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Too much buffering

Buffering means the video arrives slower than it plays. Most often the cause is the network or the provider’s server, but the device and its firmware can cause it too. Try the steps below one at a time and check a channel after each.

Steps to try

  1. Restart the device and the router. Use a cable instead of Wi-Fi if you can, or move the box closer to the router.
  2. Switch the codec of the channel in the player menu (Switch codec), see Choosing a codec. Some codecs work poorly with some firmware.
  3. Change the buffer size: Settings > Player > Network > Broadcast buffer size.
    • by default: about 15 seconds of video.
    • Increased buffer size (30 s), Large buffer size (60 s), Huge buffer size (about 4 minutes): help when the connection has short drops. The channel takes a little longer to start.
    • No playback buffer. Uses less memory and recommended if watching proxied content.: starts fastest; try it on boxes with little memory, or when the stream goes through a proxy.

    The media library has its own setting: Settings > Media library > Broadcast buffer size.

  4. Set Hardware codec quality to compatibility mode in Settings > Player > Setup codecs preferences.
  5. Turn off Enable resolution fix (AmLogic) in the same place, if it is on and your device is not an AmLogic box.
  6. Lower the output resolution of the device from 4K to Full HD in Android settings, if you do not watch 4K.
  7. Prefer a lower quality when the stream offers several: Track selection by bitrate > Prefer lowest bitrate in Settings > Player > Setup codecs preferences (premium).

These settings are hidden in Simplified mode; switch to Normal mode in Settings > Extended settings > User experience level.

When nothing helps

If channels buffer with every codec and buffer size, while other video services work fine on the same network, the problem is between you and the provider’s servers: contact your provider. Try a VPN too: if channels play smoothly through it, your Internet provider is slowing the connection to the IPTV provider (see Proxy, DNS, VPN).

The app can also give up on a channel that buffers for too long and reconnect, or switch to another source: see A channel stops with an error.