Do your favorite movies or TV shows on Netflix stop in the middle of watching them?
One of the best ways to get your head away from a long day at the office or a tiring day from school is to watch your favorite movie or TV show. Now, you are probably using Netflix to stream your favorite shows on the go.
On most occasions, Netflix works as it should without any problems. However, if you are reading this right now, it is safe to assume that your favorite show on Netflix stops in the middle of watching it.
This problem could be related to your network connection or Netflix servers based on what we’ve found out. Temporary errors on your device and improper configuration could also be the culprit.
Given that there are many factors to look into, troubleshooting could be time-consuming.
Lucky for you, we are here to help.
In this guide, we’ll show you what you can do if movies and TV shows on Netflix stops in the middle of watching them.
Let’s get started!
1. Check Netflix Servers.
Whenever you encounter Netflix errors, the first thing that you should always do is to confirm if its servers are working correctly. Given that Netflix is an online app, its servers play a significant role in keeping the platform working.
To check if there’s something wrong with Netflix, visit their dedicated status page, where they give updates about the servers.
On the other hand, you can also use other tools like Downdetector if Netflix’s status page is not available. It is a third-party site that gives information about applications and the problems they encounter for the last 24 hours.
2. Try Watching Another Show.
If you experience this issue on a specific movie or TV show, try to play another title on Netflix and see if the same problem would occur. There are times when a particular movie or TV show on Netflix encounters a problem and becomes unplayable.
Now, if other titles on Netflix work fine, head to the last method below to report the issue to their team.
3. Check and Reset Your Internet.
Network-related issues could also be the reason for Netflix shows to stop while you are watching them. A stable internet connection is needed to load the shows on Netflix continuously as you watch them.
To check your network, run a speed test using Fast.com to measure its current upload and download bandwidth.
If the result shows that your connection is unstable, restart your network router to re-establish the link with your service provider’s servers. Find the power cable of your router and unplug it for about 10 seconds. After that, plug back in the power chord to restart your network router.
Once done, perform another test to check if the restart worked. On the other hand, contact your ISP and ask them to fix the issue if your network continues to run slow.
4. Turn Off VPN.
Netflix does not allow users to run VPNs while using their platform. Due to licensing issues, Netflix has to hide some titles on the platform for specific regions. Now, VPNs can bypass this restriction and could put Netflix in legal problems if users can access those titles.
Besides, VPNs can also interrupt your network’s flow and make it difficult for your device to communicate with the servers.
So, if you are using VPNs to protect yourself online, turn them off before using Netflix.
On the other hand, try using other VPNs like PureVPN if you are not comfortable going online without protection. Compared to other services, it does not interfere with your network and works well with Netflix.
5. Clear Your Browsing Cache and Cookies.
Browsers store temporary data on your computer to help them load websites faster and improve their overall performance. However, these data could accumulate in the long run and get corrupted without any warnings.
If you experience unexpected issues on Netflix and other sites, try to clear your browsing data to eliminate corrupted files.
Follow the steps below to clear your browsing data:
- First, press the CTRL + H keys on your keyboard while your browser is open to access the History tab.
- Next, click on Clear Browsing Data from the side drawer, which should take you to another page.
- After that, click the checkbox beside ‘Cached Images and Files’ and ‘Cookies and Other Site Data’.
- Lastly, click on the Time Range tab and select All Time. Hit the Clear Data button afterward to start the process.
Once done, re-login to your Netflix account and try to watch your favorite shows again.
6. Disable Browser Extensions.
Extensions are third-party programs installed on your browser that provide additional features on the websites you visit. Although most browser extensions offer handy features, not all sites support them.
If you experience playback issues on Netflix, turn off your browser extensions and see if the problem goes away. Follow the guide below to disable your browser extensions:
- First, click on the Options button at the top right corner of the window and open the Settings tab.
- After that, click on Extensions from your browser’s side menu.
- Finally, disable all your browser extensions and restart your browser.
Once done, try to play another title on Netflix and see if it will still stop unexpectedly.
7. Run Malwarebytes.
Another reason for Netflix and other applications not to work correctly is malware and viruses. These malicious programs eat up all your system resources and negatively affect the performance of your device.
If you suspect that your system is infected, download Malwarebytes and run a full system scan on your device. It is available to all major platforms, including Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.
8. Restart Your Device.
Random bugs and glitches may have occurred on your operating system and cause other applications to run into errors. If Netflix is not functioning correctly, restart your device to reload all of its resources.
On Android devices, follow the steps below to restart them:
- Press the Power button of your device until the Options screen shows up.
- Next, tap on Restart.
