For what it does, Pluto TV is great. Without spending any money at all, you get a functional online streaming service. However, there is not a single streaming service that doesn’t have buffering issues every now and then.
In layman terms, the goal of buffering in video streaming is to reduce video lag, allowing for uninterrupted video playback. A device does this by collecting certain information beforehand, so the video can be played as smoothly as possible. Sometimes, however, the video may start freezing every few seconds due to buffering.
It can be quite hard to prevent buffering, but what to do when this happens? Here you will find out what usually causes it, and, of course, how to prevent it on Pluto TV.
The Common Suspects
Buffering can be caused by a lot of factors, but the most usual are definitely a slow internet connection, a weak or an unstable Wi-Fi signal, and app issues.
Internet Connection
This one is very simple. If your internet connection is too slow, your buffering time will drastically increase. That’s all there is to it.
You can check your internet speed by performing an online speed test. You’re aiming for at least 6-10 mbps (megabits per second). If it’s lower, chances are the buffering is caused by insufficient internet speed. If your speed is in that exact range, you should be fine, as long as you’re not streaming videos in HD (High Definition). Anything above that is great, with 15 mbps being fast enough for HD streaming.
If it’s not fast enough, check if it’s your internet service provider’s (ISP) fault. They might be facing technical difficulties at the moment. They don’t always notice it, so telling them about it might help.
If all fails, the best solution is to just upgrade your internet speed. That will increase the amount on your bill, but it will be worth it.
Wi-Fi Signal/Router Issues
There are probably multiple devices in your home using the same Wi-Fi connection. Keep in mind that the number of connected devices affects internet speed. A network that has too many devices connected is among the most common causes of buffering issues.
The troubles don’t stop there, as a Wi-Fi network can also be unstable. This might be router-related as it could stop working all of a sudden. Similar to other tech equipment, internet routers have a lifespan of several years and should be replaced the moment they stop working well.
Before replacing the router, you’re advised to reset it first. If that does not help, contact your internet provider to make sure the problem isn’t on their end. Also, if the router was provided to you by your ISP, you can likely get a new one from them for free.
App Issues
Perhaps the problem is not caused by internet speed. If you have many apps running simultaneously on your device, or if your free storage space or RAM is running out, try taking care of that. Your device can’t run as well if its storage and/or memory resources are full.
Make sure you aren’t downloading anything at the moment, as downloading from other sources slows down the stream. If you have to download something from the internet, or if you’re still having connection issues, try decreasing the video quality. Most online streaming services let you manually choose the streaming. A lower quality (say, 360p or 480p instead of 720p or 1080p) equals less buffering.
Additional Notes
A wireless connection is harder to maintain than a wired one. If your buffering problems are too great, consider using a wired connection for this occasion. Pluto TV can also be watched on the web.
Research has shown that streaming services are most used between 8 PM and 10 PM, so you might want to avoid watching Pluto TV at that time, or at least take the fact that their servers might be overloaded into consideration.
Sometimes, even the browser choice can be quite important. The people behind Pluto TV recommend Chrome and Firefox.
Specific Methods
Devices such as the Apple TV have their own methods of solving this problem. For example, they can be unplugged and then plugged back in. Resetting them or restoring their settings may help, as well as forgetting a Wi-Fi network and then reconnecting.
The Amazon Fire TV stick can have its app usage data and data monitoring turned off. Whichever device you’re using, such methods might help.
Don’t Forget About Bugs
If you’re still experiencing long buffering times, note that Pluto TV tends to have some bugs that can disrupt the connection quality. If you have no problems while surfing the internet and streaming from other video services, know it might just be a bug on Pluto TV’s end that needs fixing.
Did this article help you solve your buffering issues? If so, which method did you use? Let us know in the comments section below!
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17 thoughts on “Pluto TV Keeps Buffering – What To Do”
Fix it, Pluto.
good on my TV.
The one issue that has occured on both X1 and Fire is that the app will crash while trying to browse the program guide. This is a pain.
On X1, the app starts up in a channel, but doesn’t say how to get the guide on screen so I can actually pick what to watch. Once I figure out how to get to the guide, selecting a program to watch is very painful. It has a very poor response time (compared to Fire and iOS), and it drives me nuts.
Finally, it appears that signing into Pluto TV no longer serves a purpose. It used to allow you to hide channels you don’t care about, but, it hasn’t worked ever since I got a Fire stick on Prime day 2019. I like Pluto, but if they can’t fix their own buggy apps once in a while, then they’ll lose viewership/loyalty. It just bugs the hell out of me that it hasn’t had any updates since the new channels were added. that’s what is causing the service issues.
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