Have you ever experienced a sudden freeze or lag while enjoying game streams or chatting on Twitch? Many people wonder, “Why is it only Twitch that’s slow?” or “Why does it stutter on mobile but not on PC?”

The reasons for Twitch freezing can vary widely, including inadequate internet speeds, low latency settings, and the impact of ad blocking software.

This article explains the main causes of Twitch freezing or lagging and provides specific solutions.

We’ll present steps that even beginners can easily follow, so please use this as a reference.

Main Causes of Twitch Freezing or Lagging

Multiple factors intertwine to cause streaming issues on Twitch. Here, we will explain 11 commonly reported causes.

Slow Internet Speed

The primary reason for Twitch freezing is insufficient internet speed. High-quality live streams continuously receive large amounts of data; if your connection speed can’t keep up, playback will stop.

A proper viewing experience requires a minimum download speed of 3Mbps, and for high quality (1080p/60fps), ideally over 6Mbps.

During congested hours, especially at night, or in areas with unstable mobile connections, speeds tend to drop, leading to frequent buffering even at the lowest quality settings.

First, it’s essential to confirm whether your internet speed is sufficient.

Low Latency Mode is On

Twitch has a feature called “Low Latency Mode” designed to reduce the lag between the streamer and viewers, which is often enabled in many streams.

While Low Latency Mode enhances real-time interaction, it significantly reduces buffering, so any instability in your connection can cause the video to halt.

In regular mode, the player buffers a few seconds’ worth of data in advance, allowing it to withstand brief disruptions. However, since Low Latency Mode lacks this buffer, it is more prone to interruptions in unstable network conditions.

Impact of Ad Blocker Software or Extensions

If you’re watching Twitch streams on a PC or smartphone, you may encounter symptoms like sluggish performance or unexpected freezes. One of the culprits can be ad-blocking software like AdBlock, uBlock Origin, or AdGuard, among others.

Ad-blocking software often attempts to block ads on Twitch, but in the process, they might interfere with the video stream itself, causing playback to stop or the video to fail to load. This issue can occur not only during live streams but also while watching archived content.

Particularly with Twitch, because the timing and nature of ad displays can be complex, ad blockers may misunderstand “ads” vs. “content.” As a result, the stream itself may get blocked, causing it to freeze at “loading.”

Furthermore, this issue is not limited to PC browsers. Twitch apps on iPhones, iPads, and Android devices may also experience similar issues due to the interplay of Low Latency Mode or the streamer’s settings (like OBS).

If archived content is not playing correctly, there may also be a chance that the archive itself was not saved properly. For more information about archive saving settings and solutions for when they do not persist or disappear, please refer to the article below.

>>How to Save Twitch Archives: Tips on Preventing Loss or Deletion

Video Quality Settings are Too High, Causing Excessive Data Use

Another main cause can be that the selected video quality settings are too high for your current internet speed. While the Twitch quality setting defaults to “Auto,” it may struggle to maintain high quality under fluctuating network conditions, resulting in loading issues.

The higher the quality, the greater the amount of data transmitted per second. For example, if you’re using a 4G connection on your smartphone but attempting to stream at 1080p high quality, the data supply may become insufficient, causing video freezes.

Receiving data at a volume (or quality) that is disproportionate to your network’s capacity can lead to stuttering.

Accumulated Cache in Browsers or Apps

Using a browser or app continuously for an extended period can accumulate temporary files known as “cache.” While cache typically speeds up loading times, on a site like Twitch that handles large video data, bloated cache can cause sluggish performance.

If you haven’t cleared your cache for several months, there could be hundreds of MB to several GB of unnecessary temporary data consuming memory. The reduced processing power of web browsers or apps may lead to choppy playback or freezing.

Hardware Acceleration Interference

Some PC browsers (like Chrome or Edge) have a feature called “hardware acceleration,” which offloads image processing to the GPU for faster performance. This feature is recommended for viewing streams, but in some environments, incompatibilities with graphics drivers or the Twitch player can actually cause playback issues.

Symptoms like “audio is fine, but video freezes” or “the screen flickers” may indicate hardware acceleration as the source of the problem.

If your PC specs are sufficient yet Twitch is lagging, try disabling this feature in your browser and see if that improves performance.

Issues with the Streamer’s Connection

Even if a viewer’s setup is perfect, if the streamer’s connection is poor, the video will freeze. This is particularly true for individual streamers who may face insufficient upload speeds or misconfigured bitrate settings in their streaming software (like OBS).

In this case, all viewers may experience lag or freezing simultaneously. If there are numerous reports in the chat such as “it’s freezing” or “there’s lag,” this indicates an issue on the sending side rather than the receiving side, and viewers cannot resolve it from their end.