- Wait for your device to reboot, which could take a while, depending on your device.
For iOS users, you can restart your device by doing the following:
- On your iOS device, tap and hold its Power button until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ screen shows up.
- After that, drag the slider to the right until your display turns off.
- Lastly, press the Power button once to restart your device.
If you are using a Windows PC, check out the guide below to restart it:
- First, press the Windows key on your keyboard to access the Start Menu.
- Now, click on the Power button to access the Power Options menu.
- Finally, click on Restart to reboot Windows.
For macOS computers, see the guide below to restart them:
- On your Mac, click the Apple logo at the top left corner of your screen to access the Apple Menu.
- After that, click on Restart from the list.
- Lastly, click on Restart again inside the dialog box to proceed.
After restarting your device, go back to Netflix and check if the problem is solved.
9. Clear Netflix App Data (Android).
If you are on an Android device, you can also try clearing Netflix’s app data to fix the issue. Some of its application files could’ve encountered an error when the servers went down or during a failed update.
To clear your app data, follow the guide below:
- On your app drawer, find the Settings app and open it.
- Next, scroll down and tap on Apps.
- Find Netflix from the list of applications installed on your device and open it.
- Lastly, tap on Storage and hit the Clear Data button.
Once done, re-login to your Netflix account and try playing another show.
10. Update Netflix App.
Netflix rolls out timely updates on their platform to ensure that it is running correctly and errors get patched up. If you haven’t updated Netflix, now is the time to do so, especially if you encounter unexpected application problems.
On Android devices, follow the guide below to update Netflix:
- On your home screen, tap on Google Play Store to open it.
- After that, access the side menu by tapping on the Menu button inside the search bar.
- Now, tap on My Apps & Games to prompt the Play Store to check for updates.
- Lastly, find Netflix from the list and tap the Update button beside it.
For iOS users, check out the guide below to update Netflix:
- First, open the App Store from your home screen.
- Now, tap on your Profile icon to prompt the App Store to check for possible updates.
- Finally, locate Netflix from the list and tap the Update button.
If you are using a Windows device, you can update Netflix by doing the following:
- First, launch the Microsoft Store on your Windows PC.
- After that, click on More Options and select Downloads and Updates.
- Lastly, look for Netflix from the list and click the Download button.
For other devices, proceed to Netflix’s Help Center and look for the dedicated guide for your device.
After updating Netflix, go back to your profile and play another title to check if the problem is solved.
11. Install the Right Drivers.
On Windows, drivers are needed for its features to work without problems. If you experience playback issues on Netflix, your graphics drivers might not be installed correctly or no longer compatible with Netflix.
Update your graphics drivers to ensure that it is working correctly and compatible with the latest applications.
Follow the guide below to update your drivers on Windows:
- First, open the Device Manager on your computer.
- After that, click on Display Adapters to expand it.
- Lastly, right-click on your graphics card and select Update Driver. Follow the on-screen prompts to continue with the process.
Once done, go back to Netflix and see if you would still encounter the same issue.
12. Reinstall Netflix.
If the update could not fix the Netflix issue, you could be experiencing a much severe problem. Some of Netflix’s installation files may have gotten corrupted and no longer fixable by simple troubleshooting.
In this case, we suggest that you reinstall the app from your device to ensure that you have a working copy.
On Android, you can delete Netflix by doing the following:
- On your home screen, find Netflix from the list of apps installed on your Android device.
- After that, press its app icon until the selection screen shows up.
- Finally, tap on Uninstall to delete Netflix.
For iOS users, follow the guide below to uninstall Netflix:
- First, find the Netflix app from your home screen.
- Now, tap and hold its app icon until the options screen appears.
- Lastly, tap on Remove App to uninstall Netflix.
If you are on a Windows computer, check out the guide below to remove Netflix:
- On your computer, access the Start Menu and search for Add or Remove Programs.
- After that, open it and find Netflix from the list.
- Finally, select Netflix and click on Uninstall. Follow the on-screen prompts to delete the app from your device.
For other devices, please go to Netflix’s Help Center and find the dedicated guide for your device.
Once done, reinstall Netflix on your device and check if shows on Netflix would still stop in the middle of watching them.
13. Report the Problem to Netflix.
If shows on Netflix still stop in the middle of watching them, we recommend that you let the professionals handle the situation.
Contact Netlfix’s customer support and report the issue you experience while watching movies and TV shows. Give all the necessary information on your report, like your account details, the device you use, and the show you are trying to play to help their team address the situation faster.
This ends our guide on what to do if Netflix shows stop in the middle of watching them. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comment section, and we’ll do our best to accommodate them.
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