Deleting an app from Roku takes less than a minute and frees up storage space on your device

You remove an app from Roku by highlighting it on your home screen, pressing the Options button on your remote, and selecting "Remove channel" from the menu. The app disappears when ready. You can reinstall it later from the Roku Channel Store without losing any saved settings or passwords — Roku remembers your login information for most apps.

Deleting apps matters because Roku devices have limited storage. A device with too many unused apps can slow down, take longer to load channels, or struggle to install updates. Removing apps you no longer watch is one of the fastest ways to keep your Roku running smoothly.

Key Takeaways

  • Press the Options button (the star icon with three dots) on your remote while an app is highlighted to see the remove option.
  • Deleting an app does not erase your login information or watch history — you can reinstall it and pick up where you left off.
  • Roku devices have limited storage, so removing unused apps helps prevent slowdowns and installation failures.
  • You can delete multiple apps in a row without returning to the home screen between each one.
  • If you accidentally delete an app, you can reinstall it from the Roku Channel Store in seconds.

Step-by-step: removing an app from your home screen

Start on your Roku home screen. Use the arrow buttons on your remote to highlight the app you want to remove. It will have a colored border around it when selected.

Press the Options button on your remote — this is the button with a star and three horizontal lines, usually in the upper left area of the remote. A small menu will pop up with several choices. Select "Remove channel" using the arrow buttons and press OK. The app will vanish from your home screen when ready.

If you want to delete another app, just move to the next one and repeat. You do not need to go back to settings or restart your device between removals.

What happens to your data when you delete an app

Roku stores your login information separately from the app itself. When you delete Netflix, Disney+, or any other streaming service, your username and password stay saved on your device. If you reinstall the app later, you will be logged in automatically — you will not have to type your credentials again.

Your watch history, bookmarks, and preferences within each app are also preserved. If you delete Hulu and add it back three months later, your saved shows and recommendations will be waiting for you. The only thing that changes is that the app is no longer visible on your home screen.

Freeing up storage space on your Roku device

Roku devices come with a fixed amount of storage — usually between 256 MB and 2 GB depending on the model. This space holds the operating system, apps, and temporary files. When storage fills up, your device may struggle to install system updates, load apps slowly, or freeze during playback.

Deleting apps you have not watched in months is the quickest way to recover space. You can check how much storage you are using by going to Settings > System > About. If you are running low, remove the apps taking up the most room — games and lesser-used streaming services typically use more space than straightforward channel apps.

After deleting several apps, restart your Roku by unplugging it for 10 seconds and plugging it back in. This clears temporary files and often improves performance noticeably.

Reinstalling an app you deleted

Open the Roku Channel Store from your home screen. Use the search function to find the app by name, or browse by category. When you find it, select it and choose "Add channel." The app will install in a few seconds and appear on your home screen automatically.

You will be logged in right away because Roku remembered your credentials. If for some reason you are not logged in, your password is still saved — you can usually just press OK and it will fill in automatically. You will not lose any watch history, bookmarks, or saved preferences from before you deleted it.

Organizing your home screen after removing apps

Once you delete an app, the remaining apps stay in their original positions — there are no gaps or blank spaces. If you want to rearrange what is left, highlight any app and press the Options button, then select "Move channel." Use the arrow buttons to place it where you want it, then press OK.

You can also create custom rows on your home screen to group similar apps together — all your sports apps in one row, all your news apps in another. This makes it easier to find what you want without scrolling through a long list. Organizing takes a few minutes but saves time every time you use your Roku.

When to delete apps to keep your Roku running well

Delete an app if you have not opened it in more than a month, if you subscribe to a competing service instead, or if you are running low on storage. You do not need to keep every app you have ever tried — Roku makes reinstalling so fast that there is no reason to hold onto apps you do not use.

If your Roku is running slowly, sluggish, or taking a long time to load channels, deleting unused apps should be your first troubleshooting step before you try anything else. Combined with a restart, it solves most performance problems on older or lower-end Roku devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting an app erase my watch history?

No. Roku stores your login information and watch history separately from the app. When you reinstall it, everything will be exactly as you left it. Your saved shows, recommendations, and viewing progress are all preserved.

Can I delete the Roku Channel Store or other built-in apps?

No. Some apps like the Roku Channel Store, Settings, and the home screen itself cannot be removed — they are part of the operating system. Only third-party apps like Netflix, Hulu, and games can be deleted. If you try to remove a built-in app, the "Remove channel" option will not appear.

How much storage space will I free up by deleting an app?

It depends on the app. Streaming services like Netflix typically use 5 to 15 MB each. Games can use 50 MB or more. If you delete 10 unused apps, you might free up 100 to 200 MB. Check Settings > System > About to see your current storage before and after to measure the difference.

What if I delete an app by accident?

Open the Roku Channel Store, search for the app by name, and select "Add channel." It will reinstall in seconds and you will be logged in automatically. There is no penalty for deleting and reinstalling — you can do it as many times as you want.

Do I need to restart my Roku after deleting apps?

Not required, but recommended. Unplugging your Roku for 10 seconds clears temporary files and often improves performance noticeably, especially if you deleted several apps at once. It is a good habit after any cleanup.