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For a single troublesome app, open Settings > Apps > See all apps, select the app, and choose Clear data. To remove temporary cached files for every app, open your profile icon and go to Settings > System > Storage > Internal shared storage > Cached data, then confirm OK.
Those commands have different scopes: the first targets one app and resets its stored app data, while the second clears temporary cache files across the device. Use the least destructive option that matches the problem.
Cache versus app data: choose the right reset
Google documents two separate maintenance actions for Google TV Streamer. Clearing cached data removes temporary files. Clearing data is an app-level troubleshooting step that resets the selected app’s stored data. The storage route supplied by Google clears cached data for all apps at once; it is not a one-app cache command.
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| Action | Scope | What Google establishes | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cached data | All apps on the Google TV Streamer | Removes temporary data. Google says users remain signed in after clearing the cache. | A low-storage warning or a general cleanup of temporary files |
| Clear data | One selected app | Google recommends it as a troubleshooting step. The support article does not define identical effects for every app’s saved settings or login state. | An app that crashes, will not load, repeatedly buffers, or behaves as though its local data is corrupted |
| Uninstall | One selected app | Removes an app you no longer use and is an official storage-recovery option. | You need more space and do not need that app installed |
| Factory reset | The entire device | Erases all data on the Google TV Streamer. Google recommends trying other troubleshooting first. | Only after less destructive steps fail and you are prepared to set up the device again |
There is no published storage-savings figure for any of these operations. The amount recovered depends on the apps and temporary files currently on your device.
#1 Best Overall
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
Three scopes that are easy to confuse
One app: Clear data is selected after you open that app’s entry under See all apps. It is the appropriate scope when one service is failing and the rest of the Streamer behaves normally.
Every app’s temporary cache: the documented Cached data command sits inside internal shared storage. It is a device-wide cache cleanup, so you do not choose an individual app in that screen.
The whole device: Factory reset is a separate erase operation. It is not a stronger version of clearing cache and should not be used as routine maintenance.
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Before you clear anything
- Confirm that you are working on the affected Google TV Streamer, not another Google TV or Chromecast device. Menu names can change with software updates or regional software variants.
- Identify whether the goal is to fix one app or recover device storage. A one-app problem normally calls for that app’s data to be cleared; a storage warning normally starts with the all-app cache command and uninstalling unused apps.
- If you are clearing app data, note any app-specific downloads, preferences, profiles, or sign-in details you may need to restore. Google’s general troubleshooting page does not promise the same preservation behavior for every app after Clear data.
- Keep the remote available and wait for each settings screen to finish loading before selecting the next item. Do not unplug the Streamer while a reset or uninstall is in progress.
- Write down the exact app name and symptom before changing anything. That makes it easier to tell whether only one app is affected and to report the issue to the app publisher if the reset does not help.
- If another household member uses the app, let them know that clearing its local data may require app setup again. The result can vary by app, so do not assume that every service treats stored settings or offline material in the same way.
Clear cached data for all apps
This is the Google-documented cache route for Google TV Streamer. It removes temporary cached data across the device rather than targeting a single application.
- From the Google TV home screen, select your profile icon.
- Open Settings.
- Select System.
- Choose Storage.
- Open Internal shared storage.
- Select Cached data.
- When the confirmation prompt appears, choose OK.
Google describes the result as removal of temporary data and specifically notes: “Note: Clearing your app cache only removes temporary data.” Google also says that clearing the cache leaves users signed in. Read the current Google Streaming Help instructions at Google Streaming Help.
What this route does not do
- It does not select one app; all apps’ cached data are included in the documented command.
- It is not a factory reset and does not erase the device’s complete configuration.
- It does not guarantee a particular amount of free space. Cache sizes vary by app and by how the device has been used.
- It is not the same as clearing an app’s stored data. If one app remains broken after cache cleanup, use the per-app procedure below.
- It is not a substitute for uninstalling an app you no longer need. Removing an unused app is the separate storage step Google recommends when cache cleanup is insufficient.
How to judge the result
After confirming, return to the home screen and test the apps or storage warning that prompted the cleanup. A cache is temporary by definition, so an app may recreate some temporary files as it runs. Do not treat the first storage reading as a guaranteed permanent gain, and do not repeat the command simply to chase a particular number: Google publishes no fixed amount of space that this operation will recover.
Clear data for one app
Use this procedure when a particular app is the problem. Google lists it as a troubleshooting step for Google TV apps.
- From the Google TV home screen, open Settings.
