How to Fix Freezing and Buffering Issues on Twitch

Want to know how you can fix freezing and buffering issues on Twitch?

Streaming live gameplays on Twitch is very exciting. You get to watch your favorite content creators play the best games in the world. You can also listen to talk shows and podcasts on Twitch. 

While Twitch is home to the best streamers in the world, unexpected problems on the platform could ruin your experience. 

One of the most common issues on Twitch are lags and video buffers. 

When watching content on any platform, the last thing you want is a stream that keeps stopping to buffer. 

Most of the time, freezing and buffering issues on Twitch are caused by slow network connections or faulty servers. However, it can also be due to third-party applications, improper configurations, or corrupted data. 

Today, we will show you what to do if you encounter buffering issues on Twitch. 

Let’s dive right in!

1. Check Twitch Servers. 

Playback issues on Twitch are usually caused by server-related problems. Twitch’s team might be performing system maintenance or an unexpected error occurred on the servers. To check the platform’s status, visit Twitch’s status page

Twitch Status

Sadly, the only thing you can do if the servers are down is wait for the issue to get fixed. Since server-related problems can’t be resolved on your end, any changes on your device won’t affect the platform’s status.

If there’s nothing wrong with the servers, you can proceed to the next solution below to start troubleshooting the issue. 

2. Check Your Network Connection. 

A slow network connection could cause freezing and buffering issues on Twitch. To confirm this, perform a speed test on your network using Fast.com to measure its current upload and download bandwidth. 

Speed Test

If the result shows that your connection is the problem, restart your modem or router to re-establish the link with your ISP’s servers. Unplug your router from the outlet and wait for 5 to 10 seconds before reconnecting it. 

Restart Router

Rerun the test afterward to check if the problem is solved. If not, contact your provider and ask them to fix their service. 

3. Try Changing Your Browser. 

If you’re using a computer to watch content on Twitch, the issue might be with the browser you are using. Although Twitch can be accessed on any web browser, some of them are not optimized for the platform. 

Due to this, we recommend changing your browser if you experience freezing and buffering issues on Twitch. 

Try using popular browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Opera, which are highly optimized for any website. 

4. Turn Off Your VPN. 

Virtual private networks or VPNs are third-party tools that protect your network and data from hackers and other harmful entities. They work by filtering your activity and masking your default IP address to hide sensitive data such as passwords and bank numbers. 

While VPNs are great for security purposes, they can also cause delays and interruptions to your network. 

If you experience playback issues on Twitch, turn off your VPN before streaming content. 

PureVPN

On the other hand, consider switching to PureVPN if your current service keeps giving you headaches. Unlike other services, PureVPN works well with most applications and does not interfere with your network. 

It also works well for other streaming apps like Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu. 

5. Clear Your Browsing Data. 

Clearing your browsing history might also help eliminate buffering issues on Twitch. This should clear your caches and cookies, which may have accumulated over time. 

See the steps below to clear your browsing data: 

  1. On your browser, press CTRL + H to open the History tab. 
  2. Now, click on Clear Browsing Data from the side drawer. 
  3. Include caches and cookies in the process and change the Time Range to All Time
  4. Finally, hit the Clear Data button. 
buffering issues on Twitch

Go back to Twitch afterward to check if the problem is solved. 

6. Configure Your DNS. 

Your ISP’s default DNS could be experiencing technical problems at the moment, which causes buffering issues on Twitch. If this is the case, try changing your default DNS server in the meantime. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

  1. First, press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start Menu
  2. After that, look for ‘View Network Connections’ and click Open
  3. Now, right-click on your network and choose Properties
  4. Double-click on the Internet Protocol Version 4 option. 
  5. Enable the ‘Use the Following DNS Server Addresses’ option and input the following values: 
  • Preferred DNS Server: 8.8.8.8
  • Alternate DNS Server: 8.8.4.4
buffering issues on Twitch
  1. Lastly, click OK to save the changes. 

Once done, try watching another stream to check if the problem is solved. 

7. Reinstall Twitch. 

If you still encounter playback issues on Twitch, we recommend reinstalling the app on your device. This way, we can ensure there are no corrupted or missing files on your system, which causes buffering issues. 

Here’s how you can delete Twitch on your mobile device: 

  1. On your home screen, find the Twitch app. 
  2. Next, hold down its app icon until the options menu appears. 
  3. Finally, tap on Remove App (iOS) or Uninstall (Android) to delete Twitch
buffering issues on Twitch

Go to the App Store or Play Store on your device afterward and reinstall the app. 

8. Contact Twitch Support. 

At this point, we suggest that you let the professionals handle the situation. 

Go to Twitch’s Support page and submit a report regarding the issue you’ve been experiencing. Provide all the necessary details needed on the form and include a link of the stream you’re trying to watch. 

buffering issues on Twitch

This should help Twitch’s team assess the situation faster and provide you with the best solution possible. 

That ends our guide for fixing freezing and buffering issues on Twitch. If you have questions about the methods, please voice them out in the comment section, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. 

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂 

Author

  • John Sixto

    John is a staff writer at Saint and comes from a SAP ABAP development background. He has a Bachelors in IT and has been writing since 2018, with over 500 posts published. He loves to build PCs and has a deep curiosity in understanding how different components and configurations work. John spends hundreds of hours at a time, researching and testing the software and apps, before he proceeds to write about it. LinkedIn X (Twitter)

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