How can I stop Apple TV from buffering?

Buffering, for my AppleTV 4K, began after AppleTV+ appeared on my HomeScreen in June 2023.

I discovered I could Select AppleTV+ Menu actions once I 'subscribed' to AppleTV+. But, Buffering DID NOT occur while using AppleTV+.

Only the 4 apps I'd used for several years were buffering: Paramount+,

PBS, Prime Video and the YouTube

free app ALL Buffered!

Reading messages from others on

discussions.apple.com, revealed

AppleTV+ is NOT a app, but is part

of the 'AppleTV 4K OPERATING SYSTEM'.

I've Turned Off every AppleTV 4K SETTING I didn't need, then OffLoaded in (Settings, General, USAGE, Manage Storage) the

3-apps I was not using. Buffering still occurred, but not as often AND for

Shorter time.

Eventually, after talking with a Apple

Help Agent, he agreed to send our

discussion to Apple Engineering to

question: Does AppleTV+ Presence

in my AppleTV 4K Operating System

create a 'constant data load' due to

AppleTV+ constant programming

updates?

It's been just over one week now.

I've received no response. So, I followed advice from 'discussions'

here to increase my BandWidth.

My increase from 50Mbps to 60Mbps 'has' reduced Buffering.

Now Buffering interruptions are

infrequent and very short.

It seems my modern equipment:

SONY 4K TV, Up to Date Ethernet

and HDMI Cables which I Tested with my Klein Cable/Port Tester, AND 60Mbps Signal aren't good enough for AppleTV 4K Streaming.

It might be time to find better service

and equipment elsewhere.

The Apple TV will only buffer, if your internet connection is not fast enough to keep up with the stream demands.

What kind of Internet bandwidth do you pay for exactly?

What kind of speed are you getting really? You can use the Ookla speedtest app from the App Store to test your bandwidth if available for your device or TV.

Apple TV content, unlike things like Netflix or Amazon will not automatically adjust its quality if your bandwidth is lower than required for the stream. Apple TV+ and other content in the Apple TV app may be in 4K or at least HD and require more bandwidth than what you have.

It's not actually a widespread issue with either the Apple TV box nor the Apple TV app on other devices. If it were there would be tons of posts here complaining about it, and yours is the first one I'm seeing. Also, I have no issue with my Apple TV apps or the Apple TV box connected to my TV with buffering to lagging.

My assumption was you were using Apple TV hardware hence my answers to you. You have clarified that you are simply using Apple TV+ service and I'm assuming you are using it on another device such as a Smart TV, Roku box, etc..

If you are having difficulty with the Apple TV+ service my recommendation is to start by contacting the support of the device you are using, for example if you have an LG TV that has the Apple TV+ app within it's Smart TV apps then contact LG and see if they can assist.

Failing that you can call AppleCare and advise them you are using the Apple TV+ app and the device you are using and then see if they have suggestions. You can find the correct phone number for AppleCare by clicking AppleCare Contact Info. By the way being polite and patient goes a long way, we know you are frustrated so please try and treat the agent(s) you speak to the same way you like to be treated.

Your problem is also inadequate bandwidth, is your network a Mesh network? Network speed has nothing to do with bandwidth. You can have very fast download speeds where your router is located however if your router is on one end of the house and the Apple TV is on another end there is an excellent chance the Apple TV is not getting a good Wi-Fi signal.

In order to measure your Wi-Fi signal where the Apple TV is located you need a tool such as iStumbler to measure the Wi-Fi signal in the various locations in your home.

SOLVED:

I had the exact same issue. I have a 500 meg fiber connection and no issues on anything else.

I had an older AppleTV that was not 4K rated. I upgraded to an AppleTV 4k and the issue went away.

time to upgrade your device

Proper Connectivity SetUp

If not already done, here are tips for improving ANY Equipment Setup.