If streamers are experiencing lag or stuttering, refer to the articles below for detailed setup methods and solutions.

>>Fix OBS Lag and Stutter: Causes and Solutions Explained Clearly

>>OBS and Twitch Streaming Guide: From Setup to Live Broadcast!

Server Issues on Twitch’s Side

If there is an issue with Twitch’s servers, the video will not play even if the viewer’s environment is fine.

During global esports tournaments or popular streamers’ events where viewer traffic spikes, Twitch’s processing capacity can become overwhelmed. If the screen is frozen for several minutes or if only the chat is active while the video stops, suspect a server issue.

If restarting your connection or PC does not resolve the problem, the issue may lie within the service’s provision.

Firewall or Security Software Blocking Connection

Your PC’s security software or firewall may mistakenly identify Twitch’s communication as “suspicious high-volume communication” and block it. This often happens in schools, workplaces, or on PCs with strict security settings, where streaming protocols may be restricted.

In this case, instead of buffering, you might experience “connection errors” or “the player not appearing.” This fundamental connection denial often occurs because the antivirus software continuously monitors background communications and blocks Twitch’s data packets.

Speed Reduction or Connection Issues Due to VPN Use

If you’re using a VPN (a tool that encrypts your connection and routes it through a server in another country), it can lead to more frequent freezes on Twitch.

While VPNs are convenient for privacy protection and bypassing geographic restrictions, their nature of encrypting data and routing through distant servers inevitably slows down connection speeds.

The main reasons for Twitch freezing while using a VPN include the following four factors:

Cause	Description
Server Congestion / Insufficient Processing Power	Too many users on the same server cause processing to fall behind
Load from Encryption	The process of encrypting and decrypting data can slow down communication
Physical Distance	If the VPN server is located overseas, it takes longer to communicate
Protocol Compatibility Issues	The VPN’s communication method might not sync well with Twitch’s streaming

To isolate causes, first disable the VPN temporarily and attempt to play Twitch. If you can stream smoothly without the VPN, you can conclude it is the cause of the issue.

Insufficient Device Specs or Memory

If the performance of your PC or smartphone is low, or if you’re short on RAM, Twitch videos may stop unexpectedly.

Twitch handles multiple processes simultaneously, including video playback, chat, and emote displays. During popular streams where the chat flows rapidly, the rendering processes may consume significant CPU and memory resources, making it a demanding service for older devices.

If any of the following applies, suspicion of insufficient specs is warranted:

• Using a PC or smartphone older than five years
• RAM of 4GB or less
• Having many browser tabs open
• Running background games or video editing software

Solutions include closing unnecessary apps or tabs, hiding the chat window, or lowering the video quality.

Five Basic Solutions for Twitch Freezes or Lags

If you’re uncertain about the cause of Twitch freezing or lagging, here are five solutions to try first. Each can be executed in just a few minutes and is likely to be effective in many cases.

Reload the Page

If Twitch temporarily freezes, try reloading the page. If the issue stems from a connection error or cache problem, reloading often resolves it.

For PC browsers, press the “F5” key or click the refresh button in your browser. If you wish to force a reload while bypassing cache, use “Ctrl + F5” (Windows) or “Command + Shift + R” (Mac).

For smartphones, swipe down on the video player to reload the page. Switching to a different channel and then back to the original channel can also help.

Restart Your Device (Smartphone, PC, Tablet)

Restarting your device resets any overwhelmed memory and clears accumulated temporary files, allowing Twitch to operate smoothly again.

If you feel the Twitch app is sluggish or freezing, a restart is worth trying.

Steps to Restart Smartphones (iPhone, Android)

• Press and hold the power button and tap “Power Off”
• Once fully powered off, press the power button again to turn it back on

Steps to Restart PC

• Select “Restart” from the Windows menu
• For Mac, choose “Restart” from the Apple menu in the upper left of the screen

The restart process takes about 1 to 2 minutes. Remembering this as your first troubleshooting step can be quite useful.

Update the Twitch App to the Latest Version

If you’re using an outdated version of the Twitch app, bugs or compatibility issues could cause video freezes.

Twitch regularly updates its app to fix bugs and add new features. Check to see if you have the latest version by following these steps.

iPhone/iPad Update Check Steps
1. Open the App Store
2. Tap on the account icon in the upper right corner
3. Scroll down to see if “Update” appears next to “Twitch” and tap it if so

Android Update Check Steps
1. Open the Google Play Store
2. Tap on the account icon in the upper right corner
3. Tap “Manage apps and devices”
4. Tap “Updates available”
5. If “Update” appears next to “Twitch,” tap it

It’s also important to keep your browser up to date on your PC. For Chrome, you can check under “Help” → “About Google Chrome.”

