Troubleshooting
How to Fix Buffering in Android Streaming Apps
Four possible bottlenecks, one diagnostic order. Testing a second stream first tells you whether the problem is even yours.
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Four bottlenecks, in the order worth testing
| Bottleneck | How to test it | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Play a second stream | One channel fails while others are fine |
| Network path | Measure throughput at the time you watch | Everything buffers in the evening |
| Device decode | Play a lower quality level | Picture stutters as the device warms |
| App cache | Clear cache and retry | A previously smooth stream stutters |
Why the second stream is the first test
A single stream buffering tells you nothing about where the fault is, because the source and your connection produce the same symptom. A second stream separates them in one step: if it is clean, the source is at fault, and if it also fails, the problem is on your side. That is the fastest way to reduce the problem to the right half of the possibilities.
How to diagnose it in order
1.Play a different channel
A clean result points at the source, and a failing one points at your connection or your device.
2.Measure your sustained throughput
A peak number overstates what a stream receives, so compare the sustained figure with the level's requirement.
3.Lower the quality one step
A stream that stabilises at a lower level is limited by bandwidth rather than by the source.
4.Clear the cache last
Clearing cache is a reasonable last step and a poor first one, because it discards information before you have used it.
When the problem is not yours
Frequently asked questions
Worth knowing: If a different stream plays cleanly at the same time of day, the bottleneck is the source and no amount of local tuning will fix it.