Do you see a spinning wheel on Netflix when playing a movie or TV show?
Streaming high-quality videos online require a fast internet connection and a server that can handle the data traffic. On Netflix, users don’t usually deal with video playback issues since the platform is well optimized for streaming high-resolution movies and TV shows.
However, this does not mean that Netflix is exempted from occasional errors and problems. If you are here, you probably see a spinning wheel on Netflix while playing your favorite show on the platform.
Most of the time, this indicates that your internet connection is running slow, and the app is struggling to load the content. It is also possible that a faulty device or an issue with Netflix’s server is the problem.
To help you troubleshoot this problem, we’re going to walk you through different methods that we found helpful in fixing the spinning wheel issue on Netflix.
Let’s get started!
1. Check Netflix Servers.
Whenever you encounter problems on a particular platform, it is good to check its servers first before making any changes on your end.
If you experience the spinning wheel issue on Netflix, visit their dedicated status page, where you can view the platform’s current situation. On the other hand, you can also use websites such as Downdetector if Netflix’s website is not accessible.
If the servers are down, the best thing you can do for now is to wait. However, you can still try the remaining methods below and see if anything works out.
2. Try Lowering Stream Quality.
When videos on Netflix buffer, it usually means that your internet cannot handle the bandwidth requirement for streaming movies in your current settings. In this case, we suggest that you lower the streaming quality on Netflix to reduce your network load.
Follow the steps below to lower the streaming quality on Netflix:
- First, open your Netflix account using a browser.
- After that, hover the cursor to your Profile and click the Account tab.
- Now, select the Profile you use and open the Playback Settings tab.
- Finally, change the streaming quality to a lower resolution. You can also choose Auto and let the platform select the best streaming quality depending on your network’s bandwidth.
After changing your stream quality, go back to Netflix and try playing a movie or TV show again.
3. Try to Watch Another Show.
If you are having difficulties watching a particular title on Netflix, try to play another movie or TV show and see if the problem persists. Some titles on Netflix become unplayable due to unexpected errors that occur on the platform.
Proceed to the last method to report the issue to Netflix if you cannot play a particular title on the platform.
4. Sign Out of All Devices.
Random bugs and glitches may happen on Netflix and cause your user data to be corrupted. If this happens, you can expect errors and other issues to occur in your current session.
To fix this, you need to refresh your user data by re-logging into your Netflix account. Follow the steps below to sign out your account on all devices at once:
- First, open Netflix using a browser and access your account.
- After that, point the mouse cursor to your Profile and click on the Account tab.
- Under Settings, click on Sign Out of All Devices.
- Lastly, click on Sign Out to confirm the action.
Once done, wait for a few minutes before logging back into your Netflix account and see if the problem is solved.
5. Check and Reset Your Internet.
Netflix requires a minimum internet speed of 1.5 Mbps to enjoy the platform without issues. However, if your network is running slow, it might not be reaching the minimum requirement and causes videos to buffer.
To confirm if your network is the problem, run a test on your network using Fast.com to measure its current upload and download speed.
If your internet runs slow, restart your router to re-establish the link between your router and your ISP’s servers. Unplug your router’s power cable from the wall outlet and wait for at least 10 seconds before plugging it back in.
Once done, perform another test to check if your network is now running as it should. Contact your service provider if your internet continues to run slow and ask them to fix the issue.
6. Turn Off VPN.
Virtual private networks are services that protect your online data from hackers and other entities. You can also use it to hide your actual location and bypass restrictions set by your ISP.
Unfortunately, Netflix flags down users who run VPNs on their devices due to legal issues. Some contents on Netflix are hidden in other regions due to licensing problems, and the platform could face legal sanctions if users can access those contents.
If you have a VPN, turn it off before using Netflix on your device.
You can also try other alternatives like PureVPN if you don’t want to go online without protection. It works well with Netflix and does not interrupt the flow of your network connection.
7. Clear Your Browsing Data.
If you experience playback issues on your browser, consider clearing your browsing data. Search browsers use temporary data called caches and cookies to load up websites faster and improve their overall performance.
However, caches and cookies accumulate over time and can get corrupted. If this happens, it can cause multiple issues on your browser and the websites you visit.
