Why do Facebook reels keep buffering?

There are a few common reasons why Facebook reels may keep buffering and not playing smoothly. The main causes tend to revolve around issues with your device, internet connection, the Facebook app itself, or the specific reel. Here are some of the most likely culprits and solutions to try if your Facebook reels keep pausing and buffering.

Internet Connection Issues

One of the most common reasons Facebook reels buffer is problems with your internet connection. Reels contain video which requires a stable, fast-enough internet connection to stream smoothly. Here are some internet-related factors that can cause buffering:

Slow internet speeds – Reels require decently fast internet speeds to load smoothly. If your internet plan maxes out at slower speeds like 10-25Mbps, reels may buffer. Upgrading to faster internet if available can help.

WiFi signal issues – Using WiFi with a weak signal or far from the router can cause connection problems. Try moving closer to the router or upgrading your WiFi equipment.
Mobile data problems – If using mobile data, a weak cell signal or slow mobile data speeds could be the issue. Try moving to an area with better signal.
Bandwidth limits – Some networks throttle speeds after hitting a bandwidth cap. Reels may buffer if your connection gets deprioritized.

VPN connections – Using a VPN can slow your speeds. Try disabling your VPN and test speeds without it.

Testing your internet speeds, either via speedtest.net or your provider’s speed tool, can reveal if your network is fast enough for smooth reel streaming. Consistent speeds of at least 25-50Mbps are recommended. If speeds are sufficient, other network issues like WiFi signal problems, data throttling, or VPN slow downs could be the cause.

Problems with Your Device

Issues with your smartphone, computer, or other device you use to watch Facebook reels could also be causing buffering problems. Here are some device-related factors to check:

Low storage space – If your device is nearing its storage capacity, apps like Facebook may lag and stutter. Clear up space by deleting unused apps and files.
Outdated app – An outdated Facebook app can suffer performance issues. Update to the latest version.
Too many background apps – Leave too many apps running in the background and resources get stretched thin. Force close background apps you aren’t using.

Hardware problems – Defective network adapters, processors, RAM and other hardware can hamper streaming performance. Test your device’s hardware for issues.
Buggy phone firmware – Outdated or buggy firmware, especially on Android devices, can cause glitchy performance. Install the latest firmware update for your device.

Try restarting your device before watching reels to free up memory and refresh app performance. If issues persist, updating your device’s apps, storage, firmware and hardware can all help enhance performance for streaming reels.

Facebook App Issues

Problems with the Facebook app itself could also be interfering with smoothly streaming reels. Some Facebook app issues that could cause reel buffering include:

App bugs – Bugs within the Facebook app related to reels and videos could be causing playback issues. Check for app updates to see if bugs have been fixed.
Cache issues – Too much cached data in the Facebook app can slow things down. Try clearing the app cache and data to refresh performance.

Background app refresh disabled – The Facebook app may not properly update in the background if this is disabled. Enable background app refresh.
Permissions problems – If the Facebook app lacks crucial permissions like storage or network access, playback can suffer. Ensure key permissions are enabled.

Reinstalling the Facebook app can often fix elusive software issues leading to problems like reel buffering. Restart your device after reinstalling the app for best results.

Problems with the Reel Itself

In some cases, buffering issues may come down to problems with the specific reel you’re trying to watch rather than your device or network. Some reel-specific issues include:

Poor video resolution – Reels in high resolutions like 4K can be difficult to buffer smoothly, especially on mobile networks. Playback of HD and 4K reels may buffer more.
Corrupt or damaged reel files – A reel with corrupted or glitchy video files may not stream properly. Seeing if other reels buffer can help diagnose this.

Region-blocked reels – Reels blocked in your region for copyright reasons may fail to load smoothly.
Unsupported video formats – Facebook may have issues with certain video container formats. Reels using problematic formats could glitch.
Lengthy reels – Longer reels naturally take more bandwidth and resources to process, making buffering more likely.

Watching the reel on Wifi or trying shorter reels can help determine if the issues lie with a specific reel rather than your device or network conditions. Problematic reels may simply buffer regardless of troubleshooting efforts.

How to Diagnose and Fix Buffering Issues

When your Facebook reels consistently buffer, try these steps to diagnose and resolve the problem:

Check your internet speeds at a site like speedtest.net to confirm your network is fast enough to stream reels smoothly.

Connect your device directly to your router via ethernet and test reel playback. This can determine if WiFi issues are causing problems.
Toggle airplane mode on/off on your device before testing reels. This resets network connections.
Update the Facebook app to eliminate any app-related bugs.

