Are you having problems watching your favorite shows and movies on Paramount Plus? Is it that frozen screen, endless buffering, or some other technical issue that’s making you wonder why Paramount Plus is not working?
Despite its success in recent years, Paramount+ has become a hot topic lately because of its buggy and glitchy interface. So, if you nodded while reading those questions, you are not alone.
In this article, I will help you find a way out of this issue. I will share over 17 solutions to help you do away with the common Paramount+ issues and some top Paramount+ alternatives to check out.
5 Reasons Why Paramount Plus Is Not Working
The biggest issue with Paramount+ is that there is not just one specific issue that needs to be fixed. The platform is infamous for not one, not two, but several annoying problems that can come at you anytime and ruin your watching experience.
Here are some of the most common problems that have been bugging Paramount+ users for several months now:
- Slow Loading: Shows and movies take forever to load once you click on them. Sometimes, it takes so long you might need to go back and click on them again for it to work.
- Buffering: If you manage to start your show with or without trouble, you may still get stuck because of the endless buffering that interrupts the viewing experience.
- Freezing: What’s worse than slow loading or buffering? A frozen screen! You may be watching your favorite movie or show, and the screen gets stuck in a random frame.
- Error Messages: Sometimes, you may meet a “Video Unavailable” message while trying to watch something. Or, you may be unable to watch anything because of a cryptic Error “3005” that doesn’t budge.
- Crashes: Many users have reported being abruptly thrown back to the home screen in the middle of an episode. Other times, the platform takes you to the beginning of an episode you’ve just finished watching.
Each of these problems—and many more—has pestered many Paramount+ users. It’s frustrating. And it pains me even more because the platform really has high-quality content to stream and binge!
The good news is that many of these problems can be fixed, and that’s what the rest of this blog is about. So, let’s get into the solutions now.
How To Fix Paramount Plus Not Working?
If Paramount Plus does not work on your mobile, desktop, TV, or streaming device, it may happen for several reasons. The potential fixes may vary depending on the issue you are facing.
That’s why I’ve prepared this list of over 16 fixes to help you eliminate the issues. Not all of them may apply to your case, so you don’t have to go through them.
1. Fixing Minor Bugs And Glitches
Because of a minor bug or technical glitch, you may encounter issues like slow loading, buffering, frozen screens, and crashes on Paramount+. Such problems usually involve the app. The good news is that there are some easy ways to solve and avoid them.
Fix 1: Force-quit And Restart The App
If the Paramount+ app on your phone frequently lags, freezes, and/or crashes, the simplest fix is to force-quit the app and start it again.
On Android:
Tap the Recent button (three parallel lines) on the bottom panel to view recently used apps running in the background. Remove the Paramount+ app from this screen to close it from the background. Then, wait for a few seconds before opening it again.
On iPhone:
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to view the stack of background apps. Or, if your iPhone has a Home button, double-press that button to view the background apps. Swipe away the Paramount+ app card to close the app. Then, wait for a few seconds and reopen it.
Fix 2: Clear Paramount App Cache And Data On Android
Sometimes, an app accumulates a lot of cached data that clutters it and makes it lag. If this happens with your Paramount+ app, Android phones let you clear the app cache with these simple steps:
1. Go to your phone’s menu or app tray and find the Paramount+ app.
2. Tap and hold the app icon until a floating menu appears.
3. Tap on the App Info icon (the one with an “i” sign).
4. On the App Info screen, tap on the Storage option to view the details about the storage space occupied by the Paramount+ app.
5. Tap on the Clear Cache button at the bottom. Confirm the action if prompted to.
6. Relaunch the app.
PRO TIP: If clearing the cache doesn’t work, try clearing the app data by tapping on Clear data after step 4. You will be logged out of the app. Open the app and log back in to see if the problem is resolved.
Fix 3: Offload The Paramount App On iPhone
iPhones do not have the option to clear an app’s cached data. Instead, you can offload the app without clearing its data. Here are the steps:
1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and go to General → iPhone Storage.
3. Go through the list of apps and select Paramount+.
4. Tap on the Offload app button. Confirm the action.
5. Download the Paramount+ app again from the App Store.
Fix 4: Log Out And Log Back In
If your Paramount+ app is having problems loading, logging out and in can refresh the app and help resolve the issue. Here is how you can log out of the Paramount+ app:
On the Mobile app:
1. Open the Paramount+ app.
2. Tap on the More button in the bottom-right corner.
3. Tap on the Sign Out button and confirm the action if prompted. You will be logged out.
4. Close the app from the background and relaunch it. Then log back into your account.
On the desktop website:
1. Go to Paramount Plus on your browser.
2. If you are already logged in, you will see your profile icon in the upper-right corner of the page. Tap on it.
3. Click on the Sign-out option from the drop-down menu.
4. Close the tab, then log into the website again.
Fix 5: Uninstall And Reinstall The Paramount+ App
If the previous fixes don’t work on your Paramount+ app, you can uninstall the app, which is the ultimate solution for app-related minor issues.