Follow the steps below to clear your browsing data:
- First, open your preferred browser and access its Settings page.
- Now, go to Privacy and Security and click on Clear Browsing Data.
- After that, change the Time Range to All Time and include caches and cookies in the process.
- Lastly, click the Clear Data button to proceed.
Once done, re-access your Netflix account and see if you would still experience playback issues on the platform.
8. Run Malwarebytes.
Malware and other viruses could also be the reason for the spinning wheel issue on Netflix. Viruses are known to eat up your system resources, including internet bandwidth, making it difficult for Netflix to load the content you are trying to play.
If you suspect that your device is suffering from a virus attack, download Malwarebytes and perform a full system scan. This will automatically scan your entire directory for infected files and remove them in the process.
9. Restart Your Device.
A temporary system error could have happened on your device and causes other applications to malfunction. If you are suffering from the spinning wheel issue on Netflix, try to restart your device to reload all its resources.
On Android devices, follow the guide below to restart them:
- First, find the Power button of your device and press it to access the Options screen.
- After that, tap on Restart to reboot its operating system.
- Wait for your device to restart, which can take several seconds.
For iOS users, check out the steps below to restart your device:
- On your device, press the Power button until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ screen shows up.
- Drag the slider to the right until the screen shuts off.
- Finally, tap the Power button again to restart your iOS device.
If you are on a Windows computer, you can restart it by doing the following:
- Access the Start Menu by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard.
- Now, click the Power button to access the Power Options tab.
- Lastly, click on Restart to reboot Windows.
For macOS users, see the step-by-step guide below to restart your computer:
- On your Mac, open the Apple Menu by clicking the Apple logo at the top left corner of your display.
- Inside the Apple Menu, click on Restart.
- Finally, click on Restart again inside the dialog box to confirm your action.
If you are using another device, visit Netflix’s Help Center and look for the specific guide for your device.
Once done, go back to Netflix to check if the problem is solved.
10. Clear Netflix App Data.
If you are using an Android device, you can also try clearing Netlfix’s app data if you encounter problems on the platform. Similar to browsers, Netflix stores temporary data on your device to improve its performance.
However, they can also get corrupted while in use or when an update fails to push through. To fix this, follow the steps below to clear Netflix’s data:
- On your device, find the Settings app and launch it.
- Now, tap on the Apps tab and look for Netflix in the list.
- After that, tap on Netflix and go to the Storage tab.
- Finally, tap on the Clear Data button.
After clearing Netflix’s data, go back to your profile and try playing another title.
11. Update Netflix App.
Netflix’s team releases timely updates on their platform to keep it running smoothly and ensure that errors are addressed. If you don’t update your apps often, this can be a problem in terms of performance and your account’s security.
Update the app to the latest version to fix the spinning wheel issue on Netflix.
On Android, follow the guide below to update Netflix:
- First, open the Google Play Store from your home screen and tap on the Menu button to access the side drawer.
- After that, tap on My Apps & Games to check for possible updates.
- Lastly, tap the Update button beside Netflix to install the latest version.
For iOS users, you can update Netflix by doing the following:
- On your device, launch the App Store from the home screen.
- Now, tap on your Profile to access the list of applications with available updates.
- Finally, tap the Update button next to Netflix.
If you are using a Windows computer, follow the steps below to update the Netflix app:
- Open the Start Menu on your computer and launch the Microsoft Store.
- After that, click on More Options and select Downloads and Updates.
- Lastly, find Netflix from the list and click the Download button to install the update.
If you don’t see your device above, go to Netflix’s Help Center and look for the dedicated guide to update Netflix on your system.
Once you’ve updated Netflix, try to play another title on the platform to check if the problem is solved.
12. Report the Problem to Netflix.
If you still experience the spinning wheel issue on Netflix when playing a movie or TV show, we suggest that you ask the experts for help.
Contact Netflix’s customer support and elaborate on the problem you’ve been experiencing on the platform. Make sure to provide your account details, the movie or TV show you are trying to play, and the device you use to help their team assess the situation faster.
This sums up our guide in fixing this problem on Netflix. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below, and we’ll do our best to help you out.
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