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How to Fix “Critically Low Storage” Error on Amazon Fire TV?

Is your Amazon Fire TV constantly nagging you with that dreaded “Critically low storage” error? Don’t fret; you’re not alone! This is a common problem, but thankfully, one that’s often easily resolved. The core solution involves a multi-pronged approach: uninstalling unused apps, clearing app cache and data, moving apps to external storage (if supported), disabling background processes, and, as a last resort, performing a factory reset. Let’s break down each of these methods so you can reclaim your Fire TV and get back to streaming.

Understanding the Storage Bottleneck

Before we dive into the fixes, it’s crucial to understand why this happens in the first place. Fire TV devices, especially older models, tend to have limited internal storage. This space gets quickly consumed by downloaded apps, cached data, and other system files. Over time, the accumulation of this digital debris leads to the dreaded “Critically low storage” error, impacting performance and preventing you from installing new apps or updates. The most common culprits are large video streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and games, as well as the cached data they accumulate while playing videos.

Immediate Steps to Reclaim Storage

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to tackle the “Critically low storage” error on your Amazon Fire TV, ranked roughly in order of simplicity and effectiveness:

1. Uninstall Unused Apps

This is the low-hanging fruit of storage reclamation. Take a critical look at your installed apps. Are there any you haven’t used in weeks, months, or even years? If so, they’re just squatting on valuable storage space.

How to uninstall apps:

Go to Settings on your Fire TV.
Select Applications.
Choose Manage Installed Applications.
Select the app you want to uninstall.
Click Uninstall and confirm your decision.

Be ruthless! Every megabyte counts. Pay special attention to large game files that you may no longer play.

2. Clear App Cache and Data

Even actively used apps accumulate cached data over time. This cached data is intended to improve app performance, but it can quickly balloon and eat up storage space. Clearing the cache and data can free up a surprising amount of space. Note that clearing data might reset the app’s settings and require you to log in again.

How to clear app cache and data:

Go to Settings on your Fire TV.
Select Applications.
Choose Manage Installed Applications.
Select the app you want to clear.
Click Clear cache.
If clearing the cache doesn’t free up enough space, you can also try Clear data. Be aware this will reset the app to its default settings.

Prioritize clearing the cache for apps you use frequently, especially video streaming services.

3. Move Apps to External Storage (if supported)

Some Fire TV devices support external storage via a USB drive. If your device supports this, you can move apps to the external drive to free up internal storage.

How to move apps to external storage:

Insert a compatible USB drive into your Fire TV.
Go to Settings on your Fire TV.
Select Applications.
Choose Manage Installed Applications.
Select the app you want to move.
If the app can be moved, you’ll see an option to Move to USB Storage. Select this option.

Important considerations for external storage:

Compatibility: Not all USB drives are compatible. Use a USB 2.0 or 3.0 drive with at least 8GB of storage.
Speed: A faster USB drive (USB 3.0) will improve app performance.
Formatting: The USB drive may need to be formatted to a compatible file system (e.g., FAT32) by the Fire TV.
Permanent connection: Once an app is moved to external storage, the USB drive must remain connected to your Fire TV.

4. Disable Appstore Automatic Updates

Automatic updates are convenient, but they also consume storage space as new versions of apps are downloaded and installed. Disabling automatic updates can give you more control over which apps are updated and when.

How to disable automatic app updates:

Go to Settings on your Fire TV.
Select Applications.
Choose Appstore.
Turn Automatic Updates to Off.

Remember to manually update important apps periodically to ensure you have the latest features and security updates.

5. Disable Data Monitoring

Data monitoring may seem like a good idea to reduce data consumption, but it can also consume your device’s limited storage. Disabling data monitoring can free up extra storage space.

How to disable data monitoring:

Go to Settings on your Fire TV.
Select Preferences.
Choose Data Monitoring.
Turn Data Monitoring to Off.

6. Manually Clear App Update Data

Sometimes apps fail to update properly, leaving behind partially downloaded files that consume storage space. Clearing this data can free up space.

How to manually clear app update data:

Go to Settings on your Fire TV.
Select Applications.
Choose Appstore.
Select Clear Data.

This will clear the Appstore’s data, including any partially downloaded app updates. You will likely have to re-enter your Amazon account credentials the next time you access the Appstore.

7. Limit Background Processes

Some apps run background processes even when you’re not actively using them. These processes can consume system resources and storage space. While directly controlling background processes is limited on Fire TV, you can close apps you’re not using.

How to close background apps:

Press and hold the Home button on your Fire TV remote.
A list of recently used apps will appear.
Select the app you want to close and press the Menu button (three horizontal lines).
Select Force stop.

This will close the app and prevent it from running in the background. However, most apps will reload the next time you use them.

8. Factory Reset (Last Resort)

If none of the above methods work, a factory reset is your final option. This will erase all data on your Fire TV and restore it to its original factory settings. Back up any important data before performing a factory reset.

How to perform a factory reset:

Go to Settings on your Fire TV.
Select My Fire TV.
Choose Reset to Factory Defaults.
Confirm your decision.

After the reset, you’ll need to set up your Fire TV again from scratch.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the “Critically low storage” error on Amazon Fire TV:

1. How much storage does my Fire TV have?

The amount of storage varies depending on your Fire TV model. Check the device’s specifications on Amazon or in your Fire TV’s settings menu (Settings > My Fire TV > About > Storage).

2. Can I add more storage to my Fire TV?

Yes, if your Fire TV supports external storage via USB. Check your device’s specifications to confirm compatibility.

3. What is the best USB drive for my Fire TV?

A USB 2.0 or 3.0 drive with at least 8GB of storage is recommended. A faster USB 3.0 drive will generally provide better performance. Ensure the drive is compatible with FAT32 or exFAT file systems, which Fire TV devices typically support.

4. Why can’t I move some apps to external storage?

Not all apps can be moved to external storage. App developers must enable this option. System apps, in particular, are generally unable to be moved.

5. Does clearing the cache delete my login information?

Clearing the cache usually does not delete your login information. However, clearing the data will reset the app to its default settings, including deleting your login information and any saved preferences.

6. Is it safe to clear the data for all apps?

It is generally safe, but be aware that it will reset the app to its default settings. You will need to log in again and reconfigure any custom settings.

7. Will a factory reset delete my Amazon account?

No, a factory reset will not delete your Amazon account. It will only erase the data on your Fire TV device. You will need to log in to your Amazon account again after the reset.

8. How often should I clear the cache on my Fire TV?

It depends on your usage. If you frequently use streaming apps, consider clearing the cache weekly or bi-weekly. If you don’t use your Fire TV often, clearing the cache monthly may be sufficient.

9. Why is my Fire TV running slow even after clearing storage?

Other factors can affect performance, such as network speed, background processes, and the overall age of the device. Restarting your Fire TV can sometimes improve performance.

10. Can I use a microSD card instead of a USB drive for external storage?

Some older Fire TV devices had microSD card slots. However, newer models primarily support USB drives for external storage. Check your device’s specifications for compatibility.

11. How do I prevent the “Critically low storage” error from recurring?

Regularly uninstall unused apps, clear app cache, and consider moving apps to external storage. Also, be mindful of the storage space consumed by new apps before installing them.

12. What does “Internal shared storage is getting full” mean?

This error indicates that the portion of your Fire TV’s internal storage that’s allocated for user data (apps, cache, downloads) is nearing its capacity. Following the steps above, such as uninstalling unused apps and clearing cache, will help resolve this issue.