Amazon Prime has over 200 million members worldwide, and 175 million of those users have taken advantage of Amazon Prime Video streaming services.
If you’re a fan of streaming TV shows and movies online, you may have noticed Amazon Prime buffering, skipping, or freezing. So why does Amazon Prime buffer, and what are the different ways to fix it?
I found these helpful hints for fixing Amazon Prime Video, and I’m happy to share them with you.
How To Fix Amazon Prime Buffering, Skipping, and Freezing?
If you’re having problems with Amazon Prime buffering, skipping, or freezing, it’s usually due to a poor internet connection, low-speed internet service, or an outdated video app. There are different ways to fix this issue, such as resetting the internet connection, using an ethernet cable, and checking your streaming and download quality.
If you want to know more about Amazon Prime and how to fix common buffering and skipping problems, then read the rest of our guide for detailed troubleshooting tips.
1. Check Internet Speed
Low internet speed is one of the most common culprits of Prime Video issues. If you’re having trouble on other websites, especially video platforms like YouTube, you will probably have issues with Prime Video too.
You can do a speed test directly from your computer to see how slow or fast your connection is.
Sluggish internet will likely require buffering, and you may want to connect to a faster hotspot or upgrade your internet package altogether if you want to stream Prime regularly.
When renting movies on Amazon Prime or streaming new TV shows, the recommended internet speed for SD-quality streaming is 3Mb/s.
Keep in mind that for streaming HD video, 5 Mb/s is ideal, and you need 25 Mb/s internet speeds for ultra HD 4k quality on Prime Video.
2. Update the Amazon Video App
When Amazon Prime Video is not working on the app, the software may be outdated.
Keep in mind that Amazon regularly updates its apps and technology for the best user experience, so you need to keep your eyes peeled for available updates.
If you notice your Prime Video buffering or freezing, check that the app is up to date, and if it’s not, download the latest version to enjoy better streaming.
3. Clear Internet Cache
Temporary internet data in your browser and the Amazon Prime cache may impact steaming capability over time.
You can clear unnecessary or corrupted internet files out of your browser to improve performance and then try streaming on Amazon Prime again.
You should notice an improvement in the streaming quality with less buffering after the internet cache is cleared.
If that still doesn’t fix it, you may want to check your device configuration in your settings to see if any areas need troubleshooting.
4. Adjust Your Streaming Quality
Sometimes high-quality streaming preferences can cause buffering and freezing. Depending on what you’re watching, you could lower your streaming quality slightly to fix these problems without totally compromising smooth streaming.
This is a quick fix you can do directly in the Amazon Prime Video app. Just go to the menu settings, and underneath “Stream & Download,” adjust the video resolution to be lower quality.
Many Prime Video users do this if their internet connection is temporarily affected due to travel or bad weather.
Just keep in mind that video quality settings vary by operating system, so you may need to play around with the quality a bit to find the right balance.
5. Contact Amazon Prime Video Support
After following all the above suggestions to check the device and internet connection, you should be able to sit back and enjoy smooth streaming on Prime Video.
If you’re still having problems, and the buffering, skipping, and freezing seem to only happen in Prime Video, then there may be a content delivery network issue.
Check if similar platforms like YouTube, Facebook, or Netflix are working fine. If all is well other than with Prime, you should contact Amazon Prime Video support directly through your account to report the problem and get it fixed.
To learn more about Amazon Prime, you can also read our posts on why is Amazon Prime video not working, renting movies on Amazon Prime, and how to cancel the Amazon Prime free trial.
