Clear your Streaming TV's Cache

Streaming issue like buffering and freezing

We have all been there, your watching a good moving or in the last episode of your 10th and final season of the series you wasted the last month of your life binge watching and it just stops, or the voices are out of sync with the picture, or the picture freezes and the voices continue. What's wrong?

cache memory

Did you know your Smart TV or Roku or other streaming device has memory inside just like your computer?

Just like your computer, this memory is used while your app like Netflix or YouTubeTV are using it to play your video, and when they are done, your show ends, they are supposed to give that memory back so the next app/show you open can use it.

However, sometimes this doesn't always work right, and some of the memory gets hung up in the cache and is unusable, essentially making it feel like you have a cheaper device with less memory than the one you bought that worked so well yesterday.

The solution is the clear the cache. One easy solution that works for almost all devices is to unplug your TV or streaming device from power for at least 30 seconds so that all the power drains from capacitors which can keep the cache memory inside alive. Once that power is drained, the memory without power to keep it alive will clear itself.

Below your find links to some articles that go into more depth about Streaming TV cache, and some links to some of the common Streaming TV devices you own and how to specifically clear these cache so your watching experience is the best it can be!

281 Internet connection

  • Do I have enough speed?

    • HD vs 4K - You'll need a 281Fiber Business Class connection to reliably stream in 4K as it requires a minumum average bandwidth of 15 Mbps, and this really isn't enough, it needs upwards of 25 Mbps

    • AND - you have to consider how your device is connected, WiFi might not be good enough even if you have sufficient Internet speed. Consider running Ethernet to your streaming device---upgrade your streaming device to one that includes an Ethernet port!

    • 281HOME is just fast enough to stream in HD, but is not recommended aside from the occasional movie watching. If you stream more than a few hours a day, you'll need a higher plan.

  • Is my Internet connection working correctly?

    • Try a reboot!

    • Don't forget to reboot devices -- cut power!

      • Don't just put to sleep.

    • Text 830.798.9041 to find out if your 281 Internet connection is operating normally, and to check your WiFi if you have 281 Cloud Mesh WiFi.