How to Fix Netflix Buffering ASAP?
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Among the multiple streaming services available across the globe, Netflix is one of the most excellent and popular out there. It hosts a wide range of TV shows and other content that offer you an exceptional level of entertainment. However, the service comes with its own issues when it comes to the functionality that it offers you. Netflix buffering consistently is one such problem that you are most likely to come across.
What causes the Netflix buffering problem, and how can you fix it? Let us try to understand the reasons for Netflix loading slowly or buffering.
Why is Netflix Buffering? 5 Common Causes
Wondering why Netflix is buffering? There are several causes that can cause this problem. Let us analyze a few reasons that can cause Netflix buffering issues.
Slow Internet Speed
If you want your Netflix to work at its optimum speed, you need a decent internet connection speed. If you are facing consistent buffering issues, check your internet connection speed. The typical speeds that you need would be:
| Video quality | Resolution | Recommended speed |
| High-definition (HD) | 720p | 3 Mbps or higher |
| Full high definition (FHD) | 1080p | 5 Mbps or higher |
| Ultra-high definition (UHD) | 4K | 15 Mbps or higher |
Poor Internet Connection
Your internet connection itself may be very poor. You may face issues like frequent interruptions and fluctuation in speed. If that is the case with you, it is most likely to affect almost all your apps and services that depend on internet connectivity. You can check with your internet service provider or use a tool to monitor the internet connection.
Device Issues
Your device itself may have a few issues that may prevent it from connecting with the Netflix servers. In such a case, you can restart your device. Some devices themselves may be incompatible with your streaming service. Check if you are using the right version of the device that supports Netflix streaming.
App Issues
The Netflix app itself might have developed a few issues. Over time, the files associated with your app may get corrupted. You may also be running the older version of the app, which can also be a concern in certain cases.
Accumulated Cache
As you continue using an app, it will accumulate cache. This can result in buffering and other issues with your Netflix app. Even when the cache files are meant to speed up the performance of an app, too much cache can create an issue in itself.
Troubleshooting Steps to Fix Netflix Buffering
Depending on what is causing the buffering issues on your Netflix app, you can consider checking out a few good options to help you find why Netflix keeps buffering and apply the relevant fixes.
Check Internet Speed
Check the speed of your internet connection. If the connection speed is too low, you may end up facing buffering issues with your Netflix app. Even when you have a good internet speed, but there are a lot of people using the connection, it can cause bandwidth-related issues.
In such a case, you can consult your ISP and go for a higher plan so that you will have a better bandwidth for streaming Netflix. You may also decide to limit the number of devices using the internet connection at a time.
Improve Wi-Fi Signal
Improving your Wi-Fi signal can be yet another excellent means to help you fix the buffering issues on your Netflix streaming. You can do it by either changing the router to one with better signal strength and configuration or giving thought to rebooting it if it does meet those standards already.
You may also consider moving the router to an optimal position to get good connectivity anywhere across your home.
Update the Netflix app
Check if your Netflix app needs an update. An outdated app can sometimes create issues with your connectivity and can have a few severe issues. Give a thought to updating your Netflix app if an update is available. Even reinstalling the app – even when an update is not available – can also help fix the buffering issues with your connection.
Clear Netflix App Data/Cache
Accumulated cache files or data files can also cause buffering issues on your Netflix app. This is most likely when the cache has not been cleared over a considerably long time. We recommend clearing the cache at least once every couple of months. This can help you fix the buffering issues if they are due to the app cache.
Adjust Netflix Buffering Rate
The buffering issue may be due to Netflix itself and may not have any issues with the Internet connectivity. In such a case, you can consider adjusting the buffering rate. Adjusting it can involve the specific steps that you can use on the respective devices that you may be on.
- If you are on Windows, use the keyboard shortcuts shift+alt+left click
- On a Mac device, use the shortcut shift+option+click.
- In the case of a gaming console, use the shortcut up > up > down > down > left > right > left > right > up > up > up.
It may make the videos load a bit slower, but you will not come across any sort of buffering issues while you watch the Netflix content. Also, note that this option will work when Netflix keeps buffering, but the internet is fine.
Reboot Everything
If you are unsure about what is causing the issue with your Netflix app, you can simply reboot everything. Reboot your router, your streaming service, and practically every other equipment. This should help you address the concern of buffering quite seamlessly. You can start by rebooting your Netflix app.
Check for Netflix Outages
The network connection itself may be facing an issue at the time. You may check with the Internet Service Provider to determine if they are facing any network outage issues.
