How To Clear Your Cache (Console)

New to NASCAR 25 and seeing crashes or lag? Learn How To Clear Your Cache (Console) on PS5, PS4, and Xbox in minutes—safe steps that don’t delete saves.

If NASCAR 25 is stuttering, crashing on boot, or textures aren’t loading, your console’s cache may be the culprit. Clearing it is quick, safe, and often restores smooth performance. This guide shows you exactly how to clear cache on PS5, PS4, and Xbox—without risking your saved data.

Quick answer

On consoles, “clearing cache” is usually a full power cycle and (on PlayStation) a Safe Mode cache clear, or (on Xbox) clearing persistent storage. It doesn’t delete your saves or career progress. Do a full shutdown, then follow the platform steps below. Expect faster loads, fewer hitching moments, and more stable online races.

Do this now (60 seconds)

• Close NASCAR 25 fully (Quit/Close Game, don’t just suspend).
• Power down the console completely (not Rest Mode), wait 30–60 seconds, then restart.
• Relaunch NASCAR 25 and test a quick practice or race. If issues persist, follow the platform steps below.

What this means in NASCAR 25

Your console stores temporary data (cache) to speed up loading and streaming. Over time, after patches or long play sessions, that cache can get messy and cause hitching, long loads, black screens, or crashes. Clearing it resets those temp files so the game streams track surfaces, car models, audio, and UI smoothly.

Why it matters:

• Speed: Shorter loads into menus, garages, and races.
• Consistency: Less mid-corner stutter that can make the car feel tight or loose unexpectedly.
• Stability: Fewer crashes at boot or when entering online lobbies.
• Enjoyment: Cleaner visuals, steady frame pacing, and predictable handling.

Terms in plain English:

• Stutter/hitching: Micro-pauses in the frame rate, often mid-corner or on restarts.
• Pop-in: Late-loading textures/decals on cars or track walls.
• Frame pacing: How evenly frames are delivered; poor pacing feels “laggy” even at decent FPS.

Symptoms → likely causes → fixes (beginner-focused)

• Symptom: Game hangs on the title screen after an update

  • Likely cause: Corrupted or outdated cache
  • Fix: Full shutdown and cache clear (PS Safe Mode clear or Xbox persistent storage clear)

• Symptom: Stutter every few laps or on cautions/restarts

  • Likely cause: Memory cache fragmentation after long sessions
  • Fix: Close the game, power cycle the console, relaunch

• Symptom: Car paints/track textures load late or look blurry

  • Likely cause: Streaming cache issues or low free storage
  • Fix: Clear cache, then free up console storage (aim for 10–20% free)

• Symptom: Can’t join online lobbies or frequent disconnects

  • Likely cause: Network cache conflict
  • Fix: Xbox: clear Alternate MAC address; PlayStation: reboot console and router

• Symptom: Random crashes returning to the garage or menus

  • Likely cause: Indexing issues on PlayStation or corrupted temp files
  • Fix: PS5/PS4 Rebuild Database (Safe Mode); Xbox power cycle and persistent storage clear

Step-by-step: How To Clear Your Cache (Console)

Important: Don’t delete saved data. These steps target temporary/system cache only.

PlayStation 5 (PS5)

1. Fully shut down
   • Press the PS button > Power > Turn Off PS5 (not Rest Mode). Wait until all lights are off.
2. Clear cache in Safe Mode
   • Hold the console power button until a second beep (about 7 seconds).
   • Connect the controller via USB.
   • Choose “Clear Cache and Rebuild Database,” then select “Clear System Software Cache.”
   • Let the PS5 restart normally.
3. Optional: Rebuild Database
   • In the same Safe Mode menu, select “Rebuild Database” if stutter persists. What you should see/feel: Faster menu loads and fewer hitches on first laps. Common gotcha: Don’t select options that reset/initialize the console.

PlayStation 4 (PS4)

1. Power cycle
   • Turn off the PS4 completely. Unplug the power cord for 30–60 seconds, then plug back in and power on.
2. Optional: Rebuild Database (Safe Mode)
   • Hold power until the second beep, connect controller via USB, pick “Rebuild Database.” What you should see/feel: Smoother transitions in menus and reduced mid-race stutter. Common gotcha: Avoid “Initialize PS4,” which wipes the system.

Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One

1. Power cycle
   • With the console on, hold the front power button for ~10 seconds until it shuts down. Unplug for 30–60 seconds, then power back on.
2. Clear persistent storage (disc/Blu‑ray cache)
   • Go to Settings > (look for) Devices & connections or Disc & Blu‑ray.
   • Find “Persistent storage” and select “Clear.”
3. Optional: Clear Alternate MAC address (network cache)
   • Go to Settings > General > Network settings > Advanced settings > Alternate MAC address > Clear (console restarts). What you should see/feel: Fewer boot crashes, cleaner texture loads, and more stable online sessions. Common gotcha: “Persistent storage” may appear under Blu‑ray/Disc menus; if you don’t see it, rely on the power cycle.

After any method

• Launch NASCAR 25 fresh (no suspended state).
• Run a quick practice or race to verify stability.

Beginner settings & assists (recommended)

This topic isn’t about driving assists, but after a cache clear, double-check performance and control options:

• Beginner: If NASCAR 25 includes a Performance/Frame Rate mode, use it for smoother driving. Keep assists like auto transmission and stability control on to focus on testing stability.
• Intermediate: Performance mode on; reduce stability/traction aids slightly so you can feel if any stutter remains during throttle transitions.
• Advanced: Performance mode or your preferred visuals; minimal assists to expose any remaining frame pacing issues quickly.

Practice drill (10 minutes)

• Where: If NASCAR 25 includes Quick Race or Practice, load a 1.5‑mile oval (any “speedway” length). Solo/practice is fine.
• Focus: Watch for hitching entering turns, off-throttle coast, and on-throttle exit. Note load times from menu to track.
• Success looks like: Smooth corner entry/exit with consistent lap times within 0.3s and no audio hiccups.
• Avoid: Judging performance in a chaotic first‑lap pack only—verify solo first, then test in traffic.

Common beginner mistakes (and the fix)

• Quitting to dashboard only (not a full shutdown)

  • Why: Suspended state keeps old cache in memory.
  • Fix: Fully power down before clearing cache steps.

• Selecting the wrong Safe Mode option on PS5/PS4

  • Why: Rushing menus.
  • Fix: Choose “Clear Cache and Rebuild Database” (PS5) or “Rebuild Database” (PS4), not initialize/reset.

• Deleting saved data to “fix” performance

  • Why: Confusing saves with cache.
  • Fix: Never delete saves unless you’re backing up; cache clears don’t need this.

• Skipping storage housekeeping

  • Why: Nearly full drives cause streaming issues.
  • Fix: Keep 10–20% free space on the internal drive.

• Testing only in online lobbies

  • Why: Network lag can mimic stutter.
  • Fix: Verify offline practice first, then test online.

• Ignoring system/game updates

  • Why: Outdated software reintroduces issues.
  • Fix: Update the console system software and NASCAR 25 before testing.

• Pulling power during updates

  • Why: Trying to “force” a fix.
  • Fix: Never cut power while updating—wait, then perform the cache steps.

FAQs

• Does clearing console cache delete my NASCAR 25 saves or setups?

  • No. Cache clears only remove temporary files. Saves and setups remain unless you manually delete saved data.

• How often should I clear my cache on console?

  • Only when needed: after crashes on boot, major patches, or repeated stutter after long sessions. It’s a safe maintenance step, not daily routine.

• Is rebuilding the database on PlayStation the same as clearing cache?

  • They’re related but different. Clearing cache wipes temp system data; rebuilding the database re-indexes content. Doing both can help stubborn stutter or long loads.

• Do I need to reinstall NASCAR 25 to fix stutter?

  • Usually not. Try cache clear, ensure you have free storage, and reboot. Reinstall only if problems persist after these steps.

• I don’t see “Persistent storage” on my Xbox. What now?

  • Use the full power cycle method. If you find “Disc & Blu‑ray” or “Blu‑ray,” look for “Persistent storage” there and select “Clear.”

• Will clearing Alternate MAC address on Xbox affect my profile or saves?

  • No. It just resets network cache and restarts the console.

Next steps

Cache cleared? Run a short practice to confirm smoother performance and faster loads. If issues remain, update the console and game, free up storage, and consider a database rebuild (PS) or an additional power cycle (Xbox).

Related articles:

• Fix Crashes and Freezes After a NASCAR 25 Update
• Improve FPS and Frame Pacing on Console (NASCAR 25)
• Online Lobby Troubleshooting (NAT, Packet Loss, and Lag)
• Back Up and Restore Your NASCAR 25 Saves
• Clean Reinstall Guide for NASCAR 25 (Console)