The fastest way to refresh an app on Apple TV

To refresh an app on Apple TV, press and hold the Select button (the center circle on your remote) while the app is highlighted on the home screen, then choose "Open" from the menu that appears. This forces the app to reload from scratch. If that does not work, you can also swipe up on the remote's touchpad to close the app entirely, then reopen it from the home screen — this is a full restart rather than a refresh.

The difference matters: a refresh reloads the app's current session, while closing and reopening it clears the app's memory completely. Most streaming and social media apps respond better to a full close-and-reopen when they are frozen, slow, or showing stale content.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold Select on the app icon to bring up a menu with a refresh option, which reloads the app without closing it.
  • Swiping up on the remote's touchpad closes the app entirely, which is more effective than a refresh when an app is frozen or behaving oddly.
  • Restarting your Apple TV itself (Settings > System > Restart) clears memory for all apps at once and fixes most performance issues.
  • Deleting and reinstalling an app from the App Store works when refresh and restart do not, though you may lose saved data.

When to use the hold-Select refresh versus closing the app

The hold-Select refresh is useful when an app is running but showing outdated information — for example, if your email app is not showing new messages or a news app is displaying yesterday's headlines. This method keeps the app open and straightforward tells it to reload its content from the server.

Closing the app (by swiping up on the touchpad) is better when the app is frozen, crashing, or responding slowly. Closing clears the app's temporary memory and forces it to start fresh, which solves most glitches. After you close it, wait a few seconds before reopening it so the system has time to release the app's resources.

Restarting your Apple TV when apps keep misbehaving

If multiple apps are slow or freezing, restart your entire Apple TV rather than refreshing individual apps. Go to Settings, select System, then choose Restart. Your Apple TV will shut down and turn back on, which clears the memory for every app at once.

A full restart takes about two minutes and fixes most performance problems caused by apps competing for memory or getting stuck in the background. You do not lose any settings or downloaded apps — everything returns exactly as it was, just with a clean slate.

Checking for app updates in the App Store

Sometimes an app behaves poorly because it is outdated. Open the App Store on your Apple TV, go to the Updates tab, and look for any apps with pending updates. If you see your problematic app listed, select it and choose "Update."

App updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements. If you have automatic updates turned on (Settings > Apps > Automatic Updates), your apps update overnight without you doing anything. Checking manually is useful if you need the fix right away.

Deleting and reinstalling an app as a last resort

If refresh, close-and-reopen, and restart do not fix the problem, delete the app and reinstall it. Press and hold Select on the app icon, choose "Remove," then confirm. Go to the App Store, search for the app by name, and select "Get" to read it again.

Reinstalling clears out any corrupted files the app may have accumulated. Be aware that you may lose saved data, login information, or preferences stored inside the app — some apps save this to your Apple ID account and restore it automatically, while others do not. Check the app's settings before deleting if you are unsure.

Why apps need refreshing on Apple TV

Apps on Apple TV run in the background even when you are not using them, and they can accumulate temporary files, cached data, and memory leaks over time. A refresh clears this clutter and tells the app to fetch fresh information from its servers.

Streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu, news apps, and social media apps are most likely to show stale content or freeze because they hold large amounts of cached video and images in memory. Refreshing these apps regularly — especially if you notice they are slow — keeps them running smoothly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between refresh and force quit on Apple TV?

Refresh reloads the app while keeping it open, so it stays in memory. Force quit (swiping up) closes the app completely and removes it from memory. Force quit is stronger and works better when an app is frozen or crashing.

Do I lose anything when I close an app on Apple TV?

Closing an app does not delete it or your account information. When you reopen it, you will still be logged in (unless the app requires you to log in again for security). You may lose unsaved work within the app, such as a partially written message or a paused video position, depending on how the app saves data.

Will restarting my Apple TV delete my apps or settings?

No. Restarting only turns the device off and back on. All your apps, settings, and account information remain exactly as they were. It is the same as restarting a computer — nothing is lost.

How often should I refresh my Apple TV apps?

You only need to refresh an app when you notice it is slow, frozen, or showing outdated information. There is no benefit to refreshing apps regularly if they are working fine. Most people refresh only when they encounter a problem.

Can I update all my apps at once on Apple TV?

If you turn on automatic updates (Settings > Apps > Automatic Updates), your apps update overnight without you doing anything. If you want to update manually, you have to go to the App Store and update each app individually — there is no "update all" button.