Roku or Fire Stick Keeps Buffering? How to Fix Streaming Lag
Constant buffering ruins streaming. Here is how to fix it whether the problem is your device, your WiFi, or your internet speed.
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Diagnose the Cause
Buffering has three possible causes: your streaming device, your WiFi connection, or your internet speed. To diagnose, try streaming on a different device (phone or laptop) on the same WiFi. If the other device also buffers, the problem is your WiFi or internet, not the streaming device. If only the Roku or Fire Stick buffers, the problem is the device itself. Also run a speed test from the streaming device: on Roku, install the Speed Test channel. On Fire Stick, search for Internet Speed Test in the app store. You need at least 5 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K.
Fix the Streaming Device
Restart the device first — this clears the cache and fixes most temporary issues. For Roku, go to Settings, System, Power, System Restart. For Fire Stick, go to Settings, My Fire TV, Restart. Clear the cache for the specific app that is buffering: Settings, Apps, select the app, Clear Cache. Check for device updates: Settings, System, Software Update. If your device is more than 3 to 4 years old, its processor may simply be too slow for newer streaming apps — consider upgrading to a current model (Roku Express or Fire Stick Lite costs about 30 dollars).
Fix Your WiFi Connection
Move the router closer to the streaming device or vice versa. Walls, floors, and distance degrade WiFi signal. If the streaming device is more than 2 rooms from the router, use a WiFi extender or connect the device via ethernet using a USB ethernet adapter (about 15 dollars). Change your router to a less congested WiFi channel. If other devices on your network are consuming bandwidth (someone downloading files or other TVs streaming), the available bandwidth for your device decreases.
Fix Your Internet Speed
If your internet speed test shows less than 25 Mbps, you may not have enough bandwidth for 4K streaming, especially with multiple devices online. Lower the streaming quality in the app settings to save bandwidth: in Netflix, go to Profile, Settings, Playback Settings, and select Medium or Low. Contact your ISP about upgrading your plan if you consistently fall below the required speeds. If your speed test shows good speeds but streaming still buffers, the issue may be congestion during peak hours (evenings) and changing your DNS to Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) may help.