Restart Your Wi-Fi Router to Stabilize Connection

If you’re watching Twitch over Wi-Fi, restarting the router can stabilize the connection and reduce video freezes.

If you’re experiencing slow loading on Twitch or other sites, intermittent Wi-Fi, or noticeably slower speeds than usual, try restarting your router.

Here are the steps to restart your router:

1. Press the power button on the router’s body to turn it off (or unplug it if there is no button)
2. Wait for 10 to 30 seconds
3. Turn it back on
4. Wait 1 to 2 minutes until the lights indicate normal functioning

If possible, switching to a wired LAN connection is also recommended. A wired connection offers greater stability and is less prone to freezing on Twitch.

Try Watching on a Different Browser or App

There may be issues occurring only with certain browsers or apps. Testing a different environment can help isolate the issue.

For instance, if Twitch is freezing in Chrome, trying a different browser like Firefox or Edge may help. If you’re able to stream without issues in a different browser, it’s likely that settings or extensions in the original browser are to blame.

Additionally, there may be cases where the streamer’s OBS stream is also freezing, so checking multiple streams is important for determining whether it’s an issue specific to your setup.

On smartphones, viewing through the web version instead of the Twitch app can also be a solution. Conversely, if the web version is freezing, trying the app may improve the experience. Testing in multiple environments can help you determine whether the issue lies within the device as a whole or just within a specific browser or app.

Solutions for Different Symptoms of Twitch Lag

Twitch freezing can manifest in various patterns. Try the solutions that match your symptoms.

If You See a Spinning Indicator (Buffering)

If you frequently see a spinning indicator (buffering) in the center of the screen, it’s likely due to slow internet speed or Low Latency Mode being active.

Buffering indicates that the data being received from Twitch isn’t keeping up with the playback speed, leading to insufficient data for streaming.

Here’s the priority order for addressing this issue:

• Turn off Low Latency Mode: In the video player settings, go to Advanced Settings and uncheck Low Latency
• Lower the Video Quality: Go to Settings → Quality and change it to 480p or 360p
• Test Your Internet Speed: If it’s below 3Mbps, consider reviewing your service provider or plan
• Switch to Wired LAN: This generally provides a more stable speed than Wi-Fi

If Video Playback is Choppy or Jumps

If the streaming video does not play smoothly and appears choppy, this might be due to hardware acceleration or insufficient device specs. If you have high-performance hardware but still experience lag, investigate the hardware acceleration setting.

Here’s the priority order for addressing this issue:

• Turn Off Hardware Acceleration: In Chrome settings, go to System and disable Hardware Acceleration, then restart the browser
• Disable Extensions: Temporarily turn off all extensions at chrome://extensions/
• Hide the Chat Window: If chat rendering is taxing CPU resources, hiding it may help
• Close Background Apps: Use the Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to quit unnecessary applications

If Audio Plays but Video Freezes

If the audio is working fine but the video freezes, it’s likely an issue with the GPU (graphics processing) or drivers. Audio and video are processed separately, indicating that an issue has arisen solely in video processing.

Here’s the priority order for addressing this issue:

• Turn Off Hardware Acceleration: In Chrome settings, go to System and disable Hardware Acceleration
• Watch on a Different Browser: If Chrome has issues, try Firefox or Edge
• Update Graphics Drivers: Download the latest version from the official sites of NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel
• Force a Reload the Page: Use Ctrl+F5 to reset any temporary rendering errors
• Restart the PC: This is effective after intensive GPU use, such as after gaming

Conclusion

This article explained the causes of Twitch freezing or lagging and specific troubleshooting methods.

The main causes and solutions for Twitch freezing are as follows:

Symptoms	Main Causes	Priority Solutions
Frequent Spinning Indicator (Buffering)	Insufficient Internet Speed / Low Latency Mode	Turn off Low Latency Mode / Lower Video Quality
Choppy or Jumping Video	Hardware Acceleration / Insufficient Specs	Turn off Hardware Acceleration
Audio Plays, but Video Freezes	GPU / Graphics Driver Issues	Try a Different Browser / Update Drivers

Even when the cause is unclear, basic troubleshooting such as reloading the page, restarting devices, or rebooting the Wi-Fi router can often yield positive results.

To fully enjoy your Twitch streaming experience, be sure to try the troubleshooting methods introduced here one by one.

If you are also interested in starting your own streaming journey, refer to the article below.

>>How to Start Streaming on Twitch: Setup, Essential Gear & Monetization Tips