Clear Cache on Firestick Not Working – What Should You Do?
Written by, Nikola Dimovski
Updated April, 4, 2023
Are you having buffering issues on Firestick, or are you just one of those people that regularly clears cache on their devices? Regardless of the reason, Firestick users have often reported that clear cache on Firestick is not working, worrying that their device or app might be faulty.
However, we’re here to tell you not to worry and that everything is perfectly alright with your Firestick.
However, if you want to know why this issue has become so prevalent and how to actually clear your cache on your device, then continue reading.
Why Is Clearing Cache on Firestick Not Working?
When using any kind of device, clearing cache is imperative. However, people have voiced concerns about this issue when it comes to some of the newer Firestick devices.
As it turns out, on Fire TV devices, such as the 4k Firestick, the option to clear cache works perfectly fine, clearing it to 0. It is on newer devices, such as the new 4k Fire Stick Max or the Fire Cube second generation, where you can’t totally clear your cache. Actually, once you go and clear your cache, it immediately goes back to 16.38KB.
However, there is nothing to worry about. 16.38KB is a very tiny amount, which is needed so it can properly reload some necessary system data. For example, if you were to go and clear cache on NOW TV’s app on Firestick, it would initially go to 0KB, while in a couple of seconds, a tiny amount of cache would occupy the app once again.
Therefore, if you’re using one of the newer devices and you notice this pattern, don’t worry, your device is not faulty, and this is nothing to fuss about.
How to Clear Cache on Firestick?
Since we now know why some cache cannot be cleared on FireStick, let’s go back and look at how actually to clear your cache.
- First, go to Settings;
- Then, select Applications;
- Go to Manage Installed Applications and pick the app you want to clear cache on;
- Finally, select Clear Cache and then Clear Data.
Note: It is important to remember that you need to clear cache for each app individually.
Bottom line:
Although there’s been a lot of chatter over the cache feature on Firestick not working, as it turns out, there is actually no issue at all. Having 16.38KB of cache left even after you have cleared it is perfectly normal, and no reason for worry. This is just a normal amount of cache that the app needs in order to keep some necessary data.
Frequently Asked Questions And Their Answers
How often should you clear cache on Firestick?
There is no timeframe in which you should clear cache. However, it is best to clear it once you feel that Firestick has started to become slower or, worse, has started buffering.
Does restarting Firestick clear cache?
If you want to clear a large amount of data, then the restarting option is best for you. Restarting your Firestick can clear cache without going through the previously mentioned process.
How do I force stop and clear cache on Fire Stick?
The process of forcing stop and clearing cache is completely the same as when you normally clear cache. The only difference is that before you click on Clear Data, you first need to click on Force Stop. You can go ahead and try this if you think clear cache on Firestick is not working, although you’ll probably end up with the same results.
My name is Nikola, and I’m an SEO Specialist and a tech enthusiast. I graduated from the Faculty of Economics, the department of E-Business Management. My experiences go from implementing ERP Solutions, CRM practices, and finally, on-page and off-page SEO. I take pride in staying ahead of the curve when it comes to SEO and keeping up with the latest changes to search algorithms. I love experimenting with new strategies and testing the results to see what works best. Outside of work, I enjoy tinkering with new tech gadgets and exploring the latest apps and software programs.