MacBook Air M2 Video streaming freezes on multiple platforms

MacBook Air 15 inch M2 Memory 8 GB MacOS. Golden Gate 27.0.1

For the past 2 - 3 weeks, I have been having video streaming issues on PBS Passport, YouTube and Prime Video. At various points while streaming a video, the screen freezes and when I refresh the link, the screen remains frozen. I have also shut down the computer and restarted it. YouTube and Prim

The Video error messages basically state there is a streaming issue, with no program code provided.

To date, I have not shut down and restarted my WiFi. ( Cox was recently "acquired" by Spectrum. Maybe this is the basis of the issue? and "yes" I am considering changing providers.) I'm not a "gamer" and don't share my WiFi network.

Thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

Thank you.

Posted on Oct 6, 2026 7:53 PM

1 reply

kaz-k

Level 9 (53,902 points)

Oct 6, 2026 8:01 PM in response to WickedBreeze

Hi,

When video streaming freezes across multiple platforms on a MacBook Air M2, it is usually caused by browser extensions, hardware acceleration conflicts, or low disk space.

Quick Fixes to Try

Test another browser: Open the stream in Safari if you use Chrome, or vice versa. If it works, the issue is browser-specific.
Disable extensions: Turn off ad blockers, privacy extensions, or VPNs. These tools often conflict with video player scripts.
Check free storage: Ensure you have at least 15 GB to 20 GB of free space on your Disk Utility drive so macOS can handle temporary streaming cache files.
Toggle hardware acceleration: Go to your browser settings, search for "hardware acceleration," turn it off, and restart the browser.
Restart network equipment: Power down your Wi-Fi router and modem for 30 seconds before turning them back on.