Read our guide to fix your FireStick buffering problems. Our expert team at howtofirestick has discovered and tested the following 10+ solutions to stop buffering on FireStick just for you.
It can be frustrating when you are enjoying the latest episode of your favorite program, and your FireStick stops running. If you have the buffering notification a lot, there are a few easy ways to keep your FireStick working like a pro. Here’s how to prevent buffering on FireStick. But do you know why does the buffering occur?
Let’s try to find the answer first!
Why Does the FireStick Face Buffering Issue?
When you stream content, your FireStick downloads a mass of media and stocks it on the device. If you complete seeing the downloaded portion of a video before the following part is stored, it will make the FireStick show the buffering symbol. The device will hold the video while downloading the latter part of the media to update the device.
Let’s see what the reasons behind buffering are!
What Causes Buffering?
- ISP Throttling
- Slow internet speed
- Low RAM in FireStick
- FireStick hardware defects
- Overheating the device
- Performance issue with a remote server
- An outdated variant of FireStick OS
- Intervention between FireStick and Wi-Fi router
- Problems with router, modem, or Ethernet cord
- Unwanted Applications Data and Caches
Now that you know what might be making your buffering, here are some ways to stop your FireStick from buffering.
10 + Solutions to Stop Buffering on FireStick
As explained earlier, in this segment, we’ll include the most common solutions to the problems that cause FireStick buffering.
We will start with a generic solution – rebooting the device.
1. Reboot FireStick
Restarting your FireStick can solve many issues, including buffering. Restarting will close all the applications and processes that are currently operating on your FireStick. Hence, a reboot should be the first thing you do for almost any problem you face on FireStick. Here’s how you do it:
1. From the main screen of the FireStick, go to Settings.
2. Go to the right and select My Fire TV.
3. Choose the Restart tab.
If your issue isn’t resolved by restarting your FireStick device, then proceed and try the other solutions given in this post until your FireStick buffering issue settles.
2. Reset FireStick to Factory Default
When you reset the FireStick, it will turn to the same situation it was in when you first bought it. It is easy to reset a FireStick or Fire TV, and it only takes a few moments.
Please remember that when you do this, you will delete everything you have on the system. After the system reboots, you will require to reinstall your applications on FireStick.
Follow these steps to reset your FireStick:
1. Navigate to Settings from the menu.
2. Select My Fire TV.
3. Choose the Reset to Factory Defaults option.
4. Select Reset.
5. You will notice a window similar to this when your Fire TV Stick is resetting.
6. Then, Firestick or Fire TV will reboot, and you will see the screen like this, which indicates “Resetting your Fire TV stick.”
7. The system may ask you to connect to your Wi-Fi network, and once you do it, you will receive the Amazon sign-in window.
That’s it! You have done it! You’ve reset your FireStick to factory default settings.
3. Update FireStick Software
Installing the most advanced software update on your FireStick or Fire TV will help you eliminate features that are buggy in the earlier versions, block applications from crashing, and decrease buffering.
Let’s see how to update your FireStick.
1. From the main menu, go to the Settings option and scroll to the right to select My Fire TV.
2. Choose the About tab.
3. Move down and hit Install System Update (If the device has already installed the latest update, it will show you this notification “Check for System Update”)
4. Wait for the software installation process to end.
Once over, the FireStick will then restart, and it’ll install new software!
If you notice the device not restarting, this can quickly be done by touching the Select or central button and the play/pause switch at the same time for 5 seconds.
4. Uninstall Useless Applications
If you have installed lots of applications, this unites the need for the software of the device and reduces its overall performance.
This is how you can uninstall unnecessary apps:
1 First of all, choose the Settings option from the menu.
2 Now, pick Applications.
3 Select Manage Installed Applications. Here you will see how much internal space you have left.
4 Then, pick an app. Here, you will see information about the app, such as the app size and cache data report.
5 Now, choose Uninstall.
6. Lastly, click Uninstall again to verify.
You can repeat this method to uninstall any other unnecessary apps on your device.
