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What Can I Do If My Disney Plus Works On Cellular But Not Wi-Fi? (SOLVED!)

Disney Plus is an Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming platform where you can watch countless of old and new shows, movies, and documentaries anytime you want.

To watch the available content without interruption, a fast internet connection on your mobile, laptop, TV or other compatible device is required.

The service requires a minimum bandwidth of 5Mbps with an internet speed of 25Mbps to stream videos smoothly.

Some users have reported encountering a weird situation where Disney Plus works on mobile data but doesn’t play when connected via a Wi-Fi network.

There could be several reasons for this, such as:

  • The Wi-Fi network could be too slow or currently unavailable.

  • You’re using a VPN connection.

  • The browser cache is full.

  • Browser extension compatibility issues are creating complications with video streaming.

In most cases, you can resolve this problem by restarting the router, disconnecting any VPNs, clearing the cache, and disabling extensions, respectively.

Keep reading, as we’ll dive into the useful troubleshooting tips that should help you to get back to watching your favorite tv shows and movies ASAP!

Why Is Disney Plus Not Working With My Wi-Fi?

woman browsing disney plus on her phone

The Disney Plus app is an on-the-go streaming service where you can watch media anytime, anywhere. All you need is a reliable internet connection!

The app works on smartphones, computers, laptops, tablets, and smart TVs.

It can run on either mobile/cellular data or Wi-Fi. A strong internet network ensures that the videos are streamed without the irritation of having to wait while the media buffers.

However, many users have noticed that the Disney Plus app stops working when the device is connected to a Wi-Fi network- even when there are no clear issues like a Please check your internet connection and try again” message.

Before rushing to conclusions, don’t think for a second that this means Disney Plus won’t work with Wi-Fi!

It simply means there’s a technical or connection issue with the network. For instance, it could be that the internet speed isn’t sufficient, or that the router has become faulty.

Whatever it may be, let’s take a look at the different reasons why you might be having problems with Disney Plus while using a Wi-Fi network- as well as what you can do about it!

Weak Signal

Since the Disney Plus app streams High Definition (HD) video content on the platform, it requires a sufficiently powerful internet signal and bandwidth to play the videos.

You really need a minimum of 5Mbps bandwidth to play HD content, and for 4K UHD, you’d need a minimum of 25Mbps.

Slow Internet

wifi router close up

Not all internet speeds are the same, right?

What might work for regular use and light gaming probably isn’t enough to stream HD videos on Disney Plus (or any other streaming service such as Youtube or Netflix, for that matter).

If your Wi-Fi internet plan is for the minimum speed, you’ll likely have to upgrade it to a faster plan in order to enjoy Disney Plus’ services.

An important thing to keep in mind is that service providers usually don’t deliver the speed they promise or advertise (sneaky, I know!).

It’ll typically be less than what’s offered on paper, due to some tiny terms & conditions text at the bottom you probably missed.

Therefore, it’s definitely important to sign up for an internet package that’s definitely going to be fast enough- even during times when the network’s not at full strength.

Router Trouble

Another potential cause of the Disney Plus app not working on WiFi is if the router has someone blocked access to it!

The app naturally won’t be able to stream when this happens, as there’s no network connection available.

Physical Blocking

Wi-Fi signals are sent as electromagnetic waves through the air.

Physical blocking by obstructions between the router and the device can potentially weaken a router’s signal strength.

Check if there are any walls, items, or décor that could be preventing Wi-Fi waves from directly reaching the device.

Additionally, staying in the same room as the router also helps devices receive a better, stronger Wi-Fi signal.

Software Errors

broken phone with error 404 message

There may be a bug or glitch on your device that’s stopping the Disney Plus app from being able to work while on WiFi!

There are a couple of different options you can use to identify where the actual problem is, and then to clear it (which we’ll show you how to do in the section below!).

Location/Geographic Restrictions

Unfortunately, OTT platforms like Disney Plus don’t work everywhere in the world.

If you’re traveling in another region and using the local Wi-Fi network, the Disney Plus servers will detect the IP address and block you from accessing the content.

If you see a Disney Plus error code 73, it means that the service is unfortunately not available in that particular region or location.

VPN

While a VPN can provide access specifically in cases of the above, it can also prevent you from accessing the app content under regular conditions as it can stop the app from recognizing your actual IP address.

How Do I Get Disney Plus Working On My WiFi Again?

disney plus on smartphone screen

Try the following tips and tricks to get Disney Plus working on your Wi-Fi network once more! You might have to give each method a go, until you find one that works for you.

