How to Stop the Spinning Wheel On Streaming TV: Tips For Smoother Viewing

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.

TV Answer Man, I like streaming because it has so much programming and you can choose which services to get so you can keep your costs down. But what I don’t like is that damn spinning wheel that interrupts my show. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO STOP IT? PLEASE!!! –  Heidi, Plano, Texas.

What Is the Spinning Wheel On Streaming TV?
Heidi, the ‘spinning wheel’ is an occasional occurrence when watching a streaming service, such as Sling TV, YouTube TV, Netflix, Hulu, Fubo and DIRECTV Stream. You will be watching a movie or TV show when suddenly the picture will freeze and a small spinning wheel will appear in the middle of the screen.

What Causes the Spinning Wheel On Streaming TV?
The cause of the spinning wheel? The Internet, Heidi. It’s not exactly an ideal infrastructure for delivering live video. If the speed of your home Internet network dips below the minimum requirement needed for a consistent picture, it can cause picture buffering (aka the dreaded spinning wheel). And if the streaming service has a temporary delay on one of its servers, that can cause it.

Fortunately, streaming services have improved their delivery systems in recent years so it’s less noticeable than it used to be. (Home Internet services have also increased their speeds and efficiencies.) But it’s still a problem.

If your streaming picture is consistently marred by the spinning wheel, you can try the following steps to fix the issue:

How to Stop the Spinning Wheel On Streaming TV
1. Change the channel and then go back to your original channel. This will sometimes allow your original channel to ‘catch up’ with the data (programming) that’s being delivered to your home.

2. Reset your home WiFi network. Your Internet service may be operating erratically, causing the dips in picture quality. You may also need to upgrade your Internet service plan to a faster speed.

3. Delete and reinstall the app. The live streaming app sometimes can get corrupted, creating a host of problems. A simple reinstall could eliminate the spinning wheel.

4. Try plugging the Internet modem cable directly into the TV, bypassing the WiFi system. The direct connection can increase the speed of your Internet service and create a smoother stream.

5. Free up bandwidth. Get everyone in the house off the WiFi system. If multiple people are using WiFi, it will slow down your Internet speed.

Heidi, hope that helps. Happy viewing and stay safe!

Have a Question? Ask The TV Answer Man!

Have a question about a favorite show, streaming service or new  TV product? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com. Please include your first name and hometown in your message.

The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered television for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch  television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.