Apple TV 3rd Gen Freezing/Buffering constantly

I too have been following this thread and dealing with this problem on my ATV3 for over 1 year, however, it's been excessively worse in 2015 with updates (currently on 7.2 firmware, 50 Mbps internet and only 2-3 devices connected at a time). Last month I got a Roku 3 and the difference is NIGHT and DAY... I've given up on the ATV and it's up for sale on craigslist. I won't be purchasing another ATV device. Besides the wifi issues, ATV just doesn't have the channel access the others have.

SOLUTION - buy a Roku or Chromecast or buy an HDMI cord and plug your laptop directly into your TV

I have had an Apple TV model A1469 (3rd generation, Rev A) for about a year now. It is running Apple TV software v.7.2 (7512) and is connected to the router with an ethernet cable. I have just run a broadband speed test which is giving a speed of 62.08M. There are no problems streaming on any other devices connected to the same router.

I have not had a single buffering issue with it, before now. It is now buffering on a regular basis, so I cannot listen to any of my music anymore. I have gone to all the Apple support options, but all they seem to say is, effectively, "switch it off and on again" or "it is a local network problem".

Now where did I put those boxes of CDs...?

What router do you use?

My problem was exactly the same as you - it turned out to be my Billion router - for some reason everything else streamed ok etc etc. I replaced it with a netgear one and all is good.

It is a Virgin Media Superhub (Netgear). It's the same one I have always used with the Apple TV, so no changes there, unless Virgin have updated the software.

How weird - have you factory reset your apple tv?

THe whole reason i purchased atv3 was to watch films and i am totally disapointed . Worked fine for a while now its starting to pause all the time and keeps going out the film . Even when streaming from my phone its the same .... Hence the reason mine is now up for sale . Starting to get really p****d off with the constant problems surrounding all apple products . This is including my iphone 6 and ipad mini . looking for atleast a responce from apple to resolve this or something . Lost all faith in apple products .

I like my Apple products, but I have given up on homesharing and streaming from iTunes. In the past years I have tried too many things to get this right. Maybe it is my specific situation, maybe this technique isn't mature yet.

Anyway, I now stream my movies from my NAS.

Happened on this thread - sorry to hear - my streaming issues

usually clear with re-start of all network gear . .

Good luck, Tom

I have just done a 'restore' and...so far, so good! All seems to be working again.

I will put the CDs back in the loft!

Restoring the device helped me as well!

I was in the same boat as you guys. For years my atv3 worked fine streaming from my computer to the tv. Then one day it started the buffering and play loop. I would restart,reset, and even reboot till it was running fine for days or a week and then the buffering would start again. I also have a western digital media player running Plex...it is right next to the Apple TV....for years it too played everything fine from my computer to tv. Now it is stalling (buffering) on playback.

So I came here to this forum and I found some answers to maybe the "why" this is happening. One member suggested to download a free software program that checks all the users in my area modems/routers to see what wifi channel they are on. Over the years when I had to reset my Apple I would see the list of available wifi networks to connect to grow and grow...my neighbors were joining the wireless community. Anyway, that software showed me that the channel my wifi was on was being used by 10 of my neighbors(channel6). So I switched to channel one...had to go into router settings and for the most part that fixed my buffering issues. I say the most part because it would buffer briefly at the beginning on some files and then play fine....the rest would play fine from start to finish. Either way it was almost back to what I was used to before my problems started.

The next thing I decided to do was connect the Apple directly to ethernet. No more wifi...have it hardwired instead. WOW!! What a difference that made. Everything on my computer streams fast to the Apple...no more buffering issues. If you have exhausted all options perhaps buying a power line or running a wire to your Apple TV might solve the buffering problems. I totally agree that it is not right that the Apple fails to work properly using wifi..we shouldn't have to hardwire it to get it to work properly. Well...hopefully my experience with this issue helps someone else.

Rebooting my Apple TV, modem, router all did absolutely nothing. BUT what did help was going into my router settings and unchecking box that said 'auto scan channels'. Also, I changed the channel it was on manually. ..my wifi has never been faster - Apple TV is working amazing!! Thanks for providing me with a base to start from!

It is happening continually on 3 apple tvs

Doesn't that suggest it isn't an issue with the devices?

Or does it indicate a software/hardware problem with the devices? What you don't know is that I have taken the following steps to try to resolve the buffering. The first is a replace my Airport Extreme with the latest and greatest router available. The second is I have tested the Internet speed numerous times when I find the Apple TV buffering. Internet speed is fine. I have put the units on their own band 2.4GB and moved all other devices to the 5GB band. Still happens. Checked the signal strength on the devices and they are 4 bars or better. Network connection has not been an issue as all other devices work when this is happening but the Apple TV. I realize the Apple does not put into their devices the best wireless hardware and maybe that this the problem. Everything on the network works great but the stupid Apple TV. They are the only device which has issues.