The day Netflix crashed on my TV…
I desperately looked for answers.
Several online sources gave terrible advice.
So I did some trial and error.
And thankfully, I found 9 fixes that actually worked.
Read on to discover:
- Why your Netflix app keeps crashing or freezing.
- 9 reliable fixes to stop Netflix from crashing on your TV.
- How to clear your Netflix’s cache & data (and get it to work normally again).
- And so much more…
Why does Netflix keep crashing on my TV?
Netflix keeps crashing on your TV because it’s running on outdated software. Another highly likely reason is due to a weak WiFi connection. Other issues include app glitches, a maxed-out streaming limit, or server downtime. Finally, overloaded cache data can cause Netflix to crash all of a sudden.
Netflix keeps freezing: 9 reasons & fixes
#1: TV software glitch
In most cases, apps that freeze, lag, or crash are due to software glitches on your TV.
The worst part?
It happens randomly.
So if your Netflix crashed all of a sudden, it’s mostly due to your TV glitching.
But here’s the good news.
Fixing TV glitches is easy.
All it takes is 3 steps.
How to fix it:
- Unplug your TV from the power source.
- Wait for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Plug your TV back in.
Now, if a reset didn’t solve your issue, don’t panic.
We’re still on our first fix.
And if your TV’s not causing the glitch, then perhaps, Netflix is.
“What do you mean by that?”
Let’s find out in the next section.
Read also: (7 Fixes) Netflix Stuck On Loading Screen
#2: Netflix servers are down
Yes – it happens.
In fact, this happened to me just last week while watching Stranger Things.
After my Netflix crashed, I checked their Help page to see if the server was down.
And true enough, it was.
If Netflix’s servers are down, this should give you peace of mind that neither the app nor TV’s at fault.
Instead, it’s an error that Netflix usually solves within minutes.
How to fix it:
Go onto Netflix’s Help page to check the status of their servers.
To be extra sure, you can also use Downdetector as a reliable source.
#3: Netflix login issues
Put it this way.
Your TV isn’t very smart at handling app glitches.
And sometimes, when a glitch becomes too hard to handle, your TV freezes.
Dig deeper: Smart TV Keeps Freezing: 4 Reasons & 5 Instant Fixes
Or, in this scenario, Netflix itself becomes frozen.
Sure, you can still open the app but when you load a TV show or movie…
All you get is a red spinning circle that never seems to disappear.
Sound familiar?
I’ve tried closing the movie, then re-opening it along with exiting the app then re-launching it.
Nothing worked.
So, how do you solve cases like these?
How to fix it:
Put simply, you’ll have to sign out of your Netflix account.
Then, log back in after a few minutes.
Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Open Netflix.
On the app’s home screen, you should see your user profile in the top-right corner.
After clicking it, a drop-down menu should appear.
For those using the downloaded Netflix app…
You’ll see a 3-dot horizontal icon in the upper-right corner.
If it’s not there, try opening the menu on your left.
You should see a “Get Help” or “Settings” option.
Step 2: Select “Sign Out.”
Step 3: Log in to your Netflix account.
In case you forgot your password, use Netflix’s forgot email/password link.
“Help! I still can’t find the “Sign Out” option…”
Don’t worry, you can solve this issue easily.
Grab your remote and press these buttons in order:
- 2x Up.
- 2x Down.
- Left.
- Right.
- Left.
- Right.
- 4x Up.
A “Sign Out” message should appear.
#4: Outdated TV software
Smart TVs need to be updated regularly to operate smoothly.
Without it, you’ll notice your TV slowing down.
Other times, your apps won’t load.
And when that happens, it’s a clear sign your TV needs an update.
How to fix it:
Updating your TV’s software can be done in a matter of minutes.
Here’s how:
- Press the Home button on your remote.
- Access your TV’s settings.
Note: you can also press the gear icon on your remote.
- In your Settings menu, tap “General.”
- You can also try “Support.”
- Select “About This TV” or “About.”
- Tap “Check for Updates” or “Software Update.”
- Wait for your TV to finish updating.
#5: Weak WiFi connection
Truth be told, internet connectivity issues are quite common when apps crash.
And this doesn’t just apply to Netflix.
Think Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Spotify.
All these apps experience the same problem whenever the internet connection’s weak.
In addition, a weak WiFi signal causes an app to crash because it can’t connect to the server.
As a result, when you open Netflix and your internet connection’s slow…
You get a black screen with either 3 dots or a red line in the top-left that indicates it’s loading.
But just to be sure, verify your WiFi’s speed first.
Alternatively, you can try opening Netflix on another device, like your phone.
Using a hotspot to connect your TV to the WiFi also works.
If you run into the same issue, well…
Your internet’s the main cause of Netflix crashing.
How to fix it:
When your WiFi’s slow, buggy, or just being a plain old fart in your network, here’s what you can do:
- Unplug your router from the power source.
- Wait for 5 minutes (This gives it ample time to refresh).
- Plug your router back in.
- Launch Netflix again.
#6: Router’s too far from TV
“My WiFi connection works fine, but I still have internet connectivity problems.”
