Reasons Why Your Smart TV is Having Trouble Streaming Netflix and How to Fix it

Have you ever wondered why your Smart TV keeps on buffering while you are watching a movie or TV show played from Netflix? Isn’t it annoying sometimes when you’re watching the most thrilling and exciting part of the movie and then all of a sudden it stops streaming? I know how it feels and that is exactly why I’d like to share to you some of the main reasons why you’re having these troubles and some tips on how you can fix the issue.

TV shows or movies played from Netflix, which buffer frequently on your smart TV usually indicate a slow or interrupted Internet connection. These are the 2 most common causes of the buffering issue with Netflix. But of course, there are other things to consider when it comes to this type of issue. But for today, let’s limit it to four reasons only and let’s focus on a network which is set up via wireless since most networks these days are already set up that way.

Let’s say that your network supports streaming and that means that you’re not connecting to a dial up or satellite connection. Otherwise, it would be impossible to stream Netflix movies or even other videos online.

Now, the first thing to consider is your Internet speed. If your network supports streaming, it must meet the minimum streaming requirements from Netflix. Also, let us remember one very important thing when it comes to streaming. Movies or shows playing in high video quality consume more bandwidth than low quality videos or movies. With that being said, I’d like to show to you the Internet speed requirements based on the quality of Netflix videos that you’re trying to watch.

• 0.5 Megabits per second – Required broadband connection speed
• 1.5 Megabits per second – Recommended broadband connection speed
• 3.0 Megabits per second – Recommended for DVD quality
• 5.0 Megabits per second – Recommended HD quality
• 7.0 Megabits per second – Recommended Super HD quality
• 12 Megabits per second – Recommended for 3D quality

If you do not know the Internet speed that you have subscribed for with your Internet service provider (ISP), you have to call and ask them. Then perform a speed test to check if your connection is really getting the speed of what you’re paying for. And if you like, you can upgrade to a higher plan so that you can also enjoy watching higher quality videos from Netflix.

Another possible cause for having trouble streaming Netflix videos would be the stability of your connection. Even if you have good Internet speed, it may drop the connection from time to time. Whenever it drops, it buffers your streaming experience, which can be really annoying.

The best way to check the stability of your connection is to connect your PC directly to the modem, and then observe your Internet connection. If you’ll still be getting the same connection problem, contact your Internet Service Provider and have them troubleshoot your modem’s connection. However, if it’s your router that’s causing the intermittent connection, upgrading the router’s firmware may resolve the issue. Same goes with the driver of the wireless receiver on your smart TV.

Aside from that, another thing to consider is the distance of your smart TV from your router. This is very common in a wireless network. The farther you are, the weaker the signal becomes. This will have a big effect on your streaming experience since streaming requires a stronger connection compared to simply browsing websites on a computer.

To avoid connection issues caused by distance, you have to make sure that your smart TV is in range with your router’s signal. If there is a limitation with the signal because of the type of network environment you have at home, or the type of router that you have, you may want to consider putting the router in a central location at home if possible, or adding a range extender to your network. That will definitely help you with your distance issues in your wireless network.

Lastly, interference in your wireless network may also cause your streaming problems with Netflix. If your other wireless devices, such as cordless phones or microwave ovens, operate on the same band as your smart TV, it may interfere with the wireless signal of your smart TV.

To avoid this, make sure that there are no other wireless devices near your smart TV or your router if possible. Otherwise, move them away from the router, or move the router to a new location to improve its signal strength and avoid getting disrupted if you can. Also, make sure that the router is placed in an open space where it won’t be limited from broadcasting its signal in your network. Elevate your router off the floor as it will give you a better reception.

So there you have it, those are the common reasons why we encounter problems streaming Netflix using a smart TV, and the suggested fixes for them.

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By: Mark Savella 
About the author: Mark has been a tech support engineer at SUPPORTrix for more than 5 years now and knows a lot of troubleshooting technique and guide to help people who are having trouble with modern technology.