Apple TV Keeps Buffering: 5 Easy Fixes To Try

Apple TV is an excellent platform for watching movies and TV shows. However, it occasionally fails to function properly, causing the game to freeze and stop playing. I looked into how to fix Apple TV when it won’t play. Here’s what I discovered.

If your Apple TV keeps buffering or freezing, it usually means that your internet connection is either slow or disconnected. Apple TV streams movies and TV shows by downloading them from the internet in small chunks as they play, and it will freeze if the files cannot be downloaded quickly enough.

The simplest solution is to ensure that your Apple TV is connected to the internet and that the speed and connection are satisfactory. If your internet is working properly, you can also try a variety of fixes.

Troubleshooting: Issues on Apple TV Keeps Buffering

Issue	Solution
Slow internet connection.	Check your internet speed and make sure it is fast enough to stream content without buffering. You can use a speed test website or app to check your internet speed.
Poor Wi-Fi signal.	Make sure your Apple TV is close to your Wi-Fi router and that there are no obstacles between them. You can also try restarting your router and Apple TV.
Corrupted cache files.	Restarting your Apple TV can help to clear corrupted cache files that may be causing buffering issues.
Outdated software.	Make sure your Apple TV is running the latest software update. You can check for software updates by going to Settings > System > Software Updates.
Faulty HDMI cable.	Try using a different HDMI cable to see if that resolves the buffering issue.

APPLE TV KEEPS BUFFERING

One of the most annoying things to see when trying to watch a video or a movie is that it displays a circular loading symbol but does not play. And an Apple TV is no exception.

Apple TV constantly buffering indicates that it is attempting to download files and that the internet is particularly slow. You could have a faulty modem, no internet connection, or you’re using up all of your bandwidth.

To begin, you should close the movie or channel you’re trying to watch and then reopen it. It, like a website, may need to be ‘refreshed’ to function properly. And a coding error can cause it to malfunction temporarily until you restart it.

If you’ve checked your internet speed and it’s satisfactory, you should contact Apple Support. Certain channels or movies may experience intermittent issues from time to time. When these occur, Apple will fix the problem in the next update.

So, make sure you have the most recent version of Apple TV by going to Settings > Software updates > and it will tell you if there is a new update for Apple TV and give you the option to download it.

Other times, it may be device-specific, and Apple Support may need to ask you some questions to get to the bottom of the problem.

WAYS TO FIX THE BUFFERING OR FREEZING ISSUE ON APPLE TV

Fortunately, there are several ways to resolve freezing and buffering on Apple TV:

1. Reboot Your Device

The simplest way to resolve freezing and buffering issues is to restart your device. To relaunch Apple TV:

• Go to Settings
• Select System (Apple 4K TV or Apple TV HD) or General (Apple TV 3rd generation or earlier)
• Select Restart

If you can’t restart the device by going to system settings because it’s frozen, power cycle it by unplugging it from the power source, waiting 30 seconds, and then plugging it back in. You can also use your Apple TV’s or Siri’s remote.

Hold down the Home or Apple TV app button, as well as the Menu button. Then, when you see a flashing light on the device, let go of both buttons.

Hold down the Down and Menu buttons on an aluminum or white Apple remote and let go as soon as you see a flashing light. If you don’t have a remote, here’s how to reset Apple TV without one.

2. Hard Reset Your Apple TV

A hard reset will erase your device’s memory, return it to factory settings, and delete any data you have added to it.

This is recommended if your Apple TV becomes stuck on the home screen, especially if a simple restart does not resolve the issue.

1. Reset your system by going to Settings > System/General > Reset.
2. After selecting Reset, select one of the following options: Reset, Reset and Update (Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD), Reset All Settings, or Restore (Apple TV 3rd generation)
3. Select Reset to restore the device to its original factory settings without connecting to the internet.
4. To restore the device to factory settings and install software updates, select Reset and Update.
5. Choose Reset All Settings for 3rd generation devices to reset all settings, including configurations and accounts. Alternatively, choose Restore to reset the device to factory settings and install the software updates.

Throughout this procedure, make certain that the device is connected to a power source. Do not unplug or restart your Apple TV if the progress bar appears to be paused or stuck on the update.

Allow enough time for the update to complete. However, if the problem persists for more than a few hours, contact Apple Support.

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3. Check Your Internet Connection

If you are experiencing constant buffering, you should troubleshoot your internet connection to find a solution.

• If you’re using a cellular connection, connect to a Wi-Fi network and try again.
• If you have a router, make sure it supports the 802.11a/g/n/ac network standard.
• Run a speed test to ensure that you are streaming HD content at 8mpbs or higher, 720p at 6mbps, and standard definition at 2.5mbps. You’ll need 25mbps for 4K.

