Fix: Twitch Keeps Buffering (Chrome/Firefox)

Twitch is the world-leading online live streaming platform, providing countless hours of fun and entertainment to many millions of users around the globe.

As with any other website or platform of similar complexity, Twitch is not perfect. In fact, some Twitch users encounter bugs quite often.

This guide will help you solve the Twitch Keeps Buffering problem, which is usually connected to one of the two most popular browsers, Chrome and Firefox.

If this issue has been affecting you, you can find multiple solutions for the problem in the list below.

The Problem Explained

If a stream keeps loading or buffering on your PC, it is the result of insufficient resources, whether this means computing power or bandwidth.

This is why it is important to understand that this problem is often on the user’s end. Even so, Twitch is not flawless, and it is certainly possible to experience this issue when both your PC and connection are working as intended.

Here are the primary reasons that Twitch users encounter the buffering problem on both Chrome and Firefox.

• Using an older PC with insufficient computing power
• Weak internet connection or heavy background use while streaming
• A DNS-related issue
• Twitch’s servers are not performing as they should

It can be helpful to test this on similar websites. Some users reported being able to stream content on other platforms while Twitch remained unwatchable due to buffering issues.

This will help you learn whether the problem is on your end or Twitch’s. Shortlisting is an important part of the troubleshooting process, as it will save you a great deal of time searching for the root of the problem.

Here is how a large part of the community deals with the Twitch Keeps Buffering problem on Chrome and Firefox.  

Fix 1: Do A Speed Test For Your Connection

There are multiple ways to test your internet connection and see whether or not the problem is on your end. It’s sometimes enough to simply look at the Wi-Fi signal icon and see if it’s at full strength.

If you are connected to the internet via a cable, you can perform a simple speed check by using this connection benchmarking website called Speedtest by Ookla.  

Possible Solution – Lower The Stream Quality

If you find that your speed test results are below average, one possible solution for the problem is to reduce the quality of the stream you’re watching.

Although Twitch has an automatic feature for this, it sometimes doesn’t work as intended, and users experience buffering.

Try manually reducing the quality of the stream by clicking the cogwheel and selecting a lower setting.

Unfortunately, weak internet connections might be unable to support even lower video quality. If you are confident that the problem is not related to your connection, move on to the other methods listed below.

Fix 2: Check If You Are Using A Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Many members of the Twitch community, and internet users in general, utilize a VPN while browsing for additional security and experience-enhancing reasons.

For example, many Twitch users utilize a VPN because it is the most cost-effective way of avoiding advertisements.

However, not every VPN service has powerful enough servers to provide sufficient speeds to its customers. Some VPNs are known to have below-optimal speeds.

If you are using a VPN that isn’t very fast, it could be the reason that you are unable to watch streams without experiencing buffering.

If you are looking to switch to a different VPN but can’t decide which one to choose, we have a guide on PC Strike covering this topic in detail. It might help you make the right choice.  

Fix 3: Disable Hardware Acceleration In Your Browser’s Settings

In numerous online discussions, Twitch users shared that disabling hardware acceleration in their browser options panel resolved the buffering problem.

If you are a Chrome user, follow the steps below to do this.

1. Open Chrome on your PC and click on the three vertical dots located in the top-right corner of your screen. This will open a menu. Click on Settings.
   
2. Scroll down to the bottom of the Settings panel, where you should see a section named “System.” In this section, untick the “Use hardware acceleration when available” setting, then restart your browser.
   
3. Open Twitch again and see if the problem persists.

This solution has helped many users with different configurations and internet connection speeds. It’s possible that it will also work for you.

If you are using Firefox, this official guide from Mozilla.org will help you disable hardware acceleration on your browser.

Fix 5: Change Your DNS

This might seem like the most technical fix on this list, but don’t let it intimidate you. It’s much easier than it sounds.

Follow the steps below:

1. Click on the search button on Windows, which is located in the bottom-left corner. See the image below for further guidance.
   
2. In the search field, type “Settings” and press “Enter” on your keyboard. In the panel that appears, click the “Network & Internet” category, as the image below suggests.
   
3. Here, click on the first setting under the “Advanced network settings” category, which should be Change adapter options.
   
4. You will now see a list of network connections. Right-click on the connection you are currently using and select “Properties” from the menu that appears.
   
5. In the list of options, click on “Internet Protocol Version 4” and then select “Properties” by clicking the button shown below.
   
6. In the window that appears on your screen, select the “Use the following DNS server addresses” option at the bottom of the panel. Enter the numbers into the fields as shown in the image below.
   

Note: If you are unable to see the image, here are the values:

• Preferred DNS Server: 8*8*8*8
• Alternate DNS server: 8*8*4*4

Finish by clicking the “OK” button. Open Twitch and see if the problem persists.

Fix 6: Switch To A Different Platform Temporarily

If you’re trying to watch a major event that needs to be viewed live for the full experience, you probably don’t have time to perform the necessary troubleshooting and problem-solving.

To avoid missing all the excitement, switch to a different platform temporarily. When you have finished watching the event, you can return to solving the problem on Twitch.

Many eSport events and tournaments are streamed on YouTube and Facebook Gaming in addition to Twitch. If you’re having problems on Twitch, try those platforms instead.

Fix 7: Check For Any Background Updates / Downloads

Although this doesn’t apply to everyone, it’s no secret that the majority of the Twitch community are gamers. If you are a gamer, you probably have Steam installed on your system or a similar app such as Origin, Battle.net, or Epic Games.

If you have auto-updates enabled across these platforms, your buffering issues could be caused by games being updated in the background without your knowledge.

To Avoid This Issue In The Future

If you notice that this is occurring and it’s a probable cause for your Twitch stream buffering, you have the option to entirely deactivate Steam’s automatic updates or establish a restriction on data usage.

Conclusion

Twitch buffering can be annoying, but you now know all the solutions that have helped many users overcome this issue.

If you are unable to solve the problem by applying the methods listed in this guide, it could be a good idea to contact Twitch Support for further assistance.