Deleting an app from Roku takes about 30 seconds and frees up storage space on your device

To delete an app, press the Home button on your Roku remote, navigate to the app you want to remove, press the Options button (the star icon), and select "Remove channel" from the menu. The app disappears when ready. You can reinstall it later from the Roku Channel Store if you change your mind — your login information stays saved.

Roku devices have limited storage, so removing apps you no longer use helps prevent slowdowns and keeps your home screen organized. Unlike smartphones, Roku doesn't warn you when storage is full, but you'll notice the device becomes sluggish when too many apps are installed.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Home, find the app, press Options (star button), and select "Remove channel" to delete any app permanently.
  • Deleting an app frees up storage space and can improve your Roku's performance if the device feels slow.
  • You can reinstall deleted apps anytime from the Roku Channel Store without losing your account login information.
  • The Options button is the star icon on your Roku remote and works on any app or channel on your home screen.

Finding the app you want to delete

Start by pressing the Home button on your remote. This takes you to your Roku home screen, where all your installed apps appear as tiles. Scroll left or right through your apps until you find the one you want to remove.

If you have many apps, they may be spread across multiple rows. Take your time scrolling — the app you're looking for is somewhere on this screen. Once you see it, highlight it by moving your cursor over the tile so it's selected.

Opening the options menu

With the app highlighted, press the Options button on your remote. This is the button with a star icon on it, usually located near the center of the remote below the directional pad. A small menu will pop up with several choices.

If you don't see a menu appear, make sure the app tile itself is highlighted (not just somewhere on the screen). The Options button only works when you have an app selected. Try highlighting the app again and pressing Options.

Selecting "Remove channel" from the menu

Look at the menu that appeared. You'll see several options, including "Remove channel" near the bottom. Press the OK button or select it with your remote to confirm the deletion.

Some apps may show additional options like "Move channel" or "Rename channel" — these let you organize your home screen without deleting anything. Make sure you're selecting "Remove channel" specifically if you want the app gone.

What happens after you delete an app

The app disappears from your home screen when ready. The storage space it used is now available for other apps or for your Roku to run more smoothly. If you had logged into that app with a username and password, that information is not saved — you'll need to log in again if you reinstall it later.

Deleting an app does not affect any other apps or settings on your Roku. Your other channels, your home screen layout, and your Roku account all stay exactly the same.

Reinstalling an app you deleted

If you decide you want an app back, go to the Roku Channel Store. Press Home, scroll to the top of your home screen, and select "Roku Channel Store" or search for it. Find the app by name or category, and select it to reinstall. The app will read and appear on your home screen again.

You'll need to log in to the app again with your account information, since deleting it removes your saved login. However, your account itself and any settings within that service (like watch history or saved preferences) are stored by the app company, not by Roku, so they may still be there when you log back in.

Freeing up space when your Roku feels slow

If your Roku is running slowly, sluggish, or taking a long time to load channels, removing unused apps is one of the first things to try. Even if you have storage space showing as available, having too many apps installed can slow down your device's performance.

Start by deleting apps you haven't used in the past month. Then restart your Roku by going to Settings > System > Power > Restart. This clears the device's temporary memory and often makes a noticeable difference in speed. If the device is still slow after removing several apps and restarting, you may need to factory reset your Roku, though this is rarely necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete the Roku home screen or system apps?

No. System apps like Settings, Roku Channel Store, and the home screen itself cannot be deleted. When you press Options on these, you won't see a "Remove channel" option. You can only delete third-party apps like Netflix, YouTube, or Hulu.

Will deleting an app erase my watch history or saved shows?

No. Your watch history, saved shows, and account information are stored by the app company (Netflix, Hulu, etc.), not by Roku. When you reinstall the app and log in again, that information is still there. You only lose your Roku device's memory of your login password.

What if I accidentally delete an app I need?

You can reinstall it anytime from the Roku Channel Store at no cost. Go to Home, select Roku Channel Store, search for the app by name, and select it to read again. The whole process takes less than a minute.

Does deleting apps make my Roku faster?

Yes, usually. Removing unused apps frees up storage space and reduces the load on your device's processor. If your Roku feels sluggish, deleting apps you don't use and then restarting the device often noticeably improves performance.