Alex Ruben
How To Stop Background Apps from Consuming Excessive RAM on Google TV Streamer 4K
If your Google TV Streamer 4K feels sluggish or just isn’t as snappy as it used to be, that’s often related to having too many apps or processes chugging along in the background. Quite a few folks notice their device slows down over time, especially after app updates or system updates. Luckily, there’s a way to tighten things up and give that RAM a breather. This guide walks through some real-world tweaks that can help you cut down on unnecessary background processes, so your streaming experience stays smooth and responsive. Keep in mind, these steps are mostly aimed at devices running Android TV OS 14 or 15, no matter if it’s a QLED, OLED, or LED panel.
How to Fix RAM Hogging on Google TV Streamer 4K
Access the Settings Menu
- Start by hitting the Settings gear icon in the top right corner of the home screen or pull down from the top and select the gear icon. This is the gateway to nearly everything.
- From here, you’ll want to go into Device Preferences and then select Apps. But for this RAM tweak, it’s easiest to jump straight into System.
Quite a few folks overlook how nested these menus can be, so don’t be shy about digging around if needed. / On some setups, you might find the System menu directly accessible from the main Settings list.
Enable Developer Options
- In the System menu, scroll down to About.
- Here’s the weird part: tap on About repeatedly (about 7 times) on the Build Number or Android TV Build. Eventually, a message should pop up saying “You are now a developer.”
This step might seem pointless, but it unlocks all the goodies needed for messing with processes. Be aware—it can sometimes trigger a system toast or brief lag, but it’s normal.
Adjust Background Process Limit
- Go back to System and now see Developer Options listed. Tap into it.
- Scroll down to find Background Process Limit. Here’s where the magic happens.
- Change this setting from the default (which can vary, often “Standard”) to a lower number, ideally around 3 processes. This cuts down the apps allowed to run hidden in the background.
Why? Because on some setups, too many background apps eat RAM, causing slowdowns and even app crashes. Limiting them forces the device to prioritize what actually matters, which makes a noticeable difference in responsiveness.
Finalize and Test Changes
- After setting the limit, press Back until you exit back to main menu. No save button needed—changes should stick automatically.
- It’s a good idea to reboot your device afterward — just turn it off and on again. Sometimes, Android TV doesn’t immediately implement the new process limit, so a restart helps lock it in.
On some machines, this setting might revert after updates, so if things feel sluggish again, just redo this process. Also, remember, limiting processes isn’t a silver bullet — you might notice some apps behave differently if they rely heavily on background activity.
Extra Tips & Common Pitfalls
- Regularly check for updates of your system and apps—bug fixes in updates can improve RAM management.
- If an app suddenly uses a ton of RAM, consider uninstalling or reinstalling it. Sometimes, apps get bloated or corrupted over time.
- Be aware that some newer Android TV versions might have hidden restrictions or auto-revert settings after updates, which can be annoying. Keep an eye on it once in a while.
Because of course, Android TV has to make it harder than necessary, right? Just part of the fun.
Summary
- Access Settings and go into System.
- Enable Developer Options by tapping on Build Number repeatedly.
- Adjust the Background Process Limit to 3 in Developer Options.
- Reboot and see if things feel snappier. Repeat if settings revert or issues persist.
Wrap-up
Basically, limiting the number of background apps gives your Google TV a little breathing room. It’s not magic — on some setups, it makes a huge difference, especially if the device gets cluttered over time. Just keep in mind, messing with developer options isn’t officially supported as a performance tweak, so it can be a bit hit or miss. But on one setup it worked like a charm, on another… not so much. Still, worth a shot if you’re tired of lag or stuttering. Fingers crossed this helps someone get that smoother stream back.