Netflix Keeps Buffering? Here’s The Fix!

Are you trying to figure out why Netflix keeps buffering? 

One of the best things about Netflix is that its servers are well optimized for video streaming, that you don’t need to have a high-speed internet connection to watch your favorite shows. 

Compared to other video streaming platforms, you’ll notice that watching movies and TV shows on Netflix usually goes smooth and hassle-free. The app automatically adjusts the quality of videos to provide the best quality for the internet connection you have. 

However, if Netflix videos keep buffering, there could be an underlying issue that needs to be resolved. 

A slow internet connection causes video playback issues on Netflix, or its servers encountered an error and went down. 

To help you address the issue on Netflix, we’ve decided to make a  guide on what to do if Netflix keeps buffering. 

Let’s get started!

1. Check Netflix Servers. 

Netflix is an online platform and depends on its servers to deliver services and features. If you experience video playback issues on the app, you should check its servers’ status first. 

Visit Netflix’s Help Center and go to the dedicated status page where you can see the current situation of their servers. 

However, if the website is not accessible, you can use other tools like Downdetector. It is a third-party website that provides information about application servers and the past issues they encountered. 

2. Check and Reset Your Internet. 

Netflix recommends a specific speed bandwidth for playing different titles on the platform. Netflix recommends a 1.5 Mbps internet speed to streaming movies without issues. 

To check your network’s status, run a speed test using Fast.com to measure its current upload and download bandwidth. 

If the test shows that your connection is slow or unstable, restart your network router. Locate its power cable and unplug it from the wall outlet. Wait for about 10 seconds before plugging back in the power chord to restart your network router. 

Once done, go back to Fast.com and perform another test. If your internet is still running slow, contact your ISP and tell them to address the issue with their service.

3. Try Lowering Your Stream Quality. 

Although Netflix’s platform is well optimized for video streaming, you still need a decent connection to play HD quality content. If Netflix keeps buffering, try to lower the video playback quality and see if the problem goes away. 

See the steps below to change the stream quality of Netflix videos: 

1. First, access your Netflix account using a browser. 
2. After that, point the cursor to your Profile icon and click on Account from the drop-down menu. 
3. Next, click on your Profile and open the Playback Settings tab. 
4. Finally, change the Video Quality to Medium or Low. 

Once done, save the changes and go back to the video you are playing to see if the problem is solved. 

4. Test Using Another Device. 

Before changing anything on your device, you should check first if the problem is with your account or the device you use. Access your Netflix account from another device, preferably using another operating system. 

Now, try to play a movie or TV show and see if Netflix still keeps buffering. 

5. Re-Login to Your Account. 

Temporary bugs and glitches that occur on Netflix may have affected your user data and got corrupted. In this case, unexpected issues can appear on your current session until you refresh your account data. 

To do this, sign out of your Netflix account and log back in after a few minutes. 

On Android and iOS devices, you can sign out of your account by doing the following: 

1. First, access the Netflix app from your home screen. 
2. After that, open your Profile by tapping its icon on the top right corner of your screen. 
3. Lastly, tap the Sign Out button at the bottom of the page. 

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For Windows users, follow the guide below to sign out for your Netflix account: 

1. On your computer, launch the Netflix app from the desktop. 
2. Next, click on More Options. 
3. Finally, click the Sign Out button to log out of your Netflix account. 

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If you are using a macOS device or any browsers, check out the steps below to sign out of Netflix: 

1. First, access the Netflix website using your preferred browser. 
2. After that, hover your mouse cursor on your Profile icon to open the drop-down menu. 
3. Lastly, click on Sign Out of Netflix. 

If you cannot find your device from the list above, visit Netflix’s Help Center and go to the dedicated guide to log out of Netflix on your device. 

After signing out of your Netflix account, log back in after a few minutes and try playing another video. 

6. Turn Off VPN. 

Netflix is known to go against users who run VPN services on their devices to access restricted content on the platform. Some Netflix titles are not available to specific regions due to licensing issues, and Netflix could face legal actions if users can access these contents. 

If you are running any VPN service on your device, turn it off before accessing the platform’s content. 

On the other hand, you can also try other alternatives like PureVPN if you don’t want to go online without protection. Unlike other VPNs, it doesn’t interfere with other applications and works well with Netflix. 

7. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies. 

Search browsers use temporary data called caches and cookies to enhance their performance when loading up websites. However, these data could get corrupted over time and cause various errors on Netflix and other sites. 

If Netflix keeps buffering, clear your browsing data to eliminate files that may have gotten corrupted. Follow the steps below to clear your browser cache and cookies:

1. First, open your browser and press the CTRL + H keys on your keyboard to access the History tab. 
2. After that, click on Clear Browsing Data from the side menu. 
3. Next, click the Time Range tab and select All Time from the list. 
4. Finally, include caches and cookies in the process and hit the Clear Data button to start the process. 

Once done, go back to Netflix and try playing another title. 

8. Disable Browser Extensions. 

Extensions or add-ons are applications installed directly to your browser that provide additional features on specific websites. However, if you leave these extensions enabled, they can interfere with how other sites function. 

