7 Ways to Reduce Buffering and Get Smoother Streaming

Buffering is almost always caused by something between the stream and your screen — usually your Wi-Fi, your router or the streaming device. Work through these fixes in order; most problems are solved by the first three.

1. Restart the application

Fully close the application and open it again. This clears temporary data and reconnects to the service.

2. Restart your device and router

Unplug your router for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and restart your TV or streaming device once the internet is back.

3. Use a wired connection

An Ethernet cable is the single most effective fix for buffering on TVs and streaming boxes.

4. Switch to 5 GHz Wi-Fi

If a cable isn't possible, connect to your router's 5 GHz network. It's faster and less crowded than 2.4 GHz, though its range is shorter.

5. Free up bandwidth

Pause downloads, cloud backups and game updates on other devices while you watch.

6. Clear the application's cache

On Android TV and Fire TV, go to the device settings, open the application's page, and choose Clear cache. Don't choose Clear data — that removes your setup details.

7. Keep everything updated

Install the latest updates for both your device and the application.