the warning comes back within days of clearing it, the hardware is likely the limit. Honestly, I’d stop fighting it. A plug-in streaming stick moves the apps off the TV entirely, so the TV only has to display the picture.

Other odd TV behavior? A tinted picture has its own checklist in why a TV screen turns green. If audio drops on a connected bar, see why a soundbar keeps cutting out. More fixes live in our TV guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Clearing Cache on a Smart TV Delete My Logins?

Not on Google TV, according to Google, which says clearing cache only removes temporary data. Clear Data is different: it wipes the app’s saved information, so expect to sign in again.

Why Does My LG TV Say the App Will Restart to Free Up Memory?

LG says that message means the TV is short on memory. Turn off Quick Start+, unplug the TV for 10 minutes, and delete apps you don’t use.

Can I Add More Memory to a Smart TV?

Not in any practical way. Freeing space and power cycling are the realistic fixes, and an external streaming stick brings its own memory.

Will a Factory Reset Fix the Not Enough Memory Message?

It clears everything you’ve installed, so the warning usually disappears for a while. On an older TV it can return once you reinstall the same apps, which is why I’d try the steps above first.

Last updated: November 10, 2026. Sources: LG: memory shortage error, app won’t run, Samsung: how to use Device Care, Samsung: clear app cache and data and Google: free up storage on Google TV.