Troubleshooting

How to Clear App Cache Correctly, and Why Data Is Different

Clear cache and clear data are not the same operation. One is reversible and the other takes your playlist with it.

This guide covers an app you install yourself — download the latest ak47sports apk (v1.6, Android 5.0+, free, no registration) AK47 Sports APK download page or go straight to the Android install guide.

Two buttons, two very different results

Read the middle two columns together: what is removed matters no more than what survives.
OperationRemovesKeepsUse when
Clear cacheTemporary and decoded filesSettings, playlists, favouritesA stream stutters or the app misbehaves mildly
Clear dataEverything the app storedNothingThe app is unusable and you accept starting over
Reinstall over the topNothingSettings, playlists, favouritesA launch failure from a partial install

Why clearing data is more destructive than it looks

Clearing data returns the app to its first-run state. The playlist, the favourites and any account setup are gone, and on a sideloaded app you have to load the source again. Because the button sits beside clearing cache, it is easy to reach by accident and hard to reverse.

How to clear cache correctly

  1. 1.Open settings, then apps, then the app

    The storage section holds both operations, so read the labels before touching either.

  2. 2.Choose clear cache, not clear data

    The two labels are adjacent, and only one of them preserves your settings and playlist.

  3. 3.Reload only if the stream still fails

    An app that works after a cache clear needs nothing further, so stop there.

  4. 4.Treat clearing data as a last resort

    Do it only when a clean start is worth losing the playlist you will otherwise have to reload.

The difference in one line

Frequently asked questions

What does clearing cache delete?
Temporary files such as decoded video, images and thumbnail data. Your settings, playlists and favourites are kept.
Does clearing cache delete my playlist?
No. Only clearing data removes the playlist, the favourites and your account setup.
Which should I use for buffering?
Clearing cache. It is a reasonable last step for playback problems and it costs you nothing but a rebuild.
Why did clearing data remove my channels?
Because it returned the app to its first-run state and deleted the playlist along with the settings.

Worth knowing: Clearing cache removes temporary playback files; clearing data deletes your login and settings. They are separate operations with very different consequences.