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Why is Netflix freezing in Windows 10?

Before, we had to drive to the cinema to watch a movie. We couldn’t see our favorite TV series on the train while on a commute. We had to go home and plop the disc into the DVD player. Well, those days are long gone. Thanks to streaming services, we can now bring our movies and TV shows anywhere we go. It is undeniable how companies like Netflix have transformed the video market.

What’s great about this service is it covers various platforms, including the Windows 10 operating system. We can go on and on, talking about all the excellent things about Netflix. However, we must not forget that its video streaming app is far from perfect. Several users reported that the program kept on freezing on their Windows 10 device. This problem can be annoying, especially when you’re watching a nail-biting scene on your favorite TV series.

Why Is Netflix Freezing on a Windows Laptop?

If the app keeps freezing on your Windows 10 computer, the first thing you should do is check your subscription. If you’re certain that there are no issues from that end, then sign in and try streaming a video again. Apart from subscription problems, here are the possible reasons why the Netflix app is freezing:

  • Problems with Netflix’s server
  • Issues with your Internet proxy or network connection
  • Incorrect system date and time settings
  • An out-of-date Silverlight plug-in

Whatever’s causing the issue, we can teach you how to fix Windows 10 freezing when streaming Netflix. There are various solutions we’ve prepared for you. So, we recommend that you work your way down the list until you find the one that will resolve the problem effectively.

Solution 1: Checking Your Internet Connection

In most cases, the Netflix app for Windows 10 freezes because of a poor Internet connection. So, the first thing you need to do is ensure that you have a good connection. You can try opening other websites to check if they are loading properly. If they are, you can try the other solutions in this article. Otherwise, you should contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to resolve your connectivity issues.

Solution 2: Checking Netflix’s Server

You won’t be able to stream videos on Netflix if its server is down. As such, it would be pointless to troubleshoot the app. A quick Google search on whether Netflix is down will show you its server’s status. If it is indeed down, then you have no other option but to wait for Netflix to fix the problem. On the other hand, if there is nothing wrong with its server, then we suggest that you try streaming on its website instead.

You can also try to access the site on a different browser. Now, if you can’t stream videos via the website across different browsers, then you won’t be able to use the app either. In this case, we recommend that you try the next method.

Solution 3: Disabling Any Proxy or VPN on Your System

Over the years, a lot of people across the world have misused Netflix through VPNs. As such, the media services company has worked harder to crack down on users who are abusing VPNs to access their servers. So, if you’re using a VPN service (even for other purposes), we suggest that you disable it while you’re streaming Netflix videos.

Now, if you’re using a proxy on Windows 10, you can isolate the issue by removing the server. Here are the steps:

  1. Press Windows Key+I on your keyboard to launch the Settings app.
  2. Select Network & Internet.
  3. On the left-pane menu, click Proxy.
  4. Move to the right pane, then toggle the switch below ‘Use a proxy server’ to Off.

After following these steps, try streaming videos on Netflix again to see if the issue is gone.

Solution 4: Correcting the Date and Time

Some users claimed that correcting the date and time settings on their system helped them get Netflix to function properly. So, we suggest that you do the same. Here are the steps:

  1. Go to your taskbar, then right-click the Windows icon.
  2. Select Settings from the options.
  3. Click Time & Language.
  4. Now, toggle the switch below ‘Set time automatically’ to On.
  5. Under the Synchronize Your Clock section, click the Sync Now button.

If the Netflix app is still freezing after you’ve applied these steps, then move on to the next solution.

Solution 5: Reinstalling the Silverlight Plug-In

When streaming Netflix videos on its app, it is essential to have an updated Microsoft Silverlight plug-in. So, if you want to learn how to fix the Netflix freezing issue on Windows 10, we suggest that you follow the steps below:

  1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows Key+R on your keyboard.
  2. Once the Run dialog box is up, type “appwiz.cpl” (no quotes), then hit Enter. Doing so will bring up the Programs and Features window.
  3. Look for the Microsoft Silverlight plug-in, then right-click it.
  4. Select Uninstall from the context menu.
  5. After uninstalling the plug-in, restart your computer.
  6. Reinstall the Microsoft Silverlight plug-in, then check if the problem persists.

Solution 6: Updating Your Graphics Card Driver

It’s possible that you’re experiencing lagging or freezing problems on the Netflix app because of a corrupted or outdated graphics card driver. The best course of action, in this case, is to update the driver. You can use the Device Manager to do this. Here are the steps:

  1. Right-click the Windows icon on your taskbar, then select Device Manager from the options.
  2. Once the Device Manager is up, expand the contents of the Display Adapters category.
  3. Right-click your graphics card, then select Update Driver.
  4. On the next window, click the ‘Search automatically for updated driver software’ option.

Let the Device Manager look for the latest driver for your graphics card. However, do note that this tool can be unreliable at times. There are cases wherein it misses the most recent release of the driver. So, if you want to ensure that you have the latest graphics card driver, we recommend that you use a trusted program like Auslogics Driver Updater. This tool will recognize your operating system version and processor type. All you need to do is click a button, and it will find the latest driver for your graphics card.

Solution 7: Reinstalling the Netflix App

If none of the methods we shared fixed the issue, then your last resort is to reinstall the Netflix app. To do that, follow the instructions below:

  1. Click the Windows icon on your keyboard, then type “Programs” (no quotes).
  2. Select Add or Remove Programs from the results. Doing so will take you to the Apps & Features section of the Settings app.
  3. On the right pane, look for Netflix.
  4. Select Netflix, then click Uninstall.
  5. After removing the Netflix app, go to its official website and download the latest version of the program.
  6. Reinstall Netflix, then try streaming videos again to see if the issue has been resolved.

Do you prefer watching videos on the Netflix app or website?

Let us know in the comments below!