How to Clear Cache on a Firestick (and Stop IPTV Buffering)
A Fire TV Stick that has run for months fills up with cached data, slows down and starts to stutter, especially in IPTV apps that load thousands of channel logos and guide entries. Clearing the cache takes under a minute. Here is how, plus the restart and storage habits that keep the stick fast.
Updated · By the IPTV PROS support team
Quick answer
On a Fire TV Stick, go to Settings › Applications › Manage Installed Applications, choose the app (for example TiviMate or IPTV Smarters Pro), then select Force stop and Clear cache. Clearing the cache doesn't delete your login or playlists; Clear data does. Then restart the stick from Settings › My Fire TV › Restart, or hold Select and Play/Pause on the remote for about five seconds.
Clear the cache, step by step
- 1
Open Settings
From the Fire TV home screen, select the gear icon (Settings) at the right of the menu.
- 2
Go to Applications
Choose Applications, then Manage Installed Applications.
- 3
Pick the app
Select the app that is slow or buffering, such as TiviMate, IPTV Smarters Pro or the Silk browser.
- 4
Force stop
Select Force stop so the app isn't running while you clean it.
- 5
Clear cache
Select Clear cache. The cache size drops to zero, and your login, playlists and favourites stay where they are.
- 6
Repeat, then restart
Do the same for other apps you use a lot, then restart the stick from Settings › My Fire TV › Restart.
Clear cache vs clear data
| Clear cache | Clear data | |
|---|---|---|
| What it removes | Temporary files: logos, thumbnails, guide images, buffered video | Everything: login, playlists, settings, favourites |
| What it keeps | Your login, playlists and favourites | Nothing; the app is as good as new |
| When to use it | Sluggish menus, stuttering, or every few weeks as maintenance | Only when the app crashes or won't load even after clearing the cache |
Before you clear data in TiviMate or any app with a backup feature, save a backup first so you can restore your favourites and settings. You'll need the login details from your welcome email to sign back in.
Restart the Firestick the right way
Pressing the power button or letting the TV go to sleep only puts the Fire TV Stick on standby, and apps stay in memory. A real restart clears them:
- From the menu: Settings › My Fire TV › Restart.
- From the remote: hold Select (the centre button) and Play/Pause together for about five seconds, until the screen goes dark.
- Full power cycle: unplug the power for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Use this if the stick is frozen.
A weekly restart is enough to keep most sticks responsive.
Free up storage
Fire TV Sticks have limited storage (8 GB on the Fire TV Stick 4K, 16 GB on the 4K Max), and once it runs low everything slows down. Check it under Settings › My Fire TV › About › Storage.
- Uninstall apps you don't use: Settings › Applications › Manage Installed Applications › choose the app › Uninstall.
- Delete old installer files: if you sideloaded apps with Downloader, open its Files section and delete the .apk files you no longer need.
- Leave about 1 GB free as breathing room for the system and your IPTV app.
Other Firestick fixes when IPTV still buffers
- Turn off autoplay: Settings › Preferences › Featured Content, then turn off video and audio autoplay, so the home screen stops streaming trailers in the background.
- Turn off data monitoring: Settings › Preferences › Data Monitoring › Off.
- Move it out from behind the TV with the HDMI extender from the box. Reception improves and the stick runs cooler; an overheating stick slows itself down.
- Use Ethernet or 5 GHz Wi-Fi. An Amazon Ethernet adapter is the single most effective buffering fix for a Fire TV Stick.
- Update Fire OS and your apps: Settings › My Fire TV › About › Check for Updates.
- Tune your player: in IPTV Smarters Pro, try another stream format or player; our Smarters settings guide explains each option.
If it still buffers only during busy evening hours, and on every device in the house, the stick isn't the problem: work through the IPTV troubleshooting guide and our post on fixing IPTV buffering in Canada.
A simple maintenance routine
| How often | What to do |
|---|---|
| Weekly | Restart the stick from the menu or with the remote shortcut |
| Every 2 to 4 weeks | Clear the cache in your IPTV app and browser |
| Monthly | Check storage, uninstall unused apps, install updates |
| When nothing else works | Clear data in the problem app, then, as a last resort, reset to factory defaults |
A factory reset (Settings › My Fire TV › Reset to Factory Defaults) wipes everything, so you'll reinstall your apps and sign in again. New to the Fire TV? Start with setting up IPTV on a Fire TV Stick, and if you're shopping for a faster device, see the best IPTV box in Canada.
Try it on your own TV first
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FAQ
Will clearing the cache delete my IPTV login?+
No. Clear cache only removes temporary files; your login, playlists and favourites stay. Clear data is the option that removes them.
How often should I clear the cache on my Firestick?+
Every two to four weeks, or whenever menus feel slow or streams start to stutter. Restarting the stick once a week also helps.
How do I restart a Firestick with the remote?+
Hold the Select button (the centre of the ring) and Play/Pause together for about five seconds, until the screen goes dark and the Fire TV logo appears.
Why is my Firestick so slow?+
Usually low storage, a full cache, overheating behind the TV, or the home screen autoplaying videos in the background. Clearing the cache, freeing storage and turning off autoplay fix most cases.
Does clearing the cache fix IPTV buffering?+
It fixes buffering caused by the device itself, which is common on sticks that have run for months. If every device in the house buffers at the same time, the cause is the network or the server, not the stick.
Should I factory reset my Firestick?+
Only as a last resort, after clearing the cache, freeing storage and clearing data in the problem app. A reset erases everything, so you'll need to reinstall your apps and sign in again.