How to Fix Buffering Issues on Kodi

Are you experiencing buffering issues on Kodi?

Being a known media player for streaming online, Kodi instantly converts any device into an all-in-one media center with a wide range of content and options to watch. With Kodi, you can play videos from your local storage or stream over the internet using add-ons. 

Kodi is compatible with most major operating systems, including iOS, Android, Windows, Firestick, Linux, and macOS. 

While the app supports many platforms, you have to remember that Kodi is managed by a community of developers and enthusiasts. This means that it may not be as stable as applications coming from big companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Google. 

If you’re here, you probably experience buffering issues on Kodi while streaming your favorite shows online. 

Usually, this issue is caused by a problem with your network connection, but it can also be due to corrupted application cache, broken installation files, or outdated add-ons. 

In this guide, we will show you how to fix buffering issues on Kodi. 

Let’s get right into it!

1. Restart Your Device. 

Before heading to more advanced procedures, we recommend rebooting your system first if you experience buffering issues on Kodi. This will allow your device to reload all of its resources and fix any temporary errors that may have occurred during use. 

For Windows users, here’s how you can restart your computer: 

1. First, click on the Windows icon in your Taskbar. 
2. Inside the Start Menu, access the Power Options tab. 
3. Lastly, click on Restart to reboot your system. 

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If you are using a macOS device, follow the steps below to restart it: 

1. On your Mac, click on the Apple Menu located at the top left corner of your display. 
2. Now, choose the Restart option from the drop-down menu. 
3. Finally, confirm your action by clicking the Restart button on the dialog box. 

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On Android devices, here’s what you need to do: 

1. Find the Power button on your Android device. 
2. After that, hold down the Power button until you see the options screen. 
3. Lastly, tap on Restart. 

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If you are using an iOS device, check out the guide below to restart it: 

1. First, tap on the Assistive Touch on your display to access it. 
2. Next, go to the Device tab and tap on More. 
3. Lastly, choose the Restart option to reboot your device. 

After restarting your device, fire up Kodi and observe if you would still encounter buffering issues. 

2. Check Your Network Connection. 

A slow or unstable internet connection could also be the reason why videos on Kodi keep buffering. Streaming videos online requires a decent network connection, especially for HD movies and shows. 

If you keep experiencing buffering issues on Kodi, perform a speed test on your network using Fast.com to measure its current state. 

Restart your modem or router if you’ve confirmed that the issue lies within your network to re-establish the connection with your ISP’s servers. 

Run another test afterward to confirm if the restart worked. If you continue to experience network-related issues, please contact your internet service provider and let them handle the situation. 

3. Update Your Add-Ons. 

Aside from the default features available on Kodi, you can also install add-ons on the app for additional functionalities. This works similarly to the extensions on your web browser. 

If you experience buffering issues while using add-ons on Kodi, try checking for available updates for the add-on. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. On your device, launch Kodi and access the Settings. 
2. After that, navigate to the Add-ons tab. 
3. Next, choose the add-on you want to update and click on Versions. 
4. Lastly, install the latest version of the add-on on Kodi. 

Go back to the previous page afterward and enable the Auto-Update function. This will ensure that your add-ons will stay up to do date all the time. 

Once the update is done, try streaming a movie or show online to see if the problem is solved.

4. Turn Off VPN. 

Virtual private networks or VPNs are third-party applications that keep your online data safe from hackers and other entities. They work by masking your default IP address and filtering your browsing activity to hide sensitive information. 

However, this process can introduce delays to your network, which can cause all sorts of issues online. 

If you keep experiencing buffering issues while streaming on Kodi, we recommend disabling your VPN. 

On the other hand, try switching to a much stable provider such as PureVPN if you don’t want to go online without protection. Compared to other services, PureVPN uses thousands of high-speed servers worldwide for fast and secure internet browsing. 

5. Lower Your Video Scaling Settings. 

Setting a higher video scaling configuration on Kodi will significantly enhance the quality of the movies, and TV shows you stream online. However, this will also put an additional load on your network. 

If videos on Kodi keep buffering, try lowering your video scaling settings to reduce your network’s load. 

See the steps below to change your video scaling settings on Kodi: 

1. On your device, open Kodi and go to Settings. 
2. After that, click on the Player tab and look for ‘Enable HQ Scalers for Scaling Above’. 
3. Finally, set it to a lower value or simply disable it by adjusting the value to zero.

Once done, stream another movie or TV show on Kodi to check if the problem is solved. 

6. Clear Kodi Cache. 

Like any modern application, Kodi uses caches to enhance its performance, resulting in faster loading times and a smoother interface. However, caches can accumulate over time and could cause issues when they get corrupted. 

If you suffer from buffering issues on Kodi, clear its app cache and see if the problem goes away. 

On Windows, follow the steps below to clear Kodi’s cache: 

1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to access the Run Command. 
2. After that, type ‘%temp%’ and hit Enter to open the folder. 
3. Lastly, delete all the files inside the folder.

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For Android TV and mobile devices, you can clear Kodi’s cache by doing the following: 

1. On your main screen, locate the Kodi app.
2. Next, press and hold its app icon until you see the selection menu. 
3. Tap on App Info and go to Storage & Cache. 
4. Finally, tap the Clear Cache button. 

If you are using Amazon Firestick devices, you can clear Kodi’s cache by going to Settings > App > Kodi and click the Clear Cache button. 

Once done, stream another video to check if you would experience buffering issues. 

7. Reset Your Settings. 

You may have played around with Kodi’s settings and mistakenly changed some vital settings that affected the app’s performance. If this is the case, we recommend resetting your configurations back to factory default to ensure everything’s in order. 

Here’s how you can reset Kodi’s settings: 

1. First, launch the Kodi app on your device and open the Settings. 
2. After that, go to the System tab. 
3. Lastly, choose one option, scroll down to the bottom and click the Reset Above Settings to Default option. 

Repeat this process until you’ve reset all the settings on Kodi. 

Go back to the movie or show you’re watching afterward to check if it will still buffer. 

8. Reinstall Kodi. 

If you still experience buffering issues on Kodi, some of its installation files may have gotten severely corrupted. In this case, we suggest reinstalling the app on your device to ensure that you have the latest working copy. 

For Windows uses, here’s how you can delete Kodi on your system: 

1. First, open the Control Panel on your computer. 
2. After that, click on Uninstall a Program and find the Kodi app from the list. 
3. Lastly, right-click on Kodi and select Uninstall. 

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On macOS devices, follow the steps below to remove Kodi: 

1. On your Mac, access the Finder and go to the Applications folder. 
2. Now, locate the Kodi app. 
3. Finally, drag Kodi to the Trash to remove it from your computer. 

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If you are using a mobile device or Android TV, you can uninstall Kodi by doing the following: 

1. On your main screen, locate the Kodi app. 
2. Next, press and hold its app icon to access the options menu. 
3. Finally, tap on Remove App (iOS) or Uninstall (Android) to delete Kodi. 

Reinstall Kodi on your device afterward and check if you would still experience buffering issues while streaming a movie or TV show. 

This ends our guide for fixing buffering issues on Kodi. If you have questions or other concerns, please let us know in the comment section, and we’ll do our best to help you out.
 

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