• keep at least 10" Separation between ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES (ISP NIC BOX, Surround Sound or Speaker Bar, Router).
• Gently Bundle ALL Ethernet AND HDMI Cables AWAY from ALL ELECTRIC Cables.
• Consult your Streaming Device (TV, AppleTV, RoKu etc) to confirm your proper SetUp.
• If buffering continues, your Streaming Unit may have Settings you've not yet tried, such as AppleTV STORAGE which lets you OffLoad Data Storage of InActive Streaming apps.
• These Steps do seem small, but together they contribute to better Streaming. I still have Buffering with Paramount+ but took advice found in discussion here which often solves THAT buffering. That advice - 'DELETE the app, THEN ReInstall the app'. Buffering can be due to Too Much Stored Data!
• DELETING Stored Data of UnUsed apps does free up BandWidth .
• Look for WebSite Reviews of 'your Streaming Device' and shut off Settings you're not using. Those Settings may likely Suck Up your BandWidth.
• Regards, ChipDale

Hi all,

I found that as soon as I stopped using the Apple TV+ app and just watched via a web browser on my phone, it worked perfectly. Could be wrong but I think it's the app

I've learned that Apple TV (unlike other streaming platforms) does not reduce their bandwidth to accommodate lower-bandwidth streaming platforms). I was about ready to tear my hair out until a friend of mine (who knows much more about this than I ever will) helped me install a mesh network (and ditch my older router). It's like painting my house with WiFi and best of all, no more buffering. And our other devices work much faster. If you don't want to do that, try shutting down all other WiFi devices in your house to maximize bandwidth on your player.

Please try the following:

• Unplug Modem from the wall power for 2-3 minutes.
• Unplug Router from the wall power 2-3 minutes.
• Unplug Apple TV from the wall power 2-3 minutes.

Then plug each device back in and give them about 5-10 minutes to fully boot and re-test. Also ensure you are NOT running any third party VPN on the ATV and that all the devices have up-to-date versions of their firmware and TV OS.

Finally, if you have not read the Terms of Use of these forums for awhile please re-read them. There is information in there I think you may not be aware of.

I know this seems daft but it solved this problem for me: make sure that your Apple TV 4K is the right way up!!! Mine was upside down for some reason (Apple logo underneath)... I had LOADS of trouble/resets until I turned the thing over... now it's perfect!

I've read elsewhere that Apple TV, unlike other streaming services, does not adjust its bandwidth requirements to accommodate the viewer's equipment. Maybe that's true, I'm not enough of a techno-geek to know. But I do know that running speed tests in various areas of my house on my phone, my router was doing a poor job of it. I installed a mesh network with three nodes (again, using the speed test app for placement), and voila! Problem gone. FWIW.

abhijith197 wrote:

Hello,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I dont think its a bandwidth issue. It would have affected all streaming services. I dont see any issue as such on Netflix, not even loss in quality. Apple TV on the other hand ends up freezing every 10 seconds and I am about to cancel my subscription.

Apple TV content, unlike things like Netflix or Amazon will not automatically adjust its quality if your bandwidth is lower than required for the stream. Apple TV+ and other content in the Apple TV app may be in 4K or at least HD and require more bandwidth than what you have.

Just because other services work, does not man you have no bandwidth issue. Other services may adjust their stream to your bandwidth. The Apple TV app does not do this.

Then you likely do not have adequate coverage where the Apple TV is located. Please use a tool such as iStumbler to measure the bandwidth where the Apple TV is located. If it is low as I suspect then you either need to move the Apple TV closer to the router or you need to upgrade your network to a Mesh network to ensure you have adequate coverage throughout your home.

Please do not confuse Internet Speed with Internet coverage.

If you are unfamiliar with Mesh networks, please do a little research and you will begin to get a good idea what I mean.

Of all my streaming devices, MacBook included, the Apple TV is the only Apple device having issues with buffering.

It is not a streaming issue.

You can however reduce the resolution from 4k to a lower resolution by going in to settings.

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.