Alex Ruben
How To Clear Data and Cache of VLC Player App on Google TV Streamer 4K
Clearing data and cache of the VLC Player on your Google TV Streamer 4K can be a real game-changer if the app’s acting up — lagging, freezing, or just not performing like it should. Sometimes, apps get bogged down with temporary files or stubborn settings that cause hiccups, especially after updates or long-term use. This quick reset can breathe new life into VLC and maybe even free up some storage. The thing is, Google TV or Android TV interface isn’t super intuitive when it comes to managing app data, so here’s a step-by-step that actually works in real life.
How to Fix VLC Player Performance Issues by Clearing Data and Cache on Google TV
Access the Settings Menu
First off, to poke around in app data, you gotta land in the Settings. Usually, Settings can be found via the gear icon, or in the quick access menu — depends on your build. Here’s the usual route:
- Hit the Home button on your remote to go to the main screen.
- Navigate over to the top right corner and select Settings (the gear icon). If you don’t see it right away, try holding down the Home button or checking the Quick Settings panel.
If it feels a bit hidden, it’s because Google TV’s layout can be weird sometimes. Make sure your TV/streamer is fully updated because older versions can have quirks that mess with these menus.
Find the Apps Management Section
Now that you’re in Settings, the next step is to find where all your apps are kept:
- Scroll down to Apps — this is where all installed apps live.
- Click on See all apps (or Installed apps) to get a complete list.
Some systems also let you search apps by name if your list is super long — handy for quick access.
Select the VLC Player App
Identify and select VLC Player from the list. If you don’t see it right away, scroll through or use the search function if available. Once selected, you’ll be taken to the app info page — the hub for clearing cache, data, and more.
Clear Cache — Why and How
Clearing cache often helps with snappy performance and fixes minor bugs. Cache is like temporary storage that the app uses to load things faster — but over time, it can get cluttered or corrupted. Here’s what to do:
- On the app info page, look for Clear Cache — it’s usually a big button or toggle near the bottom.
- Select Clear Cache. Expect a confirmation message or a quick flash that the cache is wiped.
This action is fast and doesn’t remove your personal settings or saved preferences. Just frees up some space and helps VLC run smoother on some setups — especially if your device is slow or laggy. Sometimes, on certain Android TV builds, this step alone can resolve freezing issues.
Clear Data — When and Why
Ever had that ‘reset to out-of-the-box’ feeling? Clearing data does exactly that, removing all stored preferences, history, login info, and custom settings. It’s especially useful if VLC is crashing or behaving strangely even after clearing cache.
- Pull down further on the app info page and tap Clear Data.
- Confirm when prompted, and a message will usually appear confirming the reset.
Be aware: after this, you may need to set your Voracious Playlist, network shares, or subtitle preferences again. Not sure why, but VLC seems particularly prone to holding onto settings that get corrupted over time.
Extra Tips & Common Snags
Sometimes, clearing cache and data isn’t enough. Make sure your Google TV device has the latest firmware — check in Settings > System > Software Update. On some machines, clearing cache or data might not work until you restart the device, so a quick power cycle (unplug & plug back in) often helps.
If issues persist, consider uninstalling and reinstalling the app from the Google Play Store. For that, just go to Apps > See all apps > VLC Player > Uninstall. Sometimes a fresh install just clears up residual bugs that clearing cache/data alone can’t fix.
Wrap-up
This whole process isn’t rocket science, but it’s kind of weird how hidden some of those options are. Clearing cache and data can fix things without having to reset the whole device or do a factory reset, which is overkill. Worth trying whenever VLC or similar apps start acting strange — or if storage is creeping too high and slowing things down.
Summary
- Navigate to Settings > Apps > See all apps > VLC Player.
- Clear cache to fix performance hiccups.
- Clear data if the app’s misbehaving badly or settings got corrupted.
- Reinstall if problems keep coming back.
Fingers crossed this helps
Just something that worked on multiple setups — hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone trying to resolve similar issues. VLC’s a solid player, but Android TV can be quirky about managing its background data. Give it a shot, and good luck fixing those lagging videos!