You can also keep track of your bandwidth usage and speed. When multiple devices use the same network for activities such as streaming and gaming, the internet speed can suffer.

If other people are downloading content on the same network, ask them to pause for a moment and see if that solves the problem. If it does, you’ll need to expand your bandwidth. If this doesn’t work, consider investing in a good streaming router.

4. Turn Home Sharing OFF Then ON

When your Apple TV is stuck on the home-sharing screen, the simplest solution is to toggle home-sharing ON and OFF.

1. Start iTunes.
2. Navigate to the File menu.
3. Choose Home Sharing.
4. Turn the option off, then back on.
5. Log in with your Apple ID account.

The steps should resolve the issue.

5. Switch To A Different Screen Mode

If your Apple TV displays a white screen, try changing the screen mode. To accomplish this, first:

1. Unplug the HDMI cable from both ends and then reconnect them.
2. Turn off the TV and restart your device.
3. Navigate to the TV menu and select an HDMI input that corresponds to the HDMI port on your Apple TV.

Check to see if each of the preceding steps resolves the white screen. If it doesn’t, get in touch with Apple Support. The simplest solution if your Apple TV keeps buffering or freezing is to restart the device. You can also test your internet connection to make sure you have enough bandwidth.

If you see a white screen or the device freezes, power cycle it or switch to a different screen mode. However, if nothing works, contact Apple Support.

HOW TO GET APPLE TV TO STOP BUFFERING

It’s ideal when Apple TV simply works and does not become stuck. However, it can occasionally become stuck buffering for a variety of reasons. Here’s what they are and how to stop Apple TV buffering.

To prevent Apple TV from buffering, you must have a fast and reliable internet connection. There are several steps you can take to ensure that your internet is fast enough, such as ensuring that you have enough available bandwidth to stream Apple TV.

Streaming video is similar to watching a video on YouTube. If your internet connection is slow because you’re also downloading a large file attachment or an update, your Apple TV may struggle to stream smoothly.

At the end of the day, you should contact your internet service provider, who will be able to walk you through the process of increasing your internet speed. They may also persuade you to change some settings that are preventing your Apple TV from receiving the best internet speed possible.

APPLE TV NOT BUFFERING

Streaming video is convenient because it allows you to start watching almost any movie or TV show in seconds. It can be aggravating when a video does not download and simply hangs. Here’s what you should do to ensure that your Apple TV buffers properly.

As a general rule, you should maximize your internet speed to ensure that your Apple TV buffers at the proper rate and that your movie, TV show, or TV channel plays uninterrupted. When your internet connection is too slow, it will not buffer quickly enough, and it will appear on your Apple TV that it is not buffering.

The internet speed may be temporarily slowed due to a network problem. The network problem could be due to a technical issue with Apple TV or a problem with your internet service provider. The good news is that these problems are extremely rare.

If your internet connection is too slow to buffer Apple TV quickly enough, you can easily resolve the issue by troubleshooting your internet connection with your internet service provider. However, before you do so, restart your Apple TV or Apple TV device by turning it on and off again. Also, make sure your Apple TV is up to date.

CONCLUSION

With all of its original content available for viewing, Apple TV Plus is becoming quite popular. In this day and age, a good internet connection is essential for all of our devices to be connected and for us to be able to surf the web and stream content without interruptions.

We hope this guide has helped you understand why your Apple TV Plus kept buffering and that you were able to resolve the issue with our 5 simple fixes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
Why is my Apple TV buffering?	There are a few reasons why your Apple TV might be buffering. The most common reason is a slow internet connection. Other possible reasons include a poor Wi-Fi signal, corrupted cache files, outdated software, or a faulty HDMI cable.
How do I fix my Apple TV buffering?	There are a few things you can do to try to fix your Apple TV buffering. First, check your internet speed and make sure it is fast enough to stream content without buffering. You can use a speed test website or app to check your internet speed. If your internet speed is slow, you may need to upgrade your internet plan.

References:

• Apple TV Keeps Buffering, How to Fix? – getdroidtips.com 
• Apple TV Constantly Buffering? 7 Easy Fixes To Try – Tech Detective 
• Apple TV Keeps (Pausing/Stopping/Freezing/Hanging/Buffering) – This is yet another third-party website that provides some information on how to fix the buffering issue on Apple TV. It also explains some other related issues, such as pausing, stopping, freezing, or hanging. It also gives some tips on how to prevent buffering in the future, such as using a wired connection, reducing the number of devices on your network, upgrading your internet plan, or changing your DNS settings. According to this website, Apple TV always buffering is a sign that it’s trying to download the files and the internet is running particularly slow³. You may have a faulty modem, have no internet connection, or you are using up all the bandwidth³.
• Apple TV Keeps Buffering: How to Improve the Stream – Windows Report 
• Fix Apple TV Always Buffering Issue | Tom’s Guide Forum