- Select Apps.
- Choose See all apps.
- Scroll to and select the app that is failing.
- Choose Clear data. If the Streamer presents a confirmation prompt, follow the on-screen instruction to confirm.
The exact consequences of Clear data can be app-specific. The reviewed Google guidance does not list a universal rule for saved settings, downloaded content, or login sessions. Treat the command as a reset of that app’s locally stored data, and check the app publisher’s own support instructions if preserving local settings or offline content matters.
Rank #2
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
When clearing data is appropriate
- The app opens to an error or closes repeatedly while other apps work.
- Playback or loading fails after you have checked the network and updated the device.
- The app shows stale or contradictory information that a normal restart has not removed.
- You can sign in again or recreate the app’s local preferences if the reset removes them.
When to try something less disruptive first
If the only symptom is a general storage warning, clear cached data for all apps first. If the app problem started after a temporary network interruption, check Wi-Fi and restart the Streamer before resetting the app’s stored data. Clearing data is more disruptive than clearing temporary cache, and Google does not promise that it will fix every app problem.
What to check immediately afterward
Launch the affected app from the home screen and allow it to finish its initial loading. Follow any sign-in or setup screen it displays. If only that app still fails, record the exact message, whether other apps work, and whether the failure is limited to one profile. Those details are useful when you contact the app publisher because Google’s general troubleshooting page cannot define the behavior of every third-party app.
Free storage by uninstalling unused apps
Google lists uninstalling apps you no longer use as another way to recover internal storage.
- Open Settings from the Google TV home screen.
- Select Apps, then See all apps.
- Choose the app you no longer need.
- Select Uninstall.
- Confirm with OK.
Uninstalling removes that app rather than merely deleting temporary files. Use it when you are certain the app can be installed again later and that its removal will not affect a household member’s viewing setup.
Uninstalling is a better fit than repeatedly clearing cache when the storage warning persists and you have apps that nobody uses. The space recovered depends on that app’s installed size and associated data; Google does not publish a universal number. If you later need the app, you can install it again, subject to the app being available and your account being ready.
Recommended troubleshooting order for an app problem
Google’s Google TV troubleshooting guidance presents a progression from basic checks to the destructive reset. Following that order avoids erasing app or device data before simpler causes have been ruled out.
- Check Wi-Fi. Verify that the Streamer is connected to the intended network and that the connection is working for other devices or apps.
- Check for system updates. Install any available Google TV Streamer update, then allow the device to finish applying it before testing the app again.
- Restart the Streamer. A restart can clear a temporary operating-state problem without changing app data.
- Confirm the selected account profile. Switch to the profile that normally uses the app and test again. Profile-specific configuration can make an app appear inconsistent when the wrong profile is active.
- Clear the affected app’s data. Use Settings > Apps > See all apps, select the app, and choose Clear data.
- Consider a factory reset only after the earlier steps fail. Read the consequences in the next section before proceeding.
For a low-storage warning rather than an app playback failure, start with the all-app cached-data route and uninstall unused apps. The two situations call for different first steps.
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Wi-Fi and account-profile checks address conditions that can make an app look broken without changing local files. An update may address compatibility, and a restart changes the device’s current operating state without erasing app data. Clearing one app’s data comes later because it is more disruptive. Factory reset is last because it removes data from the entire Streamer, not merely the app that displayed the error.
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Factory reset: last resort only
A factory reset erases all data from the Google TV Streamer. It is not an expanded cache-clearing command and should not be used merely because one app is misbehaving.
- Open Settings.
- Select System.
- Choose About.
- Select Factory reset.
- Read the warning and confirm only if you are ready to erase the device and complete setup again.
Google explicitly recommends trying other troubleshooting steps before a factory reset. Use the official instructions at Google TV Help. A reset should be considered only when network checks, updates, a restart, profile verification, and the affected app’s data reset have not resolved the underlying problem.
Prepare before confirming
- Make sure you know the account credentials needed to set up the Streamer again.
- Note the Wi-Fi information and the profile you normally use.
- Expect to reinstall apps and recreate device preferences after setup.
- Do not choose this option simply to clear a low-storage warning when cache cleanup and uninstalling unused apps remain available.
What to do after each action
After clearing cached data
Return to the home screen and launch the app that was affected. The first launch may need to recreate temporary files, so judge the result after the app has fully loaded rather than immediately after selecting OK. If the device still reports low storage, remove unused apps instead of repeatedly clearing cache.