Once you have uninstalled/deleted the app, install its latest version from the Play Store or App Store. This way, you will not only update the app but also delete its cached and other data.
2. Fixing Connectivity Issues And Platform Outages
Many times, the issue is not with the Paramount+ app but with something in the backend, such as a network problem, issues with your router, or a platform outage.
As a result, you may get common issues like slow loading, frequent buffering, and the like. The fixes below can help detect and solve such problems.
Fix 6: Check If There Is A Server Outage (Downdetector)
You cannot do anything when there is a server outage, but you can likely detect it using websites like Downdetector. Here’s how:
1. Open a browser and go to Downdetector.
2. Once the website loads, you will see a search box on the page. Enter “Paramount+” in the search box and hit the Enter or Return key.
3. On this page, you can see the platform’s status and a graph showing the number of recent user reports submitted.
Fix 7: Reset Your Internet Connection
If your Paramount+ mobile app is not working, resetting your network connection can resolve connectivity issues. The simplest way to do that is to turn on Airplane Mode.
On Android, swipe down from the top of the screen to view the drop-down panel. Tap on the Airplane icon for iOS.
On iPhone, you can either swipe down from the top-right corner (on iPhone X and recent models) or swipe up from the bottom to view the Control Center panel. Then, tap on the Airplane icon to enable the Airplane mode.
Keep the mode enabled for about a minute. Then, turn it off and reopen the Paramount+ app.
Fix 8: Reboot Your Router
If you are connected to the internet via a router, rebooting your router can help reset the network and improve connectivity. Follow these steps:
1. Disconnect your devices from the router.
2. If you have a modem, turn that off first. Then, turn off the router.
3. Unplug the modem and router. Wait for 1 minute.
4. Plug the modem and router back in and turn them on (modem first, if you have it).
5. Reconnect your phone, desktop, or TV (whatever device you are streaming Paramount+ on) to the router. Go to Paramount+ and see if the issue is resolved.
Fix 9: Restart Your Device
Besides restarting your router, you can also try restarting the device you use to watch Paramount+ content. This can help with other connectivity or minor technical issues that might be causing streaming problems.
If you stream Paramount+ on your phone, simply power it off, wait for about a minute, and turn it on again.
However, if you watch Paramount+ mainly on your smart TV or via a streaming device such as Roku, Fire TV, Cox Contour, or Xfinity, you should also unplug the device after turning it off. Keep it unplugged for a minute before plugging it back in.
Once the device has restarted, relaunch the Paramount+ app and try again.
3. Fixing Issues On Desktop Browsers
If you stream Paramount+ on a desktop browser, some specific issues might cause problems while streaming. In this case, ad blockers, outdated browsers, or some particular settings are common causes.
Let me tell you about four fixes you can try on your browser.
Fix 10: Disable Ad Blockers
Ad blockers can be an excellent help for blocking pesky ads on websites. But on Paramount+, these tools can cause bothersome issues when they try to block ads or pop-ups.
So, if you have an ad blocker installed on your browser, disabling it might do the trick to solve the Parmount+ issue.
If you have Adblock, you can tap the Adblock icon in the browser’s toolbar and click on the Pause on this site option while the Paramount+ page is open.
If you have another ad-blocker installed, you can follow similar steps to disable it for the Paramount+ website.
Fix 11: Update Your Browser And Clear The Cache
An outdated browser is just as likely to cause problems as an updated app. So, make sure that your browser is up to date.
Go to WhatIsMyBrowser.com to check your browser’s version. If the browser is outdated, update it or install the latest version.
Next, ensure that your browser doesn’t have much cache, cookies, or site data. The specific ways to clear this data differ for browsers, but here are the steps for Chrome:
1. Tap on the three dots in the upper-right corner of your Chrome window.
2. Select the Delete Browsing Data option on the list of options.
3. Check the Cached images and files option and select a time range.
4. Tap on the Delete data button.
You can follow similar steps to clear cached data and cookies on your specific browser.
Fix 12: Turn Off Tracking Protection On Firefox
Firefox has a feature called Enhanced Tracking Protection that blocks trackers, hidden ads, and other things on websites. While it is meant to make your browsing experience safer, it can also interfere with your streaming experience on Paramount+.
Here’s how you can disable Tracking Protection on your Firefox browser:
1. Go to the Paramount+ website.
2. You will see a Shield icon at the left end of the address bar. Click on it.
3. A floating panel will appear, and you will see the Enhanced Tracking Protection toggle at the top. Turn it off.
The site will reload without tracking protection.
Fix 13: Try A Different Browser
If the last few fixes don’t help resolve the Paramount+ streaming issue on your desktop browser, it might be worthwhile to try a different browser.
