How to Stop Kodi from Buffering: The BEST Fixes for a Stable Stream

Kodi may be one of the best streaming platforms available, but it still comes with its fair share of issues.

Like any software that uses the web, Kodi’s performance can seriously suffer if your connection is poor. That’s not great for viewing enjoyment, especially if you’re watching sports, TV shows, or movies.

While the stream you’ve selected or your internet connection will play a big role in buffering, there are still several ways you can make your streaming service more stable.

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Top Four Ways to Stop Buffering in Kodi

There are several issues that could be affecting your stream while using Kodi, each of them will be covered separately.

Fix #1: Test Your Internet Connection

Before you delve into the software, your first start should be testing your internet connection. Generally, HD content will need a connection speed of at least 10Mbits/sec. You can visit speedtest.net to measure your current speeds for pings, downloads, and uploads. Just hit “Go” once the page loads.

Fix #2: Check Router Location or Mesh Wi-Fi Locations

If your speed is under 10Mbits/sec, check to ensure you’re not too far from your router. Thick walls can significantly impact the speed and strength of a Wi-Fi signal. If possible, move the router or move closer to it. Also, make sure that no other devices are streaming, downloading, or doing any other larger tasks that could suck up your bandwidth. Most broadband providers can handle more than one device, but it’s a good thing to rule out. If there are devices hogging bandwidth, turn them off.

Fix #3: Adjust Kodi Cache Settings

If you find your stream is still lagging, it’s worth effectively opening up the bonnet and tweaking Kodi’s cache settings.

Cache takes up memory, and since Kodi is designed to run on something as small as a Google Chromecast, it doesn’t use much of it. However, there’s a way to increase the amount of cache Kodi uses, and that’s done via the advanced settings XML file.

Fix #4: Tweak Kodi’s Buffering

Tweaking Kodi’s buffering systems requires some fairly basic coding.

• All you need to do is copy the code below into a notepad file and save it as “advancedsettings.xml” without the quotes.

<advancedsettings>
<network>
<buffermode> 1 </buffermode>
<readbufferfactor> 1.5 </readbufferfactor>
<cachemembuffersize> 104857600 </cachemembuffersize>
</network>
</advancedsettings>

• Once completed, you’ll need to drop it in your user data file, but the location varies depending on the version of Kodi you’re running.

If you’ve applied all of the above fixes, you should find that Kodi runs smoother and faster than before.

Buffer No More

There’s nothing more annoying than buffering when you’re streaming your favorite TV show or movie on Kodi. Thankfully, a few easy solutions should be able to clear the problem up for you.