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Most Pluto TV problems are fixed by one of four things, in this order: a proper restart of the device, clearing the app's cache, updating or reinstalling the app, and checking your connection. If none of that works and other apps are fine, Pluto itself may be having an outage. And if the problem is the picture freezing at ad breaks, you're not alone: that's a long-running Pluto annoyance with its own workarounds, below.
First: is it you or Pluto?
- Do other streaming apps work on the same device right now? If not, it's your network or device.
- Does Pluto work in a web browser at pluto.tv? If yes, the problem is the app on your TV device.
- Does Pluto fail everywhere? Then Pluto may be down. Check its help centre (support.pluto.tv) and wait it out.
Fix 1: Restart the device properly
Turning the TV off with the remote usually just puts the streaming device to sleep. Restart it fully:
- Fire TV: hold Select and Play/Pause for about five seconds, or Settings > My Fire TV > Restart.
- Roku: Settings > System > Power > System restart.
- Google TV / Android TV: Settings > System > Restart.
- Smart TVs: unplug from the wall for 60 seconds.
Fix 2: Clear the cache (Fire TV and Android)
Go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications > Pluto TV (on Android TV: Settings > Apps > Pluto TV), then Force stop and Clear cache. If that doesn't help, Clear data resets the app to fresh; you'll lose favourites unless you're signed in to a Pluto account.
Fix 3: Update or reinstall
An out-of-date app is a common cause of playback errors after Pluto changes something on its side. Update from your device's store. If it's already current, uninstall and reinstall. On Roku, remove the app from the home screen, restart the Roku, and add it again from the store.
Fix 4: Check the connection
Pluto streams are live, so they're sensitive to weak Wi-Fi. Use the router's 5 GHz network or Ethernet if you can, and check nobody's saturating the connection with downloads. Our buffering guide covers the network fixes in detail; they apply to Pluto just as much as any other live TV.
If you use a VPN, switch it off. Pluto adjusts its channels by country, and a VPN can make it show a different region's line-up, a different language, or nothing at all.
Pluto TV not working on a smart TV
Built-in smart TV apps are usually the least reliable way to watch Pluto, because TV makers stop updating older models. If Pluto won't load or keeps crashing on a smart TV:
- Update the TV's software from its settings menu.
- Update or reinstall the Pluto TV app from the TV's store.
- Unplug the TV for 60 seconds, which clears more than the standby button does.
- If the TV is several years old and the app still misbehaves, a streaming stick in a spare HDMI port is the lasting fix. Pluto is on every major one.
The freeze at ad breaks
This is the complaint we see most. The programme plays fine, then freezes when the adverts start, or the adverts freeze and the show never comes back. Pluto inserts adverts into its streams dynamically, and some devices handle the switch badly. Users have reported it across Roku, Fire TV and other platforms for years (Roku community).
What helps:
- Change channel and come back. This reloads the stream and usually gets past the stuck break.
- Keep the app updated. Playback fixes arrive quietly in updates.
- Restart the device if it happens repeatedly in one session.
- Watch the same show on demand, where available. On-demand playback handles ad breaks more smoothly than live channels on some devices.
Tubi and other free services use similar ad technology, so the same tricks help there too.
Error codes
You'll find websites listing precise meanings for Pluto TV error codes. Pluto doesn't publish an official public list, so treat those explanations as guesswork. Any code means playback or connection failed. Work through the four fixes above, and if the same code keeps appearing, contact Pluto's support with the code, your device and what you were watching.
If Pluto keeps letting you down
Pluto is free, so it's worth having other free options installed too. Tubi, The Roku Channel, Plex and your TV's built-in free service (Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, Google TV Freeplay, Fire TV Channels) cover a lot of the same ground. See the best free live TV apps and Pluto TV vs Tubi. For how Pluto works in general, our Pluto TV guide has the details.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is Pluto TV not working?
- Usually a temporary glitch in the app or device, an out-of-date app, a full cache, or a network problem. Sometimes Pluto itself has an outage. A full device restart, clearing the app cache and updating fix most cases.
- Why does Pluto TV freeze during commercials?
- Pluto inserts adverts into streams dynamically, and the switch between programme and advert can stall on some devices. Changing channel and coming back, restarting the app, and keeping it updated are the practical fixes. It's a long-running complaint across devices.
- What do Pluto TV error codes mean?
- Pluto doesn't publish a public list of what its error codes mean, and sites that claim precise meanings are guessing. Treat any code as a playback or connection failure and work through the standard fixes, then contact Pluto support with the code if it persists.
- Why is Pluto TV in Spanish?
- You're probably browsing the Spanish-language section, or the app has picked up a different region or language. Check the app's settings and category filters, and switch off any VPN, which can make Pluto think you're in another country.
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