Firestick Buffering Issues

Firestick is great, but most users often experience buffering issues while streaming content. To bypass these issues, this guide will show you how to stop Firestick buffering issues that will show you how to stop Firestick buffering. So, keep reading to resolve all the buffering issues on your Firestick device.

Firestick is a great device, and I never doubt it when it comes to the best streaming experience.

It is because Firestick is not only portable, but it has everything to make your streaming perfect. It offers hundreds of apps that you can download from the Amazon App Store. You even have the option of installing other third-party apps on Firestick to make the most out of your device.

Understandably, everything has its pros and cons; therefore, Firestick also has some downsides. One of the major problems that users mostly complain about is Firestick buffering.

Many times when you stream content, you suddenly experience buffering on Firestick. These buffering issues on Firestick is the worst thing ever that makes your viewing experience frustrating.

Nevertheless, there’s nothing that you should worry about and nothing that you can’t fix. This blog will explain to you quick and easy fixes to stop buffering on Firestick.

I am pretty sure that after following these quick and simple troubleshooting tricks, you will never undergo Firestick Buffering issues again.

Moreover, the best thing is that all the outlined troubleshooting steps will support all the Firestick devices, including older Firestick devices, and FireStick 4K, Fire TV Stick Lite, and Fire TV Cube.  So, without further ado, let’s explore how to stop buffering on Firestick.

Buffering on Firestick-Main Reasons/Causes

Various factors might contribute to causing Firestick buffering. Therefore, it’s better to understand the causes of Firestick buffering beforehand in order to resolve things effectively. Below is a list of main reasons that cause your Firestick to buffer:

• ISP throttling

When your ISP purposely throttles down your connection, it causes buffering and disrupts your streaming activities. The best solution is to connect with a VPN to hide your network and browsing details from ISP and other intruders.

• Slow internet connection

If you’re streaming in 4K, your internet speed has to be 20Mbps. Slow internet speed will increase buffering issues.

• Distance between Modem and Firestick device

In case you have placed your Firestick device at a distance from your Wi-Fi modem, the signal strength will turn out to be weak and will cause Firestick buffering issues.

• Low Ram

On Firestick, many apps run in the background, due to which the Firestick starts running low on Ram and ultimately causes buffering problems.

• Full storage

Firestick devices contain 8GB of storage, the OS already used a lot of it, and that’s one of the main causes of Firestick buffering.

• Overheating and outdated OS

Overheating and old or outdated OS also cause buffering on Firestick.

How to check if you really have a buffering issue

Firstly, it’s important to determine whether you’re really experiencing a buffering issue or not. It can be difficult to tell what is responsible for causing your specific problem, so here are some ways to check:

• Try watching a new stream

If you’re trying to stream something on your Firestick and it’s loading slowly, try watching something else to see if that loads equally slowly as well. Sometimes, lag can be attributed to a server problem with the current item you’re trying to watch as opposed to a general buffering issue.

• Try using a different internet connection

To see if it’s your current internet connection that’s been resulting in slow buffering speeds, try going to your friend’s house or another location to compare buffering speeds. If there’s an obvious difference in quality, the culprit is likely to be on your end.

• Try using a different device

Sometimes, buffering issues can be linked to the type of device you’re using. If it’s an outdated model or has some technical issues, slow buffering speeds may not be because of a slow internet connection.

How to Stop Buffering on Your Firestick

1. Restart your Firestick

Restarting your device can resolve many problems at once. If you think that you have no idea how to stop Firestick buffering, you can always start with restarting your Firestick device. It is one of the best and the most effective ways to stop buffering issues on Firestick. Here’s how to restart your Firestick device:

• Head to the Firestick home screen, and click on the Settings.

• Click where you see the option for My Fire TV.

• In the next step, select Restart. You will be prompted with a message asking you about the confirmation of your selected action.

• Select Restart again to confirm your desired action.

• Finally, the Firestick will reboot. The process will take a few minutes.

