It’s super frustrating when playback issues interrupt your viewing experience. While they can be a real annoyance, these disruptions don’t always mean something’s seriously wrong—often, a quick refresh is all it takes to get things back on track.
Use these fixes to help with common video playing issues like buffering, freezing, or out-of-sync audio. And if things still aren’t working quite right, chat with the Crunchyroll Support crew! We’re here to help you 24/7.
What kinds of issues can this help with?
The tips listed in this article can help with common playback issues like
- Buffering or lag despite a strong internet connection
- Video not loading or the screen stays black
- App freezing or stops working randomly
- Playback stalls or skips
- Sound or subtitles are out of sync
Mobile app quick fixes
Try these quick fixes if you’re having trouble watching Crunchyroll on your phone or tablet.
- Close, then reopen the app.
- Restart your device.
- Make sure your device and the Crunchyroll app are both up to date.
- Close any unnecessary background apps, especially ones that refresh often.
- Reinstall the Crunchyroll app.
- Temporarily turn off your VPN, since it can sometimes interfere with playback.
Web browser quick fixes
If you’re having trouble watching in your browser, try these quick tips to get things back on track.
- Make sure your browser is up to date.
- Hard refresh the page by pressing CTRL+F5 (for PC) or Shift+Cmd+R (for Mac).
- Restart your browser—this can help clear out temporary glitches.
- Clear your cache and cookies. (You can find the option in your browser settings.)
- Temporarily disable ad blockers.
- Temporarily turn off your VPN or antivirus, since they sometimes interfere with playback.
- Power cycle your router by unplugging it 30 seconds then plugging it back in.
- Try watching in incognito mode or temporarily disabling your browser extensions.
Game console quick fixes
If you run into issues while watching Crunchyroll on your PlayStation, Switch, or another game console, these quick tips can help smooth things out.
- Restart your console.
- Reinstall the Crunchyroll app.
- Power cycle your console by turning it off completely, unplugging it for 30 seconds, then turning it back on.
- Clear your console’s cache or persistent storage. Don’t worry, this won’t delete saved games or app settings.
For instructions to fix video playback issues based on your specific device, check out this list:
Smart TV and streaming device quick fixes
If you’re running into issues while watching Crunchyroll on a smart TV or streaming device, try these tips to fix playback.
- Restart your device.
- Check for any system updates.
- Update or reinstall the Crunchyroll app.
- Power cycle your device by unplugging it for 30 seconds then plugging it back in.
- Temporarily turn off your VPN, since it can sometimes interfere with playback.
For instructions to fix playback issues based on your specific device, check out this list:
Smart TVs
Streaming devices
I’m getting a specific error code
If you’re seeing a specific error code over and over, make a note or take a screenshot of it, then let the Crunchyroll Support crew know what's happening. Knowing the error code helps us quickly identify what’s happening and how to fix it for you.
What if these tips don’t work?
Reach out to Crunchyroll Support—that’s why we’re here! Our team will take a look behind the scenes and help you get back to watching as quickly as possible.