Troubleshooting
Buffering or Lagging: How to Fix
Four possible bottlenecks, one diagnostic order. Testing a second stream first tells you whether the problem is even yours.
The four bottlenecks
| Bottleneck | Signature | Test |
|---|---|---|
| Source capacity | One stream buffers, others are fine; worse at peak hours | Play a different stream immediately afterwards |
| Network path | Everything buffers; other devices also slow | Run a sustained throughput test, not a burst speed test |
| Device decoding | Audio continues while video stutters or tears | Drop to 480p; if it clears, decoding is the limit |
| App cache | Started recently after working fine; other apps unaffected | Clear cache and relaunch |
Fixes in order of effect
1.Use Ethernet on TV devices
This resolves more buffering than every software setting combined, because it removes intermittent Wi-Fi throughput dips.
2.Move to the 5 GHz band
2.4 GHz is congested in most homes. 5 GHz trades range for far steadier throughput.
3.Lower the quality setting
1080p needs 5–8 Mbps sustained. If your line dips below that, 720p is a stable picture instead of an unwatchable one.
4.Clear the app cache
Settings → Apps → the app → Storage → Clear cache. This keeps your settings; clear data does not.
5.Close background apps
On 1 GB TV devices, memory pressure alone produces stutter that looks like a network fault.
6.Test with the VPN off
A VPN adds a hop and a throughput ceiling. If buffering stops without it, the VPN route is the constraint.
Worth knowing: If a different stream plays cleanly at the same time of day, the bottleneck is the source and no amount of local tuning will fix it.