2. Check Internet speed

The most obvious cause of slow buffering is a slow internet speed or a bad connection. You can go to ‘Settings’ from the Firestick home screen, click ‘Network’ then click on your Wi-Fi address/name to check its status under ‘Signal Strength’. WFMY News 2 reports that some of the most common causes of slow Wi-Fi include thick walls that block the signal. They suggest installing a mesh satellite closer to the room’s entrance to improve the signal. Also, oddly enough, your kitchen fridge and your microwave can also mess with your signal so it’s a good idea to switch your device to the 5G band on your router if it’s available. Having a lot of neighbors can also cause signals to get congested, so switching to another Wi-Fi channel on your router could be the solution. To check your speed, you can also try the free web service Speedtest by Ookla to see if you’re getting your money’s worth. If not, maybe it’s time to switch providers, find a wired connection, or see if there’s anything wrong with your current setup.

3. Use a VPN for safer browsing

Sometimes, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can throttle your speed if you’re consuming too much data, impacting your viewing experience. If there’s high traffic in your neighborhood, you’re probably going to experience slow speeds. To combat this, you should find a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which results in faster speeds and hides your streaming activity from surveillance. It also safeguards your personal information and enables you to access content from all over the world. Depending on your needs and budget, Forbes recommends some VPN services such as NordVPN, Express VPN, and FastestVPN to solve all your buffering issues.

4. Always make sure you install the latest Firestick updates

The Firestick operating system comes out with regular updates that may include new security features or changes to your interface. Although it may be a hassle for you to keep updating your Firestick, it can actually boost buffering speeds. To do so, go to the home menu, click ‘Settings’, scroll to the right and click ‘Device’, then click ‘Check for System Update’ and confirm in the next window. If there’s a new update, you’ll receive a prompt to download and install it.

5. Uninstall applications you don’t need

If you have a lot of apps that you’re not using, they can be slowing down your entire Firestick system. Third-party apps can often cause problems because they’re not perfectly optimized in terms of compatibility, so it’s best to uninstall any unwanted apps to see if they’re the reason behind your buffering issues.

At the end of the day, buffering issues definitely cause tons of frustration and can make it difficult for you to unwind at the end of a long day. To ensure that your Firestick operates at its optimal capacity in terms of speed, follow each of the steps above to see if any of them solve your buffering problems.

6. Clear cache/data of Firestick streaming apps

Clearing the cache of the streaming apps is important; it resets the app to its default factory settings. Users have often noticed that when they clear the cache of third-party streaming apps like Ola TV, Cinema APK, and Cyberflix, these apps start performing way better than before. Here’s how to clear cache /data of streaming apps on Firestick:

• Go Firestick home screen and click “Settings.”
• Under settings, click “Applications.”

• Double click on “Manage Installed Applications” to open it.

• You will now see a list of the apps; select the one with buffering issues.
• On the right side of the window, you will see the option for “Clear data,”  and “Clear cache.”

• Select anyone from the available options. Clear data will clear all the app-related data like sign-in information. The clear cache will accumulate device storage.

Does the quality of a video also cause Firestick buffering?

It is absolutely true that your video quality also becomes a cause of Firestick buffering. Videos in 4K demand higher resolution and data bandwidth that ultimately generate buffering issues, and playback quality also gets compromised.

Does using Real Debrid for third-party streaming apps stop buffering issues on Firestick?

Yes, integrating Real Debrid with third-party streaming apps allows you to connect with fast and reliable servers that help you get rid of Firestick buffering.

How to change Firestick privacy settings to stop buffering?

Amazon monitors your Firestick data to improve its services. As a result, your Firestick OS keeps running some programs in the background. The running programs in the background eventually slow down the speed and cause buffering problems.

The best way to stop Firestick buffering is to change your privacy settings and stop Amazon from monitoring and collecting your data. Here’s how to do it:

• Open Firestick home screen and click “Settings.”
• On the next screen, click “Preferences.”

• Click where you find “Privacy Settings.”

• Now, turn off the “Device Usage Data” and ”Collect App Usage Data” options.

• Tap on the back button, and click “Data Monitoring.”

• Turn off the “Data Monitoring” option.

• That’s it!

Wrapping Up

Hopefully, this guide on how to stop buffering on Firestick should help out. It contains all the possible solutions to help you resolve buffering issues on Firestick. Make sure to try these workarounds and enjoy your Firestick streaming to the best.