Apple TV+ Buffering Constantly and only Apple TV+

Welp -- I did find a workaround:

I use the Apple TV application on my Macbook Air to do the actual streaming part (i.e., to get the video and audio off the internet). Then I use AirPlay to connect to my Roku. Turns out that when you watch Apple TV on a Macbook, it pops up a window for watching stuff, and that window has an AirPlay icon in the lower-right, so that only the Apple TV content streams to the Roku (i.e., it doesn't just mirror my laptop's whole display, it correctly sends the Apple TV content and uses the full screen on my TV). Also, in that state, I can use my Roku's remote to pause the show (i.e., I don't have to use the laptop to pause and resume).

From this we learn two facts, which are related:

1. There's no bandwidth issue and there's not actually a problem at the Apple server end, since with the right combination of hardware and software I can watch Apple TV at my home.
2. Therefore the problem must be with my Roku and the other streaming devices I've tested. Is it the Roku app? Is it that my Roku is kind of old (hence the current app may have problems with my old Roku)? Don't know.

I solved this issue by restarting my roku and then uninstalling/reinstalling my apple tv app.

Hope this will help someone!

I just canceled my subscription because of the buffering. I have most streaming services & AppleTV is the only app that is constantly buffering.

I have business grade 1.2 GB service with only 3 devices on right now and the buffering is substantial. I get 2 seconds of frames and 5 seconds of lag fairly consistent.

Add me to the list of Apple TV+ buffering sufferers.

Xfinity broadband service delivering 659 Mbps right now.

AppleTV 4K, streaming from YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime never suffer buffering.

Started a free Apple TV+ trial subscription a few weeks ago, and now it's almost unusable in the evening. Just last night (Christmas '23) we were trying to watch a Ted Lasso episode, and the stream would freeze every few minutes. It would usually restart in a few minutes, but sometimes I had to kill the AppleTV app and start all over. Not a real crowd pleaser in my household. If things don't improve to level comparable to the other streaming services, I will be cancelling the AppleTV+ subscription when the free period ends.

Yep, exact same situation. Every other platform works fine. I’m on a gigabyte service. It happens every time I go the Apple+ platform. It sits and cycles and cycles and cycles and then says “please retry”. Apple has really gone downhill the last few years, it’s incredible. A the only reply is to point to non-Apple related sources as the problem. They learned a lot from Microsoft after all.

Having same issue and it’s not our connection, bandwidth or TV. It’s Apple. Will not continue with the service if they won’t fix it. Very frustrating getting into a series and it keeps skipping and buffering. Nothing else does this apart from Apple TV app on our smart TV which is wired into our router. Anyone from Apple want to fix it?

That does not help any for people who do not have anything except for a streaming player or a smart TV. I’m glad it works for you though. I have tried all the shows on my list for Apple TV and it freezes and lags like it’s a slideshow from the minute. The TV show comes up, but all of my other streaming services are working fine. The other responses it doesn’t seem like Apple once to figure it out and make their stuff work, right. Maybe it takes enough people to drop the service and then start losing money before they start paying attention to technical issues.

Read On - many AppleTV app, and/or AppleTV Streaming Unit users, have cited buffering in discussions here.

Search 'AppleTV buffering' to read

similar complaint, and other problem issues with AppleTV on this site.

These are issues I adjusted for my AppleTV 4k Streaming Unit:

• Upgraded HDMI Patch Cords to Current standard with Gold Plated Blade Tips
• Test, or at least examine, any connecting gear such as Ethernet Patch Cords for fit, length, or damage; too long is not good.
• Remove Power from All Connected Equipment, wait few minutes, then ReStart Gear in this Sequence: #1 ISP NID(your Internet connection) #2 your Router if you use one. #3 AppleTV Streaming Unit if you use one. #4 your HDTV. #5 examine all Settings on every Device in your Streaming Connectivity. Follow User Manual for each device
• Update AppleTV to Latest tvOS 17.3
• Shut Down Settings you don't use
• For AppleTV Streaming Unit, consider UnLoading apps not in use: Settings, General, Manage Storage(Select the WasteBasket) I don't KNOW such app UnLoading does any good but on my System it seems to help that i enable only 'one app at a time'
• It's good practice to ask your ISP Customer Rep, on Phone call to their Troubleshooting Tel#, to Test Verify their Streaming Service to their NID(Network Interface Device) often mistakingly called a MoDem(outdated old tech which cannot carry Streaming Service).