Check The Wi-Fi Connection

Sometimes, the problem is simple.

Maybe the Wi-Fi network simply isn’t working at that moment!

Double-check the network to see if it’s actually connected and active. Then, assess the signal strength.

Keep in mind that Disney Plus won’t be able to stream on a weak signal. To confirm that your network is working, try opening other video streaming apps such as YouTube and play a video there to its viability!

Switch To A Wired Connection

Most routers have a port available to be used for a wired Ethernet connection.

If the Wi-Fi isn’t working well, you may want to try connecting via Ethernet cable.

Verify Network Speed

There are many online sites you can use to verify the current network speed.

For example, Speedtest by Ookla can tell you whether your Wi-Fi network has the necessary speed to stream videos from the Disney Plus app.

Disconnect Other Devices

wifi router turned on behind a christmas tree

Do you have a lot of other smartphones, home assistants, PCs, and laptops connected to the same Wi-Fi network?

This could be another reason why your Disney Plus app doesn’t work while on Wi-Fi.

Too many connections in the same wavelength can significantly dampen signal strength!

It can be very helpful to turn off other wireless devices in the house to prevent a Wi-Fi channel from being overly crowded.

Therefore, the solution here is to disconnect the other devices from the network so that you can reduce the load and free up some much-needed bandwidth!

Break The Power Cycle

Simply turn off the power for the router and the streaming device.

Trust me- just do it!

Leave them off for a couple of minutes, then turn them back on again.

This should (almost magically) clear out any minor errors that were present, and hopefully allow the Wi-Fi network to work properly once more.

Additionally, it can also help to reset your router and connection entirely.

Disconnect the device from the Wi-Fi network and reconnect again after a minute or two.

How Can I Watch Disney Plus Without Wi-Fi?

Disney Plus offers different ways to watch the videos available on the platform.

One of them of course is to watch it online when the device is connected to the Internet.

In these instances, the content isn’t downloaded onto the device.

Another method is to download the videos to the device and watch them offline, without the need for an internet connection!

However, keep in mind that you can only watch downloaded or offline videos on smartphones, tablets, and iPads and not on a Mac or PC. 

Why Does Disney Plus Work On My Phone But Not My TV?

watching disney plus on a tv

As mentioned, Disney Plus can be viewed on many devices, including the TV.

That said, some TV models are so old that they can’t connect to hotspots or stream media from (or even access) OTT platforms like Disney Plus, Netflix, and the like.

To stream media, you’ll need more recent models like smart TVs, Apple TV, PlayStation 4, Amazon Fire TV, etc.

Therefore, if Disney Plus isn’t working on your TV, you first need to make sure that the TV is compatible with the app!

If that aspect is all good, the next step when it comes to casting videos on the TV is to change the TV’s setting to Casting/Mirroring mode.

Chromecast and FireStick are two of the most common devices used to cast videos and games on the TV.

Some smart TVs will actually allow you to add apps directly to the TV by pressing the Apps or Internet button on the remote control.

Simply browse through the apps available for download and select Disney Plus (or any other streaming app you desire).

Disney Plus allows users to use the same account on ten different devices, so you can log into your account from your smartphone, tablet, iPad, Mac, laptop, TV, and computer all at the same time!

If you really want to watch Disney Plus movies on non-smart TVs (or you have no choice), you’ll have to use an HDMI cable to connect your computer to the TV the ol-fashioned way.

In summary: If Disney Plus isn’t working on your TV, it could be because the TV isn’t compatible with the app or that there’s an error with the Casting function.

Double check your TV’s connections and try again! Finally, it may help to see if your smart TV requires a software update before attempting to stream once more.

In Conclusion

Disney Plus may be able to work on cellular data but not on Wi-Fi if the Wi-Fi network in use has a narrow bandwidth or is too slow to stream HD videos.

The Disney Plus app requires a stable internet network with a minimum of 5Mbps for HD videos and 25Mbps for 4K videos.

Firstly, it’s important to establish the reason for the app not currently playing on a Wi-Fi network.

For example, if the Internet speed is slow, you’ll either have to upgrade your plan or disconnect other devices from the Wi-Fi and use the network only for Disney Plus streaming purposes.

If the issue is with the router, try restarting the router and remove any physical obstacles that could potentially be blocking the signal.

If the problem still persists despite your efforts to remedy the issue, contact the Support team to see if they can help you out!

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