How to Fix Netflix Buffering with Other 4 Potential Solutions?
There are a few users on Reddit and other forums posing questions on how to fix Netflix buffering. We checked the responses from several other users who posted their responses based on how they could fix the issue on your Netflix app.
One question that we could prominently find was “Potential workaround for those having buffering issues right now." on Reddit. The user has stated categorically that 2 workarounds helped him resolve the issue.
”Right now the two workarounds that I have seen work are: Switch to a different devi; Trying using a European VPN.” Another user reports that “I just turned on my VPN to France, and cast from pc again. Working fine so far!”
Based on several threads on Reddit and other forums, all I could find out and fix the buffering issues to some extent are through the following potential fixes:
1. Reduce the streaming quality
Adjusting the streaming quality of your Netflix app can also help you address the buffering issues on your Netflix app. The overly high streaming quality or resolution may also be a reason that may cause buffering in your Netflix app. You can reduce the streaming quality and this will make it consume less of the bandwidth and thus you would be able to stream without buffering issues.
To do this, you can go to your account settings and tweak the streaming quality through the Playback settings > Medium/Low/Auto toggle
2. Limit Data Usage by Other Devices
Limiting the data usage by other apps can help you fix the buffering issues to a better extent. This can help get your Netflix app to function normally. In this workaround, you can turn off or limit the background activity of the apps so that the unnecessary apps are closed down, and more RAM would be available for streaming Netflix comfortably.
The resource-hungry apps like Photoshop, certain games, and even Facebook can hog the RAM and thus make Netflix begin buffering.
3. Change the IP Address Source
This can help you fix the server-related issues on Netflix. By changing the IP address at the source, you are trying to use another Netflix server. The best way to do this is to use a VPN service. Opt for a paid VPN service that can help you fix the issues if they are related to the server. Free VPN services may not be reliable and may not let you select a few specific servers.
4. Contact Support
That should be the best last resort. You can get in touch with customer support on Netflix and find out if that helps you fix the problems. Before you contact the support, make sure that you have exhausted all the possible fixes and workarounds that we have featured above.
The Ultimate Solution: Y2Mate
Well, if you are frequently facing buffering issues and can't find why Netflix is buffering so much, it may be a good idea to download Netflix videos and watch them offline. For that, you will need to use a reliable and trusted Netflix downloader.
Y2Mate Netflix Downloader is indeed one of the most trusted and reliable downloaders that you can put to great use. The robust downloader supports high-quality video downloads and a batch download capability. It lets you download Netflix videos on multiple devices like Mac or Windows.
With Y2Mate, you can download Netflix videos in high quality up to Full HD 1080p, with the support of Atmos audio, EAC3 5.1, and AAC 2.0 audio codec. If you use Y2Mate to download all your favorite shows from Netflix, the buffering problem will no longer exsist.
How to download Netflix videos using Y2Mate Netflix Downloader? Here we go with the easy-to-use steps for downloading the Netflix videos using the Y2Mate downloader.
Download Y2Mate from the official website. You can choose either the Windows or Mac version as per your preferences. Choose the free trial option to get used to the tool.
Y2Mate provides a free trial for all new users. You can download up to 3 full videos in Full HD 1080p from Netflix with the free version.
From the VIP Services section, locate and choose Netflix. Sign in to your Netflix account. You can also create a new account if you wish to.
Search for the video that you wish to download. Clicking on it will bring the option to configure the download preferences. These configurations will include video resolution, subtitle preferences, and audio tracks as per your preferences.
Click on Download Now, and the video will be downloaded. You can see the download progress and the downloaded video from within the tool.
Once the videos are downloaded, you can simply watch them with no internet connection and no buffering. You can even move them to any of your devices and watch them on any of your devices.
Conclusion
Well, are you wondering why does Netflix keep buffering? The fixes outlined above should help you address the issues and help you how to fix Netflix buffering issues. You can check each of these fixes and find which of them works for you.
However, if nothing seems to work as expected, downloading the videos and watching them offline should be the ultimate solution. In this context, Y2Mate Netflix Downloader should be the best choice that you can opt for.
Netflix Video Downloader
Y2Mate Netflix Video Downloader is a streamlined and efficient Netflix downloader for PC to download 1080p Netflix movies and shows with EAC5.1 audio track.
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v1.2.7.0 | 8.1 MB for Windows 11/10 (32/64 bit) | Last Update: 06/27/2025