5. Magnify Wi-Fi Signal
If your Wi-Fi modem is set too far from your FireStick device, the signal strength will be limited and cause buffering problems.
First, check the intensity of your Wi-Fi signal in the Fire TV settings. Here’s how you can do it:
1. From the main screen, go to Settings.
2. Select the Network option.
3. Move to the Wi-Fi network you are connected to now. You will notice the Signal strength on the right of the window. Ideally, it has to be Good or Very Good.
If the connection is limited, try shifting your Wi-Fi router or the FireStick closer so the signal increases. If it still doesn’t run, you might also consider getting a Wi-Fi booster or Wi-Fi extender.
Note: Wi-Fi routers normally come with both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. Even if 5 GHz is faster, it has a lower limit.
6. Use Ethernet Cable for Wired Connection
A wired connection usually is much faster than a wireless connection. Firstly, it doesn’t have to depend upon the closeness of the router from the device. The Ethernet line is plugged straight into the FireStick.
Secondly, there are no obstacles between the router and the device. Several electricals, as well as specific mechanical barriers, can weaken the Wi-Fi signal.
You can manage or even stop buffering on FireStick with the wired connection. For the wired connectivity on FireStick, you can purchase the Amazon Ethernet Adapter for Amazon Fire TV Devices from the official website of Amazon.
The internet/LAN wire and the power cord from your FireStick power adapter will fit into the Ethernet adapter. And later, you have to plug a separate cable from the Ethernet adapter into your FireStick.
Please keep in mind that you don’t need to get the Ethernet Adapter if you are already receiving actual network speed by your Wi-Fi connection.
7. Use a VPN
In some instances, your ISP disrupts the Internet service, which may generate buffering on FireStick.
The good news is that there’s a way to resolve this issue—a good and stable Virtual Private Network (VPN). The VPN will encrypt all the incoming and outgoing movements, which will provide you full secrecy from your ISP, and at the same time, it may also set an end to the buffering problems.
We recommend you to pick Express VPN as it’s one of the strongest and trusted VPN across the world. There have been no objections from the users’ side. It is an exclusive service, but it fits in everyone’s budget too.
Follow these steps to install ExpressVPN on FireStick.
1. Click HERE to get the ExpressVPN subscription.
2. Select the Search option from the FireStick home screen.
3. Look for the ExpressVPN app and install it.
4. Open ExpressVPN after installing it on your device and then Log in utilizing your ExpressVPN username and password.
5. Connect to a VPN server of your preference and begin seamless streaming.
Try to switch the server location and see if the streaming speed has gotten strong. For instance, if you are connected to a VPN server in the USA, you can transfer it to a location in Canada or UK, as that server might be less clogged, and you will get sufficient speed.
8. Clear up the FireStick RAM
The Amazon FireStick device comes with a RAM 1 GB size on FireStick 2nd Gen and 1.5 GB on FireStick 4K. That is not actually a lot but sufficient for a streaming device. However, such small data tend to get taken up relatively too soon.
Low RAM storage is one of the accused of the buffering you face on FireStick. The fact might surprise you that some applications keep hogging the RAM even when you shut them.
You can exclude the RAM storage by simply closing the background running applications. But how would you discover which apps are running in the background? Force stopping all the installed apps separately is tiresome and time-consuming.
Fortunately, there is an application you can utilize to find out the background apps and to close them. The name of that app is the Background Apps and Process List. You can install this free application from the Amazon Store.
Follow these steps to download the Background Apps & Process List app and to use it to close the background applications:
Navigate to the Search option from the FireStick main screen.
Search for the Background Apps and Process List app and follow the on-screen directions to get it.
Then, launch the app. You’ll see this note the first time you open it.
Uncheck the option’ Open app on boot’ if you don’t need the app to open automatically every time you restart the FireStick
Select the Got it tab.
