[Bug]: Excessive video buffering

[mkelican]

Guidelines

• I have encountered this bug in the latest release of FreeTube.
• I have encountered this bug in the official downloads of FreeTube.
• I have searched the issue tracker for open and closed issues that are similar to the bug report I want to file, without success.
• I have searched the documentation for information that matches the description of the bug I want to file, without success.
• This issue contains only one bug.
• I have read and agree to follow the rules.

Describe the bug

After running for a few hours, the player starts failing to buffer videos properly. No errors are visible in the console. More specifically, the player buffers 2-3 seconds, then halts downloading for 4-5 seconds before buffering another 2-3 seconds, causing repeated stuttering during playback. This occurs even if video quality is dropped to the minimum available and regardless of overall connection quality. Once the issue presents, it continues for an extended arbitrary period in all videos even after restarting the application before eventually returning to normal behavior. Stats shows available bandwidth drop from the expected 50 mbps down to a stunningly low ~128 kbps.

Expected Behavior

Videos load and play seamlessly

Issue Labels

content not loading, inconsistent behavior

FreeTube Version

0.24.0

Operating System Version

Bazzite 6.17.7

Installation Method

Flathub

Primary API used

Local API

Last Known Working FreeTube Version (If Any)

0.23.15

Upload screenshots or videos

Screencast_20260413_164707.webm

Additional Information

It's worth noting that this is happening on a stable, wired network connection that is experiencing no other issues otherwise. I can be in a discord call streaming video with no issues simultaneously at the same time as this buffering problem. Given how this issue is presenting and the adversarial relationship youtube has with users of this project, I think it's entirely possible that I'm running into some form of throttling on youtube's end. That being said, manually downgrading to a release that does not use the new player does appear to bypass the issue, at least for now.

Frustratingly, I also have a number of friends I've converted to freetube who are running on the exact same OS in the same general environment who are having no issues at all, so it's also possible this is just a me thing, but I have at least done my due diligence to verify this isn't network related.

Nightly Build

• I have encountered this bug in the latest nightly build.

[jeff9926]

Yep, same problem since updating to latest stable build. Nightly builds also haven't resolved the issue. Running Windows 11 25H2 with no issues in regards to other applications e.g. discord/sharing screen, also using a wired connection.

[Bostonroller]

Ok, so it was a bug. I wasnt sure was the problem my network.
Sometimes it is hard to watch because it only use full network speed couple second so it won't buffer videos properly.

[EDIT] Sometimes it use 49 Mb/s, but buffer par won't even move so it won't buffer anything. Why it use 49Mb/s if it don't load the video?

[Tharn]

I had this from the get-go, just in the first couple of minutes using the client. Latest stable sometimes does not load chunks pre-emptively but lets the buffer run out repeatedly.

[mahewett]

Same issue here, started after installing v0.24.0. Repeated buffer underruns every few seconds. I have not been able to nail down the exact circumstances under which it occurs. Some videos play normally, others exhibit the stuttering behavior shortly after starting. Sometimes the situation corrects itself, and sometimes I can restart FreeTube and get the video to play normally.

[Zazie-Lavender]

Having this issue as well on 0.24.0 Beta.
OS: Manjaro Linux
Kernel: Linux 6.18.18-1-MANJARO
Source: flatpak (via AUR, from source)

Behavior seems to be difficult to pin down. I don't know what causes it other than it sometimes occurs for me after a video or three.

[efb4f5ff-1298-471a-8973-3d47447115dc]

Hi there, just to be clear does this buffering take place after the SABR countdown?