YouTube TV buffering is usually your connection, your device or a setting called broadcast delay. Restart the device and router for 30 seconds each, check you have at least 3 Mbps, update the app, and set Broadcast Delay to Default, which YouTube TV says gives the fewest playback interruptions.
Buffering on YouTube TV feels worse than buffering on normal YouTube because it's live. A spinning wheel during the last minute of a game is the whole point of the evening gone. The fixes are mostly simple, but there's one setting most people have never heard of that can make buffering worse on purpose: broadcast delay. I'll start there, then go through YouTube TV's own checklist.
The setting that trades buffering for speed
Broadcast delay is the gap between something happening at the stadium and it appearing on your screen. YouTube TV explains that the lower the broadcast delay, the less buffer the video player has, and the more likely playback interruptions become. If you or someone in your house set it to Decrease to avoid spoilers from group chats, that's a likely cause.
- In the YouTube TV app on your TV, select the three-dot More menu.
- Select Broadcast Delay.
- Choose Default for the fewest interruptions, or Decrease if spoilers bother you more than the odd pause.
YouTube TV's buffering checklist
| Check | What to do | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Confirm home area and current playback area are correct | YouTube TV's first step for any streaming problem |
| Restart the device | Hold power, wait 30 seconds, restart | Clears a stuck app or memory |
| Restart the router | Unplug, wait 30 seconds, plug back in | Fixes a tired connection |
| Speed | At least 3 Mbps | YouTube TV's stated need for good viewing |
| Updates | Install system and app updates | Old versions cause playback bugs |
| Reinstall | Uninstall and reinstall the app, sign in again | Clears corrupted app data |
| Quality | Lower the video quality on phone or computer | Uses less bandwidth |
When it's not your internet
YouTube TV is honest that delays can happen even when you have a great network, because of internet congestion and Wi-Fi interference. A few things to try when your speed test looks fine:
- Test another app on the same TV. If Netflix or regular YouTube buffers too, YouTube TV says it may be a manufacturer issue and the device maker's support is the right place to go.
- Turn off any VPN. YouTube TV won't stream through a VPN or proxy at all.
- Move the router or use a cable. Wi-Fi interference is one of the causes YouTube TV names, so a wired connection or a router closer to the TV often helps.
- Pause other heavy downloads while a big game is on.
Roku: a specific fix for choppy playback
If you watch on a Roku and the picture is choppy rather than stopping, YouTube TV suggests turning off HDR. Go to Roku Settings, Display type, and choose 4K 30 Hz TV, 4K 60 Hz TV or 4K HDR 60 Hz. If you get an HDCP error on Roku instead, YouTube TV says to turn on the HDMI Ultra HD Color setting on your TV.
Buffering on a computer
On a laptop or desktop, close and reopen the browser, restart your router and computer, and update the browser. YouTube TV recommends Chrome for the best experience. One odd limit it mentions: on an external monitor plugged straight into a Mac or Linux computer, you may only get lower quality 480p playback, because of how those systems handle copyright protection. That's not buffering, but people often confuse the two.
Phone buffering
On a phone, close and reopen the app, toggle mobile data off and on, and drop the quality from the player menu. If you're on mobile data in a weak signal area, there's not much any app can do, and lowering quality is the honest fix.
If the problem is regular YouTube rather than YouTube TV, my guide to YouTube videos not playing covers the main app, and thumbnails that won't load is often an early sign of the same connection trouble.
The two-minute order during a live game
When a game is on and the stream stalls, you don't have time for the full list. This is the order I'd use, quickest first:
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- Press Back and reopen the channel, which often reloads a stuck stream.
- Check Broadcast Delay is on Default.
- Turn off any VPN on the TV, phone or router.
- Restart the TV or streaming device for 30 seconds.
- Restart the router for 30 seconds, if nobody else is mid-call.
- Watch on your phone for the rest of the game, then do updates and a reinstall afterwards.
That last step sounds like giving up, but it's practical, and it keeps you watching while you work out the cause. Updates and reinstalls take time, and nobody wants to miss the final minutes of a match waiting for an app to download.
My verdict
Set Broadcast Delay back to Default, restart the TV and router for 30 seconds each, and switch off any VPN. That fixes most YouTube TV buffering in a few minutes. If every app on the TV struggles, the device itself is the bottleneck, and a newer streaming stick or a wired connection will do more than any setting.
Frequently asked questions
Why does YouTube TV keep buffering?
The usual causes are a slow or congested connection, an out-of-date app or device, a VPN, or Broadcast Delay set to Decrease, which leaves the player less buffer.
What internet speed does YouTube TV need?
YouTube TV says it needs at least 3 Mbps for an optimal viewing experience.
What is broadcast delay on YouTube TV?
It's the gap between the live event and your screen. Default gives the fewest interruptions; Decrease reduces spoilers but makes buffering more likely.
Does a VPN cause YouTube TV buffering?
YouTube TV won't stream at all through a VPN or proxy, so turn it off.
How do I fix choppy YouTube TV on Roku?
YouTube TV suggests turning off HDR in Roku's Display type settings.
