If your television takes forever to reach the home screen, you are not imagining it. Many sets that felt quick when they were new gradually become sluggish. The good news is that you usually do not need a new television, and you certainly do not need to root the one you already own. A careful cleanup can often bring back a calmer, faster experience.

Why a stock TV slows down

A modern television is really a small computer with a large screen. Out of the box, it often runs sponsored rows, recommendation rails, promotional tiles, and several apps that you never opened. Each of those items competes for the same limited memory and storage. When the home screen has to load artwork, videos, and suggestions before it shows your apps, even a simple task like opening a streaming service can feel delayed.

Manufacturers also bundle services tied to their own stores, voice assistants, and content partners. Some of them run in the background or check for updates when the TV wakes up.…