Update your device’s firmware, apps, and operating system to the latest versions.
Clear cached data and force stop the Facebook app.
Restart your device to free up memory and refresh performance.

Try watching the reel while connected to different networks and devices. If issues persist, the reel itself may be problematic.

Consistently test reels after making changes to narrow down what exactly is causing the buffering. Contact your ISP if network issues are suspected or Facebook support if app issues persist. For problematic reels, your only option may be to try watching a different reel instead.

Settings to Adjust on Facebook

If you’re still experiencing buffering issues after troubleshooting your device, network and the Facebook app itself, some settings tweaks within Facebook may help. Here are some recommended settings to adjust related to reel playback:

Lower video quality – On the Facebook app, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Media and Contacts > Video Playback. Select “Limit data usage” or a lower video quality.
Disable autoplay – Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Media and Contacts > Videos and Photos and turn off Autoplay Videos.
Enable WiFi-only downloading – Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Account Management > Video Downloads and check “Only download on Wifi.”

These adjustments lower bandwidth and resource demands when streaming reels which may alleviate buffering problems. Note that completely disabling autoplay means you’ll have to manually click to play each reel.

Internet Speed Recommendations

To stream Facebook reels smoothly without constant buffering, adequate internet speeds are an absolute necessity. Here are some internet speed recommendations for smooth Facebook reel streaming:

Connection Type	Download Speed	Upload Speed
Mobile (3G/4G LTE)	10+ Mbps	2+ Mbps
WiFi	25+ Mbps	5+ Mbps
Wired Ethernet	50+ Mbps	10+ Mbps

Testing your network speeds is the best way to determine if they meet these recommended targets. Speeds can fluctuate however, so consistent speeds around or above these thresholds is ideal. Upgrading your internet plan may be necessary to achieve the speeds needed for streaming reels without constant buffering and stops.

Adjust Video Cache on Your Device

Increasing your device’s cached data allotted to video streaming apps like Facebook can potentially help minimize mid-reel buffering. Here are instructions for various devices:

iPhone/iPad

Go to Settings > General > iPhone/iPad Storage.
Wait for storage information to load. Scroll down and tap Facebook.

Under Documents & Data, tap Video Cache.
Adjust the slider to set a higher amount of storage reserved for Facebook’s video cache.

Android Phone/Tablet

Open your device’s Settings app.

Tap Apps or Application Manager.
Select Facebook from the list.
Tap Storage or Storage & Cache.

Tap Clear Cache followed by Clear Data to reset.
Launch Facebook and stream reels to rebuild cache.

Windows PC

Open Settings > System > Storage.

Click Change how we free up space automatically.
Toggle “Limit cache” to Off for Facebook under Videos.
Close Settings and restart your PC for changes to take effect.

Mac

Click the Apple logo in the top left and choose About This Mac > Storage > Manage.
Under iTunes Media Cache Files, select Facebook.
Drag the slider right to increase the amount of cache allowed.

Click Apply and close the window.

Allocating more storage for video caching can help Facebook pre-load more of a reel before starting playback, reducing mid-stream stuttering. The ideal cache amount depends on your device’s storage capacity.

Contact Facebook Support

If you continue experiencing frequent Facebook reel buffering after trying the above troubleshooting, your best recourse may be contacting Facebook support for assistance investigating the issue. Here are some tips for contacting support:

Access Facebook’s Help Community and post about your issue for input from other users.
Use the Report a Problem tool on Facebook to directly flag reel playback issues.
Tweet @FacebookSupport for help from their public support account.

Submit feedback directly within the Facebook app via Settings & Privacy > Help & Support > Give Feedback.
Visit Facebook’s Help Center to find contact options for more serious technical issues.

Describe the buffering problem in detail including when it happens, what device you use, your network speeds, and any troubleshooting you’ve tried. Provide screenshots or video of the buffering occurring if possible. The more information you provide, the better chance Facebook support can determine the cause and provide fixes.

Conclusion

Facebook reels stuttering and endlessly buffering can be hugely frustrating. But in most cases, the problem can be narrowed down to issues with your network, device, the Facebook app itself, or problematic reel files. Running through potential fixes like clearing app caches, updating firmware, adjusting Facebook settings, and contacting support can typically resolve the issue. With the right troubleshooting steps, you’ll be able to scroll and view Facebook reels smoothly without annoying pauses and interruptions.