“Cache full” can mean two different things: a playback app may be unable to load video fast enough, or a production encoder may be struggling to send its outgoing stream. First identify which app or device shows the warning; then troubleshoot the matching side of the stream. The fixes are not interchangeable.
What “cache full” means depends on where you see it
In a playback app such as Kodi
A playback cache holds video data that the app has received but has not played yet. Kodi’s archived FAQ, last edited September 16, 2022, describes “Cache full messages and constant buffering” as a sign that video is arriving too slowly for smooth playback. It says the connection to the remote server is a common limiting factor. A full playback cache is therefore not automatically evidence that your device needs more memory or that your home internet is the only problem. Kodi’s archived FAQ says the cache is loaded in RAM and clears when you stop the video.
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On an ATEM Mini Pro or Extreme
These Blackmagic Design switchers use a cache as an outbound safety buffer for video frames. If the connection cannot deliver data as quickly as the configured stream requires, the buffer grows. Blackmagic’s June 2024 manual warns that once the cache reaches 100%, the video stream can be compromised. This is an encoder-to-platform delivery problem, rather than a playback app running out of its buffer. Blackmagic Design’s ATEM manual describes the status indicators and setup guidance.
Start by locating the warning
- Note the exact app or device. Is the message inside Kodi or another player, or on an encoder’s display or multiview?
- Establish the direction of the stream. Are you watching video that is buffering, or sending a live program from an encoder to YouTube or another service?
- Record when it happens. Note the video or stream quality, whether the problem affects one item or every item, and whether it clears or returns. This helps separate a source-specific issue from a recurring delivery-capacity issue.
Fix a playback app’s full cache
Check whether one video or source is affected
If only one item buffers, investigate that item’s source and server path. A faster local connection cannot make a remote server deliver the video faster. If multiple sources are affected, check your connection and the app’s behavior as well; the warning alone does not identify which part is slow.
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Restart or clear app data only when appropriate
For an app-level playback problem, restarting the app or clearing its application cache may help in some less severe cases. BoxCast, a streaming provider, describes those as possible maintenance steps in its July 2026 explainer. They do not prove that clearing an app cache will fix a slow remote source or an encoder’s outbound buffer. BoxCast’s explanation of cache-full messages also notes that persistent overload may indicate a workload-capacity issue.
Be cautious with Kodi cache settings
Kodi’s archived FAQ points advanced users to advancedsettings.xml for adjustable cache settings. Because that FAQ was last edited in 2022, do not copy a setting from an older guide without checking current guidance for your Kodi version. Increasing a cache setting does not make a remote server or network route deliver data faster.
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Fix an ATEM Mini Pro or Extreme cache that keeps rising
- Inspect the encoder’s status. In the ATEM multiview, check the streaming status, including broadcast data rate and cache percentage. Confirm the connection during setup rather than waiting for a live program to fail.
- Compare the configured quality with delivery performance. Blackmagic’s June 2024 manual gives approximately 5–7 Mb/s for 1080p60 on ATEM Mini Pro and Extreme to broadcast without losing frames. That figure is specific to those models and is not a general internet-speed target. Actual performance can vary with the upstream connection and route.
- Lower stream quality if the cache repeatedly nears 100%. Blackmagic’s guidance is to select lower quality in the live-stream settings when the cache frequently approaches full. This reduces the outgoing stream’s demand; choose a setting your connection can sustain.
- Test the network path and connection type. If the ATEM is using Wi-Fi, test with wired Ethernet if your setup supports it. Ethernet can reduce wireless variability, but it cannot guarantee enough upstream capacity or fix congestion beyond your local network.
- Check the platform and endpoint configuration. If the warning persists after lowering quality and testing the connection, verify the selected streaming service and its configuration, then test again. Change one factor at a time so you can tell what affected the cache.
A Cat6 Ethernet cable may be a useful optional accessory when connecting compatible production equipment by wire. It is not a universal fix: first check the encoder’s cache and broadcast data rate, and remember that a cable cannot repair a slow server or congested upstream route. Blackmagic’s ATEM Mini Pro specifications document Ethernet streaming support for that model.
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- Playback warning on one source: focus on that video’s remote source or server, rather than assuming all local network traffic is at fault.
- Playback warning across sources: compare app behavior and connection conditions, and use app restart or cache clearing only as app-level maintenance.
- ATEM cache rising toward 100%: compare configured quality with actual delivery, lower quality, and test the network connection and platform setup.
- Issue changes after a network adjustment: repeat the test under comparable conditions before treating the change as a reliable fix. User forum reports mention varied outcomes, including modem and protocol changes, but these are anecdotes, not an established manufacturer remedy. Do not make a protocol swap the default fix.
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