Paramount+ is supported on all major browsers, including Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Firefox. If you are not using one of these browsers, try them. If you are already using one of these browsers, try switching between them.
4. Fixing Issues On Roku Devices And Fire TV Sticks
Paramount+ has issues with most devices. But if you have a Roku player, TV, or Fire TV Stick, you might have some more unique issues.
For example, some users reported that they couldn’t watch replays and highlights of soccer matches. So, if you have a Roku device or Fire TV stick, try following these fixes.
Fix 14: Restart Your Roku Device
There are some general troubleshooting steps for most Roku devices. But before you follow them, restart your router to ensure there is no connectivity issue, as we discussed earlier.
Next, launch the Roku player or TV and follow these steps using your Roku remote:
1. Press the Home button to go to the home screen.
2. Select Settings → System.
3. If you see the Power option, select it and then select System Restart. If you see the System Restart option directly, select it.
Fix 15: Optimize The Network Settings On The Roku Device
If a system restart is not enough, you can optimize the network settings on your router and Roku.
Firstly, ensure your network runs on 2.4 GHz or higher bandwidth. Roky devices may not run very smoothly on lower frequencies.
Once you are done with that, disable the Bandwidth Saver setting on your Roku with these steps:
1. Press the Home button on your Roku remote.
2. Scroll down and select Settings → Network.
3. Select the Bandwidth Saver option and toggle it off.
Fix 16: Troubleshoot Your Fire TV Device
If you use a Fire TV device for streaming Paramount+, you can try some basic troubleshooting steps to get rid of the issues.
Start with clearing the cached data of the Parmount+ app by following these steps:
1. Turn on your Fire TV and go to Settings.
2. Go to Applications → Manage Installed Applications.
3. Select the Paramount+ app, then select Clear Cache.
4. Select Clear Data.
If clearing the data is not enough, you can uninstall and reinstall the app on your phone. Follow the same steps as above until Step 3, then select Uninstall and follow the instructions on the screen.
5. Fixing Paramount+ Region Error On Apple TV
If you watch Paramount+ on your Apple TV, you might have faced the issue of a program suddenly becoming unavailable. You might even be in the middle of a show when an error message pops up saying, “This show is not available in your region.”
Here is what you can do:
Fix 17: Change The Region Settings On Your Apple TV
If you get this issue on your Apple TV, try the troubleshooting steps we have discussed so far, especially the following:
- Unplug, wait for a minute, and replug your router.
- Unplug, wait, and replug your Apple TV.
Next, follow these steps:
- Turn on your Apple TV and go to Settings.
- Go to General, then select Region.
- Check if your region is selected in the list. If it’s already selected, toggle it off and save the setting. Then, come back and toggle it on again.
Restart your Apple TV after following these steps and check if the issue is resolved.
6. The Last Resort For Fixing Paramount+ Issues
So you have all the above tips that apply in your case but still can’t get the Paramount+ to work properly? This is as frustrating as it sounds, and the only remaining hope is the customer support team.
There are many ways to contact the Paramount+ customer support team:
- Call the support team at 1-888-274-5343 (works only in the US).
- Fill out this form, and someone from the support team will contact you.
- Go to the Paramount+ website and click the Chatbot icon in the lower-right corner.
- Contact the support team via their X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook handles.
Paramount Plus Alternatives
The fixes we’ve discussed in this blog can be very helpful for solving one-time issues. But with Paramount+, you are likely to encounter so many frequent problems that quitting it may seem a better idea. Well, it very well can be!
Here are three alternatives you have hit the tolerance limit with Paramount+:
1. Peacock TV
With over 200,000 hours of content, Peacock is one of the best alternatives to Paramount+. Its lineup includes notable NBC titles such as The Office, Heroes, and The King of Queens, as well as original content and live sports. The best part? Plans start at as low as $7.99/month.
2. Hulu TV
Hulu is another great streaming platform with a fantastic collection of TV shows and movies. Its titles range from classics like The Orville, Killing Eve, and Malcolm in the Middle to originals like The Handmaid’s Tale and Letterkenny. Plans start pretty affordably at $7.99/month.
3. HBO Max
If you are open to shedding a few bucks for unmatched high-quality content, Max can be the right option. It houses all the HBO shows as well as some really great originals, such as Station Eleven and Raised by Wolves. Plans start at $9.99/month.
The best part about these platforms is that, unlike Paramount+, they don’t make it difficult to watch a show.
More On Paramount Plus:
Conclusion: Paramount Plus Is Buggy And Frustrating, Try These Fixes Or Switch To Peacock, Hulu, or Max!
The fixes I’ve mentioned in this blog will be enough to solve your Paramount+ issue in most cases. However, if the problem still doesn’t budge, try contacting the support team, as they should be best equipped to help you with most issues.
Nevertheless, if you think I missed something, or if you know another way that worked for you, don’t forget to tell us about it in the comments to help others.
