As a subscriber, paying for Apple TV content is one thing –you’ll still need a good internet connection, or videos will keep buffering or freezing.
As dreadful as the experience can be on Apple TV, the real problem behind content freezing and buffering constantly in most cases is your internet connection.
But if the issue occurs solely on Apple TV and not on other streaming devices, then you have to troubleshoot Apple TV through the methods below.
Why Apple TV freezes or buffers constantly
From our research into this issue, we found that the problem can range from a particular video failing to load to the content freezing intermittently while watching. The issues occur because:
- You have a slow network connection
- You do not have enough bandwidth to stream the content
- An app on the device is not working or consuming too much memory
- The device software is out-of-date
Ways to fix the buffering or freezing issue on Apple TV
Fix a freezing and buffering Apple TV through these methods:
1. Restart Apple TV
Restarting your device is the simplest solution for fixing freezing and buffering issues. To restart Apple TV:
- Go to Settings
- Select System (Apple 4K TV or Apple TV HD) or General (Apple TV 3rd generation or earlier)
- Select Restart
If you cannot restart by going to system settings because of freezing, power cycle the device by unplugging it from the power source, wait for 30 seconds and then plug it back in.
You can also use your Apple TV Remote or Siri Remote. Hold down the Home or Apple TV app button and Menu buttons. Next, let go of both buttons once you see a flashing light on the device.
For the aluminum or white Apple remote, hold down the Down and Menu buttons and then let go immediately you see a flashing light.
2. Hard reset your Apple TV
A hard reset will erase your device’s memory, restore it to factory settings, and remove any information you added to it.
This is recommended if your Apple TV is frozen on the home screen, especially when a simple restart does not fix the problem.
- Go to Settings > System/General > Reset
- After tapping on Reset, choose an option – Reset or Reset and Update (Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD) or Reset All Settings or Restore (Apple TV 3rd generation)
- Choose Reset to return the device to factory settings without connecting to the internet
- Select Reset and Update to return the device to factory settings and install the software updates
- For 3rd generation devices, choose Reset All Settings to reset your settings, including configurations and accounts. Or, select Restore to return the device to factory settings and install the software updates
Throughout this process, ensure you have plugged the device into its power source. If the progress bar appears paused or stuck on the update, do not unplug or restart your Apple TV.
Give it time to finish the update. But if it continues for several hours, contact Apple Support.
3. Check your internet connection
If you are facing a problem with constant buffering, you need to troubleshoot your internet connection to find a fix.
- If you are using a cellular connection, connect your device to a Wi-Fi network, and then try again.
- If you have a router, ensure it is compatible with the 802.11a/g/n/ac network standards.
- Run a speed test to ensure that you are streaming at 8mpbs or higher for HD content, 6mbps for 720p, and 2.5mbps for standard definition. For 4K, you need 25mbps.
You can also monitor your bandwidth speed and consumption. When many devices use the same network for activities like streaming and gaming, it can slow down the internet speed.
If other people are downloading content on the same network, ask them to stop temporarily, and see whether it fixes the problem.
If it does, you need to increase your bandwidth. If this doesn’t work, consider getting a good router for streaming.
4. Turn Home Sharing OFF, then ON
Whenever you have Apple TV stuck on the home-sharing screen, the simplest solution is to turn OFF and ON home-sharing.
- Launch iTunes
- Go to the File section
- Select Home Sharing
- Turn the option OFF then ON
- Sign in using your Apple ID account
The steps should fix the problem.
5. Switch to a different screen mode
If your Apple TV shows a white screen, switch it to a different screen mode. To do this:
- Unplug the HDMI cable from both ends and then plug them back again.
- Turn off the TV and power cycle your device.
- Go to the TV menu and select an HDMI input that matches the HDMI port connected to your Apple TV.
Whenever you perform each of the above steps, check whether it fixes the white screen. If it does not, contact Apple Support.
6. Switch from Wi-Fi to Ethernet
This method applies to those who have currently connected their Apple TVs to their routers through Wi-Fi.
A poor Wi-Fi connection or one that uses the old standards will often lead to an unstable connection. This often causes Apple TV to buffer randomly.
A quick fix is to connect your Apple TV to your router using an Ethernet cable. Choose an RJ45 cable with high bandwidth and high-speed data transfer. You can easily get one with up to 40,000 Mbps and 2000 MHz speeds for about $10.
If you don’t have a specific cable in mind, we recommend Cat 8 cables from either Orbram or Ugreen.
7. Switch to a different HDMI Cable
An HDMI cable transfers data, both video and sound, from the Apple TV box to your TV screen.
If it isn’t working properly, you will not only notice an image lag but sometimes the video and sound may not match.
Try switching to a different HDMI cable or using the same cable to connect to another device other than your Apple TV box. If it works, then the cable isn’t the source of the problem.
However, consider replacing the HDMI cable if you notice a lag or a black screen. Consider the iVanky High-Speed HDMI cable when shopping for a new one.
If your Apple TV keeps buffering or freezing, the easiest fix is to restart the device. You can also check your internet connection to ensure you have enough bandwidth.
For cases where you see a white screen or the device gets locked up, power cycle it or switch to a different screen mode. But if everything does not work, contact Apple Support.