Here’s what could be causing this frustrating issue:
- Your router’s too far from your TV.
- Some objects are blocking your WiFi signal.
Router location and positioning matter.
Put simply, if your router’s far from your TV, then it’ll inevitably have a weak WiFi signal.
As for objects blocking your internet connection…
Think of it like this.
Say you place your router behind a concrete wall.
You fire up Netflix and it loads…somewhat.
However, streaming isn’t as smooth or it takes time to load a 10-minute video clip.
Now, what if you placed your router just a few inches away from your TV?
You notice all your buffering issues are gone.
No lags, no hang-ups, and your streaming capabilities are as smooth as butter.
Why did this happen?
Because you removed any object that was blocking your WiFi signal.
How to fix it:
Based on the scenario above, you know what the best solution is, right?
First, adjust your router’s position.
Make sure it’s not set too far from your TV.
And second, remove any objects that block your WiFi signal.
According to Eyenetworks, several things can disrupt your internet connection:
- Metal.
- Radios.
- Bluetooth.
- Timber walls.
- Walkie-talkies.
- Baby monitors.
- Concrete walls.
- Microwave ovens.
You might also like: 6 Things To Do if Your Smart TV Slows Down the Internet
#7: Netflix account streaming limit reached
One of the most overlooked factors to Netflix freezing or crashing is…
The streaming limit.
What that means is:
Depending on your plan, only a limited amount of people can watch Netflix all at once.
Here’s a refresher to give you a better idea:
| Netflix Plans and Pricing | Cost per month | No. of screens available for watching at the same time |
| Basic | $9.99 | 1 |
| Standard | $15.49 | 2 |
| Premium | $19.99 | 4 |
What does this table tell us?
If you’re currently on the Standard Plan, you can only watch on 2 screens at the same time.
So, if someone’s watching Netflix on their phone, another on their tablet, and you on the TV…
Then you’ve exceeded your streaming limit.
And when that happens, your Netflix isn’t exactly going to load.
How to fix it:
For one, you can upgrade to the Premium plan so you can watch Netflix on 4 separate devices.
Alternatively, you can log out on one device so you can stream without issues on your TV.
“But what if I have more than 4 devices at home?”
In that case, buddy, you should create a new Netflix account.
#8: Outdated Netflix app
If it’s been a while since you last updated your apps, then…
That’s probably why your Netflix keeps crashing or freezing.
Put simply, app updates are meant to…
- Remove bugs and errors.
- Improve the app’s functionality.
- Fix any glitches or performance issues.
So if Netflix’s due for an update, it’s best to do that right now.
How to fix it:
- Tap the Home button on your remote.
- In your Smart Hub menu, scroll to your Apps and select it.
- Go to “My Apps.”
- Select the app you want to update.
- Tap “Update.”
#9: Bugs in the Netflix app
“Netflix still continues to crash on my TV.”
I get your frustration.
Because at some point, I was there too.
So, what’s the deal here?
If none of the fixes above worked, you might be dealing with a bug.
No – not the actual insect.
Think of a bug as an app glitch on steroids.
Basically, that means it’s tougher to remove.
Not to mention, clearing it from your TV takes a little more legwork.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to solve.
How to fix it:
Your best approach to solving this issue is to reinstall Netflix on your TV.
First, you’ll have to delete the app.
From there, you can download Netflix on the App Store and install it on your TV.
Here’s how it’s done:
- Press the Home button on your TV remote.
- Go to your list of apps and select Netflix.
- Choose “Uninstall” to delete the app.
- Head to your TV’s App Store.
- Search for “Netflix” in the search field.
- Select the app.
- Tap “Install.”
- Launch Netflix.
Related read: 8 Steps To Reinstall Netflix On Samsung Smart TV
#BONUS: Overloaded app cache
What does that mean?
Put simply…
App cache refers to any info stored on a device after opening a website or application the first time.
Think of it this way.
The first time you open any website online, you might’ve noticed it takes a while to load.
However, you’ll notice that the second or third time you open the same site…
It takes barely a second for everything to load.
Why is that?
It’s because your cache has data or info stored about that website.
And as a result, the loading time for visiting that site is reduced.
In other words, cache or cached data reduces loading times.
However, all that information has to be stored somewhere too, right?
So when your cache accumulates and takes up considerable space, well…
It can lead to a few issues, like occasional app crashes.
How to fix it:
The best solution is to clear all the app cache stored on Netflix.
Here’s how it’s done:
Step 1: Go to Settings on your TV’s home screen.
Step 2: Select General.
This is found in your Settings menu.
However, if you don’t see the “General” option on your TV, head to the next step.
Step 3: Tap “Apps” or “Applications.”
Step 4: Choose “Application Manager.”
If you don’t see this option, you might see other available selections like:
- “App Manager.”
- “Manage All Apps.”
- “Manage Applications.”
Step 5: Select “Netflix” from your list of Apps.
Step 6: Tap “Storage.”
Step 7: Choose “Clear Storage” or “Clear Data.”
Step 8: Tap “OK” on your remote to confirm the process.
Step 9: Launch Netflix to see if your issue’s solved.