Twitch buffering is like being on an important phone call and having bad service.
(Can you hear me now?)
You miss all the good stuff, it makes little sense as to why it’s happening, and all you can do is just sit there and wait.
But, luckily, there’s one major difference.
You have more control when it comes to fixing Twitch buffering.
And we’re about to nip this problem in the bud.
Why Does Twitch Keep Buffering? The 5 Main Reasons
1. Internet connection
The most common reason Twitch keeps freezing is because of an unstable internet connection. This can happen for several reasons–some of which (like the ISP having issues) are out of your control.
2. Background apps
Programs running in the background will suck your device’s processing power and cause Twitch to lag. I’ll give you a quick fix for this shortly.
3. Cookies or cache
If you’re watching Twitch on a desktop, there’s a chance that your browser’s cache is slowing Twitch down. Clearing your cache and cookies is easy peasy (instructions to follow).
4. Browser issues
Sometimes certain browsers randomly won’t play well with Twitch. This is becoming increasingly uncommon, but it’s worth noting if other fixes don’t do the trick.
5. Malware
Finally, there is always a chance that malware is impacting Twitch buffering. You can suspect there might be an issue here if your device loads everything slowly and is acting abnormally. Hopefully, this isn’t the case.
How to Stop Twitch From Buffering
All tutorials are done in Google Chrome because it’s the best. You should be able to do most of these fixes in a different browser, though.
1. Disable hardware acceleration
Click the three dots on the top right of your Chrome window, then click Settings and “Advanced”.
Click “System” then uncheck “Use hardware acceleration when available”.
2. Clear cache
Click the three dots on the top right of your Chrome window, then click Settings and “Security and Privacy”.
Then, click “Clear browsing data”.
3. Use a different browser
Sometimes, for whatever reason, using a different browser will work even when the browser you’ve used always worked in the past.
Some options you could try include:
4. Disable browser extensions
Click the three dots on the top right of your Chrome window, then click Settings. Hover over “More tools” then click “Extensions”.
You can then uncheck any Chrome extension you aren’t using from the list. This will not delete the extension–it will simply deactivate it until you decide to turn it back on.
I recommend disabling any unnecessary extension.
5. Change your DNS
A lot of Twitch users say they’ve been able to fix buffering issues by changing their DNS.
You can do this by going to your Control Panel and clicking “Network and Sharing Center”.
Then, click “Change adapter settings” on the sidebar.
Right-click “Wi-Fi” then click on “Properties”.
Click “Internet Protocol Version 4” and then “Properties”.
Then on the pop-up box, click “Use the following DNS server address” and the bottom and enter these codes:
- Preferred DNS server: 8*8*8*8
- Alternate DNS server: 8*8*4*4
Finally, click “Ok”.
6. Close background applications
Background apps on your tablet, computer, or mobile device can significantly bog down Twitch.
And can you guess what the most common application that viewers have open unknowingly?
Steam.
Since games are pretty frequently auto-updated, having Steam open can be a major source contributing to buffering on Twitch.
So, try opening your task manager and closing it.
On a tablet or mobile device, try closing all other active applications.
7. Check your antivirus software
If you suspect you might have malware, scan your computer with your antivirus software.
If the report comes back clean, check the antivirus settings to see if it’s taking unnecessary bandwidth from your network. You can also try disabling your antivirus software altogether to see if it’s likely contributing to your buffering issues.
8. Disable your VPN
If you run a VPN or proxy, there’s a chance it might be causing Twitch buffering issues. Try loading Twitch with it disabled.
You could also try upgrading your VPN to one that uses less bandwidth.
9. Make sure other devices aren’t using bandwidth
If you suspect your internet connection is causing the buffering issue (and the ISP isn’t the reason for the problem), try turning off unused devices that may be sucking bandwidth.
Devices might be auto-updating.
No More Asking “Why Is Twitch So Laggy?”
Twitch buffering is the worst, but you don’t have to put up with that garbage.
Oftentimes, closing background apps and reducing devices using the internet will do the trick.
And that means you can get back to watching your stream.
Stream for a Living is a small team of gamers, full-time content creators, and streamers who are dedicated to helping you grow your stream.