Netflix buffering issues manifest themselves in several ways, including:

You may see a frozen image when Netflix starts buffering, or the Netflix video player may display a black screen. While Netflix is buffering, you will typically see the light gray timeline at the bottom of the player slowly turn a darker shade of gray from left to right. You may also see a number countdown in the middle of the player. The number may reset to zero or may not reach 100 percent.

Normally, you can wait for the video to buffer and watch it without interruption, even if your internet connection is slow. If the bar doesn’t change for a while, it means that Netflix isn’t buffering, or it’s buffering too slowly to be of any use.

If you experience repeated buffering interruptions when you try to watch a video, there could be an issue with your home network, your internet connection, your computer or streaming device, or Netflix itself. You can fix some of these issues yourself, but there’s nothing you can do if your internet service provider or Netflix itself is experiencing an issue.