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Apple TV+ Buffering

We use our Apple TV to stream all content. Everything works well and without interruption, because of our robust internet speed and connectivity, except programs on the Apple TV+ app. The only workable solution we’ve found is to hard boot the Apple TV device but it is only a temporary fix until the next time we try to watch Apple TV+. This is not a desirable situation or solution. We experience this lag in service on the Apple TV+ app across multiple Apple TV device’s and since it is only limited to this app I am wondering if anyone else has this problem and if there is something wrong and unique to the Apple TV+ app?

Apple TV 4K, tvOS 14

Posted on Sep 4, 2021 9:21 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 8, 2021 5:21 PM

This can’t be a transport issue, this only occurs with the Apple TV device and the tv+ service, that combination specifically. I have a consistent 800+ Mbps connection and two Apple TV devices, one running the betas and the other production code.

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13 replies

Sep 6, 2021 7:39 AM in response to brown_family3

brown_family3,


Thanks for coming back. It sounds like you have a fast internet connection, but your actual internal Wi-Fi network could be the bottleneck, especially if you have lots of devices on your network. One way of testing this is to run an Ethernet cable directly to the Apple TV to see if that helps the issue. You can see more about this process here:


If your Apple TV can't connect to Wi-Fi


Best Regards.

Sep 5, 2021 8:32 AM in response to brown_family3

Hello brown_family3,


Thanks for reaching out to us in Apple Support Communities about buffering while using Apple TV+. We're happy to help by looking into this more! 


The following support article provides some troubleshooting steps to try for this behavior:


If you can't watch or stream movies and TV shows in the Apple TV app


As mentioned in the article, if you connect via Wi-Fi, you will need to make sure your Wi-Fi network is capable enough for the HD content in Apple TV+. Streaming HD content requires 8 Mbit/s or faster. Slower tiers of Wi-Fi connections might not be fast enough to stream HD video content.


Hope this helps.


Best Regards.

Sep 11, 2021 7:46 AM in response to c_luc9

Unfortunately running an Ethernet cable to the Apple TV devices isn’t possible I have a cable modem and running Ethernet from the modem to the nearest tv would require a very (at least 50 ft.) long cable. If it were the network can you explain why only the Apple TV+ streaming is effected? Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Netflix stream without problem?

Oct 4, 2021 1:15 PM in response to brown_family3

brown_family3,


Thanks for the reply. Not all services stream at the same quality. Some services will require more data depending on the quality at which they stream data. The Ethernet cable suggestion was meant to be more of a test and not a permanent solution, if that helps with the overall distance the cable needs to run. Testing with an Ethernet cable can help us to isolate the issue and also allow your Apple TV to update to the latest version of TVOS to see if that helps. Let us know what the results of that test are and if using an Ethernet cable helps at all.


Update your Apple TV - Apple Support


Hope this helps.


Best Regards.

Nov 8, 2021 8:19 PM in response to Jamels

From the article above - will Apple invest into the delivery of their tv+ to more service provider as did Netflix?


”Earlier this year, Netflix decided to start paying Comcast an undisclosed but substantial fee to directly connect its network, and, lo, did the download speed suddenly increase. Netflix has since signed other similar agreements. By opting in, Netflix is adding expense which will have to be passed on to customers and which lands squarely in the pockets of ISP executives and shareholders. Apple, to offer competitive quality with Netflix, needs the same deal, even though Apple is thus far more akin to a video-download service rather than a streaming one. So far, these contracts and fees remain outside any requirements of reporting to the public under any FCC rules, and thus there’s no independent way for consumers or regulators to assess their fairness or necessity.”

Apple TV+ Buffering

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