Apple TV Buffering

It’s been a while since anyone has posted about this but I stumbled across this thread today as I’m having these issues. Everything else works fine but Apple TV will buffer to no end. I can’t watch anything on it without getting annoyed and turning it off. Why is this still a problem?!

Posted on Apr 4, 2023 10:20 AM

Reply
46 replies

Aug 13, 2023 12:56 PM in response to Kellen4

I am in the UK and have superfast fibre broadband. I have NO ISSUES with any other streaming service. Apple TV is THE ONLY app that I have any problem with. I am on a trial period with the App and NOTHING so far has encouraged me to continue my subscription at the end of the trial. Also the series that I am trying to watch has a terrible audio mix. The spoken word is way too quiet and the music/soundtrack is deafening. Very poor from Apple.

Perhaps Apple could come up with a fix!

Sep 23, 2023 11:01 PM in response to Kellen4

Despite what the first reply says, the TV app on a physical Apple TV and the Apple TV app on other devices absolutely will drop to a lower bitrate in an attempt to maintain playback without buffering.


And like others, I have noticed in the last few days that any show streamed through the TV app (and coincidentally any download from the App Store) is agonizingly slow and it is definitely not a bandwidth issue because other streaming apps on the same device work just fine even with 4K HDR content. And a speed test app properly shows my connection speed maxing out at 1Gbps (I have a 2.5Gbps service, the Apple TV only supports up to 1 though). I have also tried plugging in an Ethernet cable with no difference made.


This issue is only limited to Apple services. My ISP says they're not throttling connections to Apple services, so whatever is going on the last few weeks seems to be on Apple's end.

Sep 25, 2023 4:45 PM in response to Phil0124

I believe Ookla Speed Test, and other 'so called' Speed Tests, are a misdirection effort by the ISP's.


Many questions & remarks about

'Internet Speed' do not mention the

facts of ISP's actual 'delivery of signal'.

We customers do not pay for 'speed'; we pay for 'Bandwidth' also

known as 'Throughput'. We pay for

enough 'Bandwidth' to support our

desired Viewing, Browsing, email,

messaging, and 'Large File Sharing'

needs.

FibreOptic 'Speed' is 'One Speed' on the Trunk Cable from the ISP Front

End Origin of Service to our local town Hub. That Hub delivers 'paid for' Bandwidth to our local Neighborhood 'FTTN', AerialTerminal or Curb Pedestal 'FTTC', and in new

neighborhoods 'FTTH' ending,

typically, at a in-Home Fibre Optic

Terminal or on a Outdoor Wall.


It's up to each customer to decide

their level of Bandwidth.


That job can be difficult depending on how the Customer manages the 'Router, HDMI & Ethernet Cables, & Settings for all that equipment.


That's why 'ISP Routers' are the best choice for any ISP Customer.


That Trunk Cable serves millions of Customers including Business Customers who may require Giga,

Nano or Terra bit Bandwidth.

Residential Customers MAY require

such higher Bandwidth when using online Gaming, 2160p UHD TV, or multiple TV's, Game Module's,

Cellphone Data and/or Frequent and

Long Cellphone conversations all at the same time.


Tweaking Router, Ethernet Cables &

WiFi, Streaming Devices such as

Apple TV 4K, and Bluetooth needs,

is straightforward, only, when the

Customer follows ALL Setup AND

Settings directions. Yeah I know; it

ain't Grandpa's TV anymore.


My advice is to make Internet Use

as Simple as We Can, experimenting

can be a real drag.


THE BEST Setup for Residential Customers happens when WE HAVE ALL OUR NEEDS COVERED BY A VISITING TECH WHO CONFIRMS

HOW WE INTEND TO USE THEIR

SERVICE CONNECTION.





Oct 2, 2023 1:58 PM in response to Shoya23

Shoya23 - I'm with 'all' of you who are experiencing Apple TV Buffering

since Apple incorporated Apple TV plus in the Apple TV Streaming unit.


I turn off every Apple TV setting I can AND OffLoad all other apps to be sure they don't contribute as Bandwidth Vampires while keeping one app active. Some of my Home

efforts have 'reduced occurrence' of

buffering; bit it still happens.


I believe Apple's inclusion of their

'Apple TV plus' in the Apple TV Operating System has 'gummed up'

the Apple TV device streaming

bandwidth.


My 50mbps ISP Service has delivered outstanding connectivity

for 8 years, now over their FTTC connection.


I'm a retired Communications Tech.

I've verified my Home Network cabling and Ethernet Ports with my Klein Test kit. I've had my ISP Remote test their NIC unit twice.


Unless Apple, at least, responds to

our buffering concerns I believe our

only choice is to buy our service

elsewhere.




Oct 6, 2023 7:31 PM in response to Kellen4

Could it be a bandwidth issue but on Apples side. Like I've experienced buffering issue with content that seems to be be the popular kind. Like Invasion, Foundation, etc. For example if I watch Foundation a day after it's released date or a few hours the buffering is much more constant than if I wait a few days. As everyone here, buffering issues. Router is a few feet away. No other issues with other streamers. They are a smaller stream service in comparison so perhaps their servers get clogged up which leads to buffering issues. Just throwing an idea out there.

Apple TV Buffering

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