How to Fix It When Discovery Plus Is Not Working

Troubleshooting tips for the most common Discovery Plus streaming problems

By
Jeremy Laukkonen
Jeremy Laukkonen
Jeremy Laukkonen
Writer
  • Shoreline Community College
Jeremy Laukkonen is automotive and tech writer for numerous major trade publications. When not researching and testing computers, game consoles or smartphones, he stays up-to-date on the myriad complex systems that power battery electric vehicles .
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Updated on June 12, 2021
Reviewed by
Michael Barton Heine Jr
Michael Heine headshot
Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr
Michael Heine is a CompTIA-certified writer, editor, and Network Engineer with 25+ years' experience working in the television, defense, ISP, telecommunications, and education industries.
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Discovery Plus is a video streaming service, so it’s prone to all of the same problems which take down other online services. Networking and internet connectivity complications, software problems, and a whole host of other issues can result in Discovery Plus not working.

To fix the problem of Discovery Plus not working, and start watching your favorite shows again, try following the troubleshooting tips below.

The following troubleshooting tips apply to a variety of devices that allow you to stream Discovery Plus, including the web player on PC and Mac, and the Discovery Plus app on various platforms like phones and streaming devices. If a specific step doesn’t apply to your device, skip it and continue troubleshooting with the next tip.

Why Isn’t Discovery Plus Working?

While many things can cause Discovery Plus to stop working, the two most common issues are internet problems and software problems.

Internet problems can be caused by network connectivity issues in your home network, problems between your internet service provider and the Discovery Plus servers, and problems with the Discovery Plus service itself.

Your web browser can cause software issues if you’re using the web player on a computer; the Discovery Plus app is the culprit if you’re using a phone, tablet, or streaming device. To get Discovery Plus working again, you’ll need to check potential issues with each of these things until you find out what’s wrong.

How to Get Discovery Plus Working When You Can’t Stream

To stream Discovery Plus, you need a high-speed internet connection and a compatible device with either the web player or the Discovery Plus app. If any of those components has a problem, then Discovery Plus won’t work.

To get Discovery Plus back up and running, follow these troubleshooting tips:

  1. Check to see if Discovery Plus is down. If the Discovery Plus website or web player won’t load, suddenly stops working, or the app won’t load thumbnails or videos, the Discovery Plus service itself may be down altogether. Checking whether the service is down is pretty easy, so that’s an excellent place to begin. Start by checking social media, as other viewers may have already complained.

  2. Restart your device. Whatever device you’re using to stream Discovery Plus, whether it’s a computer, phone, or any other device, try restarting it. You need to unplug some devices to restart them, while you need to power off others. Many have a restart option alongside the power off option. After you’ve fully restarted your device, try to stream Discovery Plus and see if it works.

  3. Try a different device. Check to see if the problem exists on multiple devices. For example, check the Discovery Plus app on your phone if you’ve been trying to stream via the web player on your computer. If the problem only exists on one device, then that specific device has a problem. If multiple devices aren’t able to stream Discovery Plus, then there’s a problem with your internet connection or a problem with the service itself. That problem may be too new to have been reported on social media yet.

  4. Check your internet connection. Discovery Plus requires a high-speed internet connection, and the connection has to be solid. If it’s too slow or intermittent, then Discovery Plus won’t work. Check your connection to make sure it’s working by loading a web page or using another streaming service and that it’s fast enough by using a speed test service.

    Discovery Plus recommends the following speeds:

    • 0.5 Mbps: Minimum required speed
    • 1.5 Mbps: Recommended minimum speed.
    • 2.5 Mbps: Recommended for SD quality video
    • 4 Mbps: Recommended for HD quality video

    Higher speeds allow for a better viewing experience, while slower or intermittent speeds will cause streaming problems. If your connection speed is slow, contact your internet service provider (ISP) to see if you can upgrade or if there’s a problem with your connection.

  5. Try a wired internet connection. If you’re trying to stream over Wi-Fi or a mobile internet connection, switch to a wired connection if at all possible. For example, connect a desktop or laptop computer to your router with an Ethernet cable, and check to see if Discovery Plus works. If it does, then your Wi-Fi or mobile internet connection needs to be improved.

  6. Fix your Wi-Fi signal. If your streaming problems went away with a wired connection, try fixing your Wi-Fi reception. Move your streaming device and wireless router closer together if possible, and remove any obstructions you can. Try placing your router up as high as possible, and keep it away from sources of interference.

  7. Reboot your network hardware. Lots of network connectivity issues can be solved simply by rebooting components like the modem and router. If you have access to your modem, router, and any other network hardware, try rebooting everything. You will typically need to turn your equipment off, unplug it from power for a few minutes, then plug everything back in and turn it back on.

  8. Fully close the Discovery Plus app and restart it. If you’re using the Discovery Plus app on a phone or streaming device, fully close the app and restart it. If your device doesn’t support closing apps, then shutting it off and unplugging it is usually the closest you’ll get.

  9. Update your app or browser. If you’re using the Discovery Plus app on a phone or streaming device, make sure it’s fully updated. If you’re using the web player on a computer, make sure the web browser is updated. Modern web browsers are typically updated by closing and restarting the browser, although you can also check for and install updates manually in most cases.

  10. Clear the app or browser cache. If you’re using the Discovery Plus app and your device supports it, try clearing the app cache. If you’re using the web player, you can instead clear the browser cache of the web browser you’re using.

  11. Reinstall the Discovery Plus app. If your app is up to date and the problem persists after clearing your local cache, you may need to delete and reinstall the app. Completely delete it, download it again, and reinstall it.

  12. Update your device. Your device may need an update. If you’re using the web player, check for any available operating system updates. If you’re using the app on your phone or streaming device, there may be an operating system or firmware update available.

  13. Contact your internet service provider. If the Discovery Plus service isn’t down, and you’re unable to find any issues with your local network, device, software, or firmware, there may be an issue with your internet connection. Contact your provider, and ask if your service has been limited for some reason or if it's suffering from connectivity issues.

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