There is nothing special you can do to fix the Netflix buffering problem for life because it is not in the user’s hands. Netflix is the most popular streaming platform in the entire world, with up to 280 million paid subscribers. There are millions of people who use this app simultaneously, but sometimes the app fails to load videos during peak duration.
Netflix is a billion-dollar company, and they obviously have 99% uptime, which means the app is working most of the time flawlessly, but in some cases the app server does not work or is facing technical glitches; it is stuck, and users see the loading screen, so if you’re facing a buffering problem with Netflix, then don’t worry; there are ways to get rid of it.
How to Fix Netflix Buffering Issue?
Following are some of the best and easiest ways to fix all the common problems within the Netflix app and, most importantly, to fix the buffering or slow-loading issues.
Check if any problem with your Internet
A slow internet connection is the main culprit of the buffering problem in most cases. An essential step is to check whether you have a fast internet connection, and sometimes your internet provider may have some problems so checking internet speed is vital to get into the streaming landscape smoothly. Make sure your internet has enough speed to be able to stream high-quality video content. Netflix needs 5 Mbps internet for streaming high definition without buffering, 24 Mbps for ultra or 4K, and 3 Mbps for average definition. These are vital to watching the content seamlessly.
Reduce Streaming Quality
If you have a slow internet connection, you can adjust streaming quality on Netflix. The service automatically selects optimal quality, but you can lower it to use less bandwidth and decrease the requirement of high internet speed, and eventually, it will help you to minimize buffering. On mobile, you can conserve data by setting playback to low or medium quality and enabling the auto option. The Auto option automatically changes the video quality considering your internet speed and the app’s bandwidth consumption or availability.
Always Use Updated Netflix App
Netflix regularly changes and improves its protocol for content streaming, so if you want to enjoy the best user experience within this app, make sure you have the updated version of Netflix installed on your device. The outdated version of Netflix may not properly align with modern devices, and it surely does not have the best optimization. The latest version of Netflix manages the internet speed fluctuation better than the official app. To avoid any error or buffering-related problem, always use the updated version of this app.
Disable VPN or Proxy
Most people use free VPN apps from the Google Play Store and App Store which are usually very slow and provide poor connections, which can lead to buffering problems because it slows down the internet speed. However, a lot of people use VPN because it unlocks global and restricted content, so if you want to enjoy the smoothest user experience with VPN then either use the fastest free VPN app or you can go with the premium or paid VPN providers such as Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN.
Reinstall app
If you are an iPhone user, you can never delete data anyway. In that scenario, you can reinstall the app and fix the issue. You must uninstall the app on the device and wait for a few minutes to reinstall it. When pressing app, it reveals the uninstall option. You can tap on it and uninstall it. Download the latest version of the app from the official app store and then launch it to make it work again flawlessly.
Start again device
If apps run in the long run, the device may work rudely. RAM floods with unwanted details and influences device performance. Restarting the device is a good choice to eliminate this issue. It keeps away all background apps and provides a fresh start. Restart the device by pressing the power button, which lets you choose power off or restart. Whether choosing to shut down or restart on the device, you can move to the start menu.
Clear App Cache
It is a possibility that Netflix may have stored some corrupted cache files on your device that are negatively impacting the performance of this app so it is very important to clear unwanted cache, so follow these easy steps to clear the app cache.
- Go to the device’s Settings > Apps > App Management.
- Scroll down to find the Netflix app from the list of all apps.
- Click on Netflix and tap on the Storage & Cache option.
- Tap on the Clear app cache. to erase all the cache files that are saved on your device.
- Note: Clearing cache files for Netflix may also cause problems for your offline downloaded videos.
- Now, you can launch the Netflix app, and it will definitely work better and more smoothly.
FAQs
Why do I see a black screen when streaming on Netflix?
This issue is very rare, and it may be occurring because of the corrupted cache files, major app glitches, or internet connectivity issues.
Netflix keep freezing while playing, how can i fix it?
The best way to fix the freezing issue is to simply restart the device, and if it still isn’t fixed, then clear the app cache.
Why it shows ‘Unable to play the video’?
If it shows unable to play the video, it means that video is not available in your region or your internet connection may be fluctuating too much at the moment.
Can outdated firmware on my TV cause issues while streaming videos on Netflix?
Yes, it can cause some problems; having updated firmware is very important. Outdated firmware may cause common streaming issues such as slow loading and lags while playing 4K videos.
Conclusion
I hope you have successfully fixed the buffering problem that you’re facing within the Netflix app. This is a top-notch streaming platform, and it is very rare that you may face any buffering-related problem in this app, but if you do, then you can try these techniques given above to easily fix this issue with ease. Let us know in the comments if you have any other problems in this app.