- Android TV & Google TV
Force Stop vs Clear Cache on Google TV: What Each One Does
What force stop, clear cache and clear data do on Google TV, what Google's own pages say and do not say, and the order to try them.
Quick answer
Try them in this order: force stop (closes the app), then clear cache (removes temporary files), and clear data last (resets the app). Google's Google TV help pages use force stop to "close background apps" but do not say what it does to saved data, so treat that part as unconfirmed until it has been checked on a real TV.
Applies to
- Devices
- Google TV, including Chromecast with Google TV, Google TV Streamer and TVs that run Google TV; Not Fire OS or Vega OS. Older Android TV menus can differ
- Apps
- Any app
- How this was verified
- Partly checked against official documentation (see Sources) on October 29, 2026. Steps marked “Not documented by the maker” are not confirmed. Not tested on a real device by us. Menu names can differ by model and software version.
What each action does#
| Action | What it does | Does it sign you out? | What Google's pages say | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Force stop | Ends the app's running processes. Google's Google TV pages list it under "Close background apps" | Not stated by Google for Google TV. One third-party guide (iTechguides) says no, without citing Google | Google TV Help: Fix app crashes and Fix a slow or laggy Google TV device | Effect on saved data unconfirmed |
| Clear cache | Removes temporary files | Google says you stay signed in to your apps | Google's Chromecast and Google TV Streamer page says clearing the app cache removes only temporary data | Documented for those devices |
| Clear data (shown as Clear storage on some Android devices) | Permanently deletes all of the app's data | Expect to sign in again | Google's Android Help (phones and tablets) | Documented for Android generally. We did not find a Google TV page for it |
| Uninstall | Removes the app | The app is removed, so you will need to install it and sign in again | Google Streaming Help: Settings > Apps > See all apps > the app > Uninstall | Documented |
| Restart the TV | Restarts the device | Not stated by Google. A restart is not a reset | Google TV Help: Settings > System > Restart > Restart | Documented |
Where to find them on Google TV#
Force stop (Google TV Help):
- From the home screen, go to Settings > Apps.
- Select the app.
- Select Force stop, then OK.
Google's slow-device page also lists your recently opened apps under Settings > Apps, where you can force stop each one. It says its Quick Start steps "can vary by device".
Clear cache for every app at once (Google's page for Chromecast with Google TV and Google TV Streamer):
- Open your profile picture, then Settings > System > Storage > Internal shared storage.
- Choose Cached data, then select OK.
The order to try them#
This is our own editorial order: the step that removes the least goes first.
- Update the app (Play Store > profile picture > Manage apps & games > Updates > Update all), as Google's crash page suggests.
- Force stop the app and open it again.
- Restart the TV.
- Clear the app's cache.
- Clear the app's data (after the warning above).
- Uninstall and reinstall.
- Contact the app developer, as Google's page says, with the summary from the checklist below.
Which action first?
- Is only one app misbehaving?
- Yes → Update it, then force stop, then clear cache. If it still fails, clear data, then reinstall.
- It froze or will not close properly → Force stop first. It closes the app without touching saved data, according to third-party guides, which we have not confirmed.
- Is the whole TV slow?
- Yes → Follow Google's slow-device page: restart, close recently opened apps, update apps, update the system, and check the Quick Start setting (it can vary by device).
Editorial guidance from Tellyro Blog, not a diagnosis certified by the device or app maker.
What we have not confirmed#
- That force stop keeps your sign-in and saved data. Google's Google TV pages do not say. One third-party guide says it does, but it does not link a Google source for that.
- Whether clearing the cache of a single app on every Google TV keeps you signed in. Google says so for all apps on Chromecast with Google TV and Google TV Streamer.
- The exact menu labels on TVs from other makers.
What have you already tried?
Tick what you have already done. It helps you see what is left, and you can copy a summary to send to support.
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Editorial guidance from Tellyro Blog, not a diagnosis certified by the device or app maker.
Sources
- Fix app crashes on Google TV — Google TV Help, read October 29, 2026
- Fix a slow or laggy Google TV device — Google TV Help, read October 29, 2026
- Free up storage on Chromecast with Google TV or Google TV Streamer — Google Streaming Help, read October 29, 2026
- Clear up space (Android Help, for Android phones and tablets) — Google Android Help, read October 29, 2026
How this guide was made
An AI writing tool helped draft this guide from the official pages listed above. Partly checked against official documentation (see Sources) on October 29, 2026. Steps marked “Not documented by the maker” are not confirmed. Not tested on a real device by us.