• Good Luck! You'll likely encounter, both, AppleTV Streaming Unit(s) And HDTV AppleTV 'app only' posts here. Pay attention to the advice from 'Long Term Users' of this discussion site. If you are familiar with 'Flow Charting' that will make troubleshooting easier. Good Luck!
• ChipDale

We have been having issues with our ATV4K box and the internet connection. Particularly during "peak times" of the evening.

• One is connected directly to the router with a CAT8 ethernet, the other is WiFi only
• Router has been replaced
• ATV4K has been factory reset
• Network data speed is around 950Mbps DownLoad and UpLoad
• Wired ATV4K drops to 200Mbps Download but stays at 950Mbps UpLoad
• Wireless ATV4K drops even lower to around 120Mbps - which sounds like more than enough, but streaming buffers and/or fails to load
• NO OTHER device anywhere on the network shows similar drops in speed, ONLY the two ATV4K boxes

Is this a bizarre bug to add to the list of Apple bugs of late?

Hi Ken! My AppleTV 4k also buffered. I examined my whole Network and Devices for Buffering Faults. These steps cut back my

buffering significantly:

• Replaced outdated Ethernet Cat-5 cables with New Cat-6
• Replaced older HDMI cables with new Gold Plated connecting Tips
• 'End to End tested' all cables and Ports with my Klein Tester
• Removed UnUsed Ethernet to TV
• Discovered 'Severed Earth Ground Cable' & had ISP dispatch Tech to ReConnect damaged 'Earth Ground Cable' from ISP Outdoor Service Entry Box. 'Disconnection of Earth Ground can Diminish BandWidth' Earth Ground is a Signal Reference Point.
• Turned Off every, 'UnUsed', AppleTV Setting especially: Background App Refresh, Podcasts, Siri, Shared with You, Free Downloads, For All of You, Home Sharing, Tap-to-Zoom, Navigation Clicks, Automatic Subtitles & Subtitle Language, Notifications, AirPlay and HOMEKIT, All Accessibility Settings, Automatically Update or Install Apps.
• I also make use of this 'General Setting' in USAGE, Manage Storage to 'Offload all Apps I'm not currently using, so I have only 'One Loaded App' at a time.
• I'm CHEAP! But, unless my 'Out of Town' Daughter visits, turning off all those Settings remain OFF!
• Also, 'So Called' ISP SPEED TESTS are unreliable since they're dedicated to a Low Use Fibre Strand
• Good Luck, and BTW have you noticed AppleTV Plus is part of the AppleTV unit 'Operating System'? Have you noticed AppleTV Plus constantly updates?

ChipDale

This is nuts! Everything else works fine; clearly their “smart” TV related apps are awful.

Yes but repeatedly is a major nuisance and inconvenience. I could be a tech for them I do it so much!

My Apple App won’t load on my Roku device after I canceled it to attempt to toubleshoot buffering issues. Now it won’t reload on Roku but will play on my IPhone 11 without issues. Why won’t it load on the Roku device?

Unfortunately I have not found a solution. The problem is inconsistent as to when it happens. Meaning that sometimes it is during what I would call peak viewing times of the day and other times it happens at times when I doubt there is high traffic. The only thing that is consistent is that it is limited to the AppleTV+ app on my AppleTV 4k device. All other services on that device stream fine and AppleTV on other devices stream fine with no buffering issues. Very strange and frustrating.