You will notice the list of all the applications working in the background. Choose Close All Apps on the top-left side.
You will find the following screen for the first application on the list. Proceed and select Force Stop.
Once you do it, touch the back switch on the remote.
You will get the same options for the next app you choose. Select Force Stop again.
Keep redoing this process until you have removed all the background applications.
9. Clear Cache/Data of the Streaming App
Cleaning the cache of the streaming apps might help you with the buffering on FireStick. Many users have stated that third-party applications like Cyberflix TV, Cinema APK, Ola TV, BeeTV, etc., performed better after clearing the cache.
You may also remove the app data to reset the application to its default factory settings completely.
These are the steps to perform the action:
- Select the Settings option from the FireStick main screen.
- Choose Applications.
- Open Manage Installed Applications.
- You will now see the list of the installed apps on your device.
- Proceed and select the streaming app with buffering issues.
- You will see the app data and cache data details on the right side of the screen.
- Then, you can do one of the following:
- Clear data: This option will clear all the app associated data (including any sign-in details) and reset the application to the factory defaults. This will also remove the cache.
- Clear cache: If you just need to clear the cache and have the remaining information intact, pick this option instead.
10. Use Real Debrid to Overcome FireStick Buffering
If you are facing buffering issues on FireStick with third-party applications like Typhoon TV, Cinema HD, or Kodi add-ons like Venom, Exodus Redux, it would be an excellent plan to utilize Real Debrid.
These apps and add-ons produce free streaming links. But, the free links are often not safe. The servers to which these links lead are usually packed with millions of playback applications.
On the other hand, Real Debrid allows premium and high-quality sources exclusive to its subscribers. You will have zero or less buffering and more constant playback.
To sign up for Real Debrid, Click Here.
11. FireStick Overheating
This is another significant factor why the FireStick buffering issue occurs. When the device gets hot, the processor becomes slow.
In this process, you will see a few performance issues as well, so we highly suggest you keep the device cool and avoid it from warming as it may damage.
You can do many things to withdraw this device from warming, like use the Extender to put it away from the TV and let it get adequate airflow. You can uninstall some undesired apps that you don’t use often, or these are old, etc.
To reduce this problem, you should unplug the device when you are sleeping or not utilizing it. If the device heats, just turn off the TV and unplug the adapter to provide it rest for a minimum of 15 minutes.
12. Change the Privacy Settings
Amazon controls and manages your data on the pretext of marketing and development. There are chances to compromise your privacy. But, that’s not just it.
To continually observe and manage your information, your FireStick OS must have certain processes working in the background. This could slow down the FireStick and ultimately cause buffering problems.
Here is how you can disable data monitoring and data collection:
Go to Firestick Settings from the main screen.
Select Preferences on the following screen.
Choose Privacy Settings.
Turn OFF these options: Collect App Usage Data and Device Usage Data.
Then, press the back key one time and tick Data Monitoring.
Turn OFF Data Monitoring option.
13. Turning Off the Automatic Updates Option
Some other automated processes will also work in the background and make your device work at a slow speed. Turning these features off will assist with your buffering problems.
1 Open your FireStick device and choose Settings from the menu.
2 Then, choose Applications.
3 Next, go to the App Store.
4 Select Automatic Updates option and turn it off.
5 This will only turn off automatic updates for the applications that you have installed.
14. Reset the Router
Another method to fix wireless connection issues leading to FireStick buffering is to reset your network router. This lets your device to run evenly again.
Wait for at least 30 seconds to plug your router back to let the capacitors be completely ready and have your device’s memory removed. All settings will then be excluded, and you’re off to a clean plate.
It may also be worth updating your network router if paying for an upper-tier Internet plan.
Final Thoughts
The FireStick is a popular and user-friendly streaming device that offers viewers access to all types of media. But it can be challenging to deal with buffering issues, which are common with such devices. Luckily, if you follow the steps given in this article, you can stop buffering on FireStick without hiring an expert.
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