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Open the app and complete whatever setup or sign-in it requests. Restore only the preferences or downloads you actually need. If the app still fails while other apps work, document the exact error and contact that app’s support channel; Google’s general page does not guarantee that clearing data resolves every app-specific defect.
After uninstalling an app
Reopen Settings > System > Storage > Internal shared storage to check the device’s current storage view. The available space will depend on the app’s installed size and any associated data, so do not expect a fixed number.
After a factory reset
Be prepared to go through the device setup process, reconnect to Wi-Fi, choose the appropriate account profile, reinstall apps, and configure preferences again. Because the reset removes all device data, verify that you have any credentials or app-specific information needed for that setup before confirming it.
If a menu label is different
Google’s support pages are the controlling reference for the documented paths, but interface labels can change with software updates and regional variants. Look for the same hierarchy: app maintenance is under Settings > Apps > See all apps; device-wide cached storage is under System > Storage > Internal shared storage; and the last-resort erase command is under System > About. If an item is unavailable, install pending system updates, return to the home screen, and reopen Settings before assuming that the function has been removed.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing Clear data for a storage-only problem: start with the all-app cache route and remove unused apps instead.
- Expecting Cached data to affect only one app: Google’s documented storage command covers cached data for all apps.
- Assuming every app preserves the same information: Google does not specify identical behavior for each app’s settings, downloads, or sessions after Clear data.
- Jumping straight to factory reset: check Wi-Fi, updates, restart, profile, and the affected app first.
- Expecting a guaranteed storage amount: cache and installed-app sizes differ, and no fixed recovery figure is published.
- Unplugging during a command: let the confirmation and uninstall screens finish before interrupting power.
Quick decision guide
| Your symptom or goal | Start with | Escalate to |
|---|---|---|
| One app crashes or refuses to load | Check Wi-Fi, updates, restart, and profile; then clear that app’s data | App-specific support, then factory reset only after other troubleshooting fails |
| Several apps have temporary loading or storage issues | Clear cached data for all apps | Uninstall unused apps if storage remains low |
| The device reports low internal storage | Clear all-app cached data | Uninstall apps you no longer use |
| You want to erase the entire Streamer and start over | Back up or record anything needed for setup | Factory reset from System > About |
Key points to remember
- Clear data is the one-app troubleshooting command: Settings > Apps > See all apps > select app > Clear data.
- Cached data is cleared for all apps through Profile icon > Settings > System > Storage > Internal shared storage > Cached data.
- Google says cache clearing removes temporary data and leaves users signed in.
- Uninstall unused apps when the goal is to reclaim more storage than temporary-cache cleanup provides.
- A factory reset erases all device data and belongs at the end of the troubleshooting sequence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does clearing cache on Google TV Streamer clear one app or every app?
The documented Google TV Streamer path under Settings > System > Storage > Internal shared storage > Cached data clears cached data for all apps. It is not an individual-app cache command.
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Will I be signed out when I clear cached data?
Google says clearing app cache removes temporary data and leaves users signed in. App-specific behavior can still vary for other locally stored information.
What is the exact path to clear one app’s data?
From the home screen, open Settings > Apps > See all apps, select the affected app, and choose Clear data. Follow any confirmation prompt.
Should I clear cache or clear data first?
For a general storage warning, clear all-app cached data first. For one failing app, check Wi-Fi, updates, restart, and the correct profile before using that app’s Clear data command.
How much storage will clearing cache recover?
There is no fixed published amount. Recovery depends on the temporary files currently stored by your apps.
Is uninstalling better than clearing cache for low storage?
If the warning remains after clearing cached data, Google recommends uninstalling apps you no longer use. Uninstalling removes the app rather than only temporary files.
Will Clear data delete my app settings or downloads?
Google’s general guidance does not define identical effects for every app. Treat it as a reset of that app’s locally stored data and check the app publisher’s instructions if local settings or offline content matter.
When should I factory-reset the Streamer?
Only after Wi-Fi checks, system updates, a restart, profile verification, and clearing the affected app’s data have failed, and only when you are ready to erase all device data and set it up again.
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Labels can vary with updates and regions. Look for app controls under Settings > Apps > See all apps, storage under System > Storage > Internal shared storage, and factory reset under System > About.
The Bottom Line
Use Clear data for one troublesome app, Cached data under internal shared storage for a device-wide temporary-file cleanup, and uninstall unused apps when you need more space. Reserve Factory reset for the final troubleshooting step because it erases the entire Google TV Streamer.
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