Experiencing lagging and buffering while watching Twitch streams can be frustrating, especially when you’re trying to enjoy your favorite content. In this guide, we’ll explore common causes of Twitch lagging and buffering and provide effective solutions to fix these issues. By following these steps, you can ensure a smoother and more enjoyable Twitch viewing experience.
How to Fix Twitch Lagging and Buffering Issue
The probable reasons for which the Twitch platform may buffer or freeze while streaming the content are listed in this section.
- Unstable Internet Connection
- Background Processes: The numerous applications such as Steam running in the background may interfere with the Twitch platform and you might face the issue.
- Interference from other apps:- The software on your PC might conflict with the Twitch app and to fix Twitch lagging issues, you have to disable them. The interference is usually caused by the anti-virus software or from the Windows Firewall owing to security purposes.
- Issues in Twitch Platform- The Twitch platform may have some issues such as an unidentified bug, or maybe under maintenance due to server issues. In addition, if many users are streaming various channels at the same time, there might be some issues with the broadcast settings.
Method 1: Check Speed of Internet Connection
A stable Internet connection with an appreciable upload speed is a prime requisite for streaming Twitch. To find the answer to the question of why Twitch keeps buffering, you can check the speed of the Internet Connection by following the instructions given here.
1. Press the Windows key, search for the Google Chrome app using the search bar, and click on Open.
2. Visit Speedtest website to check the speed of the Internet Connection and click on the GO button.
Check if the upload speed of the Internet connection is a minimum of 25 Mbps, else do one of the following.
- Alter the data plan to a better upload speed, or
- Connect your PC to a better Wi-Fi network.
Method 2: Check Twitch Server
To ensure a steady and stable streaming experience, the Twitch server may be under routine maintenance. You can check if the Twitch server status is down using the link given here on your default web browser.
Method 3: Troubleshoot Network Issues
Another option to fix the lag is to troubleshoot the issues in the Network connection. Follow the instructions given in the link here to learn the methods to troubleshoot the network issues of your Internet connection.
Method 4: Disable Third-party Antivirus Software (If Applicable)
The third-party anti-virus software on your PC might regard the Twitch app to be a threat to your PC and might stop its functionality. You can read the guide on disabling the anti-virus software temporarily to fix the issue.
Method 5: Alter Windows Firewall Settings
The settings of the Windows Firewall may be an answer to the question of why Twitch keeps buffering as it might be blocking the Twitch app and you may face lag issues. You can alter the settings by performing the methods given here to resolve the issue.
Option I: Disable Windows Firewall (Not Recommended)
The first option is to disable the Windows Firewall temporarily on your PC using the instructions given in the guide. This would help in resolving the conflicts from the firewall on your PC.
Option II: Allow Twitch App through Firewall
Another method to fix Twitch lagging issues is to allow the Twitch and Google Chrome apps through the Windows Firewall. This would not block the app while streaming and you can easily fix the lag issues. Follow the instructions given in the link provided here to learn more about this method.
Option III: Add Exception Rule
As an alternative answer to the question of how to fix Twitch buffering to allow the Twitch app through the Windows Firewall, you can add this app as an exception to the software. Follow the instructions in the link given here and set the range of the IP address to any of the specified values given below to fix Twitch stream keeps buffering.
- 206.111.0.0 to 206.111.255.255
- 173.194.55.1 to 173.194.55.255
Method 6: Disable VPN and Proxy Server
If you are using a VPN software and proxy, the internet connection may be interrupted by these services, and this is an answer to the question of why Twitch keeps buffering. You can try disabling them using the instructions given in guide on how to disable VPN and proxy server on Windows 10.
Method 7: Run Twitch App as Administrator
At times, momentary glitches on the Twitch app might occur if the app is not launched using the Administrator account. You can follow the instructions given here to run the Twitch app as an Administrator.
1. Open Desktop by hitting the Windows + D keys simultaneously.
2. Right-click on the Twitch app shortcut and click on the Properties option.
3. Navigate to the Compatibility tab, tick the Run this program as an administrator option in the Settings section.
4. Click on the Apply button followed by the OK button.
Method 8: Alter Twitch Settings
Another method to fix the issue is to alter the settings in the Twitch platform. You can perform the following options to fix the issue with the streaming.
Option I: Set Low Resolution
An answer to the question of why Twitch keeps buffering is the high-resolution display of the stream. The first option is to lower the resolution of the streaming on the Twitch platform.
1. Open the Twitch streaming platform, open any channel, click on the Settings icon at the bottom and click on the Quality option in the menu.
2. Select a lower resolution in the list and try playing the stream.
Option II: Disable Low Latency Streaming
Another option to fix Twitch lagging issues is to disable the low latency streaming option in the stream on the Twitch platform.
1. Open the Twitch app and open the Settings of the stream by following the instruction given earlier.
2. Click on the Advanced option in the menu.
3. Toggle off the Low Latency option and try streaming the channel on the platform.
Option III: Disable Software Rendering Mode (If Applicable)
The answer to the question of how to fix Twitch buffering is to disable the software rendering mode on your Twitch app. This method, however, is not applicable to fix Twitch stream keeps buffering in the latest versions of the app.
1. Use the Windows search bar at the bottom to launch the Twitch app.
2. Open the Settings page and in the Preferences section under the General tab, toggle off the Software Rendering option.
Also Read: Fix Twitch Leecher Download Error
Method 9: Reinstall Twitch App
If the issue in the Twitch app is still unresolved, you can try reinstalling the app on your PC. This would clear all the glitches and errors on the app.
1. Press the Windows key, type App & features and click on Open.
2. Search for Twitch and select it.
3. Then, click on Uninstall and confirm the prompt.
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The methods to fix Twitch lagging issues are explained in the article. Please share which of these methods was effective in fixing Twitch stream keeps buffering issue. Also, kindly use the comments section to let us know your queries and recommend suggestions.
