Streaming Keeps Buffering? Here's How to Fix It

Stop the spinning wheel. Watch your shows in peace.

5 min read • By ByteDoc

You sit down to watch a movie. Press play. It starts... then stops. Buffering. Starts again. Stops. The loading wheel mocks you.

Buffering is the worst. Let's fix it.

Quick Diagnosis

First, figure out if it's YOUR internet or the streaming service:

1. Try a different streaming app (if Netflix buffers, try YouTube)
2. Try on a different device
3. Run a speed test at speedtest.net

If everything buffers: It's your internet. Keep reading.

If only one app buffers: It might be that service having issues. Check their status page or try again later.

What Speed Do You Actually Need?

Here's the minimum internet speed for smooth streaming:

• SD quality (480p): 3 Mbps
• HD quality (1080p): 5-10 Mbps
• 4K Ultra HD: 25+ Mbps
• Multiple streams at once: Add them up

If your speed test shows less than what you need, that's your problem.

Fix #1: Get Closer to Your Router (or Use Ethernet)

WiFi is the #1 cause of buffering. Walls, distance, and interference all kill your signal.

Best solution: Plug your streaming device directly into your router with an ethernet cable. Wired connections don't buffer.

Can't run a cable? Move your router closer to your TV, or get a WiFi extender for that room.

Fix #2: Kick Other Devices Off

Someone else in your house might be hogging bandwidth:

• Another person streaming in 4K
• Large downloads or updates
• Video calls
• Online gaming
• Cloud backups running

Fix: Pause downloads, ask others to lower their streaming quality, or wait until they're done.

Better fix: Set up QoS (Quality of Service) on your router to prioritize your streaming device.

Fix #3: Lower the Streaming Quality

I know, I know — you want 4K. But if your internet can't handle it, you'll buffer forever.

Most streaming apps let you change quality:

• Netflix: Settings → Playback Settings → Data Usage
• YouTube: Click the gear icon → Quality
• Disney+: Profile → App Settings → Data Usage

Try dropping to 1080p or 720p. Smooth playback beats pretty pixels that keep freezing.

Fix #4: Restart Everything

The classic fix. Do it in this order:

1. Close the streaming app completely
2. Restart your streaming device (TV, Roku, Fire Stick, etc.)
3. Restart your router (unplug for 60 seconds)
4. Wait 2-3 minutes for everything to reconnect
5. Try streaming again

This clears out memory issues and reconnects everything fresh.

Fix #5: Check for App Updates

Outdated apps can have bugs that cause buffering.

• Check for updates to your streaming apps
• Update your device's firmware (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TV)
• Update your router's firmware too

Fix #6: Switch to 5GHz WiFi

If you're on 2.4GHz WiFi and your device supports 5GHz, switch.

• 2.4GHz: Better range, but slower and more crowded
• 5GHz: Faster, better for streaming, but shorter range

If your TV is close to the router, 5GHz will give you better streaming performance.

Fix #7: Change Your DNS

Your DNS (Domain Name System) affects how fast your device connects to streaming servers.

Try switching to faster DNS servers:

• Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
• Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1

You can change this on your router (affects all devices) or on individual devices.

Fix #8: Check for ISP Throttling

Some internet providers throttle (slow down) streaming traffic, especially during peak hours.

Signs of throttling:

• Speed tests show good speeds, but streaming still buffers
• Streaming works fine at 2 AM but not at 8 PM
• Only certain services are slow

Potential fix: A VPN can sometimes bypass throttling by hiding what kind of traffic you're using. Not always, but worth trying.

When It's Not You

Sometimes the streaming service itself is having problems:

• Check downdetector.com to see if others are reporting issues
• Check the service's official Twitter/X for outage announcements
• Try a different show — sometimes specific content has encoding issues

If the service is down, there's nothing you can do but wait.

The Nuclear Option: Upgrade

If nothing works and you've got multiple people streaming 4K:

• Upgrade your internet plan — you might just need more bandwidth
• Upgrade your router — old routers can't handle modern streaming demands
• Get a mesh WiFi system — eliminates dead zones and weak signals

Quick Checklist

• ⬜ Run a speed test — do you have enough bandwidth?
• ⬜ Use ethernet if possible
• ⬜ Restart your device and router
• ⬜ Lower streaming quality temporarily
• ⬜ Check what else is using your network
• ⬜ Update apps and firmware
• ⬜ Switch to 5GHz WiFi

Most buffering issues come down to: not enough speed, weak WiFi, or network congestion. Fix those three things and you'll be binge-watching in peace.

Happy streaming. 🩺