Your streaming service is buffering? Here's how to fix it.
Written by Lena Marlowe · Updated
Buffering is not always a speed problem. Live TV, movies, and series can freeze because of weak WiFi, packet loss, ISP throttling, too many people downloading or streaming on the same network, or a service issue. If you use iWatchMax, check our streaming service uptime page for active incidents.
Step 1
Packet lossPacket loss includedAmazon.comRun the diagnostic where you watch
Why download speed is not everything
Download speed tells you how much data can arrive, but streaming also depends on how steadily it arrives. Weak WiFi, jitter, packet loss, ISP throttling, and other people using the same network can interrupt live TV, movies, or series even when Mbps looks high.
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Step 2
Device storageClean up the device you stream on
Why storage affects streaming
Streaming apps need free space to save temporary video chunks, rebuild cache, load artwork, and keep playback data moving. When storage is nearly full, the app can stutter, freeze, crash, or reload even when your internet test looks fine.
Choose your device
What to do on Fire Stick
- 1
Check storage
Open Settings, then My Fire TV, About, and Storage so you know whether the device is nearly full.
- 2
Clear cache first
Go to Applications, Manage Installed Applications, choose the streaming app, then clear cache before clearing data.
- 3
Uninstall what you do not use
Remove old apps and games, restart the Fire Stick, then test the same stream again.
Cache first, data second
Clear cache before clearing data. Clear data can sign you out and reset app settings.