If Netflix keeps buffering, disable your browser extensions and try to play another title again. Follow the steps below to turn off browser add-ons or extensions: 

1. First, launch your search browser and click the Options button at the top right corner of the window. 
2. After that, click on Settings and access the Extensions tab. 
3. Lastly, turn off all browser extensions, including the ones related to Netflix. 

Proceed to the following method below if you continue to experience video playback issues on Netflix. 

9. Run Malwarebytes. 

Malware and other viruses could also be why Netflix is not working correctly on your device. If your system is infected with a virus, its resources are limited, and applications and other features can malfunction. 

To check for malware and other viruses, you can use Malwarebytes and run a full system scan on your device. It is third-party antivirus software that scans your entire device for infected files and automatically removes them. 

10. Restart Your Device. 

Temporary errors and other issues that occur on your operating system could cause Netflix and other applications not to work correctly. In this case, we suggest that you restart your device to reload its operating system and resources. 

On Android devices, follow the steps below to restart it: 

1. Press the Power button of your device until the Options screen shows up. 
2. After that, tap the Restart button to reboot your operating system. 
3. Wait for your device to restart, which can take several seconds or more. 

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For iOS users, see the steps below to restart your device: 

1. Hold down the device’s Power button until the ‘Slide to Power Off Screen’ shows up. 
2. Next, drag the slider to the right until your display turns black. 
3. Lastly, press the Power button again to restart your device. 

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If you are using a Windows computer, you can restart it by doing the following: 

1. On your desktop, click the Start button to access the Start Menu. 
2. After that, click the Power button. 
3. Finally, click on Restart to reboot your operating system.

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For macOS devices, you can restart it by doing the following: 

1. First, click the Apple logo at the top left corner of your display to access the drop-down menu. 
2. After that, click on Restart. 
3. On the dialog box that appeared, click the Restart button again to confirm your action. 

After restarting your device, go back to Netflix and try to play another movie or TV show. 

11. Clear Netflix Data (Android). 

For Android users, you can try clearing Netflix’s app data if the platform is not working correctly on your device. Netflix’s data may have gotten corrupted when its servers went down or during a failed update. 

Whatever the case is, follow the steps below to clear Netflix’s app data: 

1. On your home screen, tap the Settings app to launch it. 
2. Next, scroll down and access the Apps tab. 
3. After that, open Netflix’s settings by tapping its icon from the list. 
4. Lastly, access the Storage tab and tap the Clear Data button. 

Once done, go back to Netflix, log back into your account, and try playing another title. 

12. Update Netflix App. 

Netflix rolls out timely updates on their application to ensure that it is optimized and errors are being patched. If you haven’t updated the application for a while, now is the time to do so. 

Proceed to the guides below to help you update Netflix on various platforms. 

For Android devices, you can update Netflix by doing the following: 

1. First, go to your application drawer and launch the Google Play Store. 
2. After that, tap the Menu button inside the Search bar to access the side drawer. 
3. Now, prompt Google Play Store to check for updates by tapping on My Apps & Games. 
4. Lastly, tap the Update button beside Netflix to install the latest version. 

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On iOS devices, follow the guide below to update Netflix: 

1. On your home screen, tap on the App Store to open it. 
2. Next, tap on your Profile icon to access the list of applications with available updates.
3. Finally, tap the Update button next to Netflix to install the update. 

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If you are using a Windows PC, check out the guide below to update the Netflix app: 

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard and open the Microsoft Store. 
2. After that, open your Profile and click on Downloads or Updates. 
3. Next, click the Check for Updates button. 
4. If available, click the Download button next to Netflix to install the latest version. 

After updating Netflix, go back to the app and play another title to check if it is solved.

 

13. Reinstall Netflix App. 

If updating Netflix did not help address the video playback issue, we suggest that you reinstall the app from your device. Some of its installation files may have gotten corrupted when the servers went down or while in use, and the update can no longer fix it. 

On Android, you can reinstall Netflix by doing the following: 

1. Access your device’s application drawer and find Netflix from the list. 
2. Next, press its app icon until the selection screen shows up. 
3. Lastly, click on Uninstall to delete Netflix. 

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For iOS users, follow the guide below to remove Netflix: 

1. On your home screen, find the Netflix app from the list. 
2. Now, tap and hold down its app icon to access the options menu. 
3. Finally, click on Remove App to uninstall the app. 

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If you are using a Windows device, check out the steps below to uninstall Netflix: 

1. First, press the Windows + S keys on your keyboard and search for Add or Remove Programs. 
2. After that, click on Open to access the list of applications installed on your computer. 
3. Lastly, select Netflix and click on Uninstall. Follow the on-screen prompts to remove the program from your computer. 

After removing the Netflix app from your device, go back to your profile and play another title. 

14. Report the Problem to Netflix. 

If you continue to experience video playback issues on Netflix, we suggest that you let the experts take over. 

Contact their customer support and report the exact problem you encounter on the platform. Make sure to provide all details like your account information, the device you use, and the movie or TV show that you are trying to play. 

You can also go to Netflix’s Help Center and look for possible solutions on the articles there. 

This wraps up our guide in fixing Netflix if it keeps buffering. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know in the comment section below, and we’ll do our best to answer them. 

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