Stremio desktop app crashes my DNS / breaks my internet - every single day for the last year

[dalmackay]

Describe the bug
Have had this problem a year now. I have very fast fiber internet and a netgear wax202 router (AX1800).

Stremio knocks out my internet connection (overloading the router I believe), and I get DNS error and lose all internet connection until restarting the router.

This is not specific to stream sizes, sources, or qualities, nor does it happen right away. It is 100% random, it happens at any given point during any movie or show, for any given number of times. Some days its worse than others, where I have to restart my router 25 times in one day. Other days it happens only once. Again, this is with any source or stream or title or addon. There is no pattern to the streams that cause it.

I have done the Stremio blog recommendation of DNS resolution. My DNS is now 8.8.8.8 / 1.1.1.1. This didn't help.

I have blocked outgoing packages for Stremio from my firewall, as suggested by a redditor. This didn't help.

I have reinstalled Stremio many times over the last year, including to different drives. I've had many windows updates, graphics updates, and router updates in that time. I have wiped all graphics drivers with DDU. The problem never ceased.

I do not have voicemeter banana or any other system-wide audio/video program.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Go to Stremio
2. Click on anything
3. See error

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• OS: any and all
• Version: any and all

[DreadPirateRoberts1337]

I'm having this exact same issue, please let me know if you found a way to fix this please

[TRtomasz]

What error exactly?

[DreadPirateRoberts1337]

Basically stremio, sometimes after a while, clogs my whole network (No other device on the same network works) and I have to either block stremio through the firewall or restart the router

[TRtomasz]

and I get DNS error and lose all internet connection until restarting the router. but what is the error you are getting @DreadPirateRoberts1337 how do you know it is dns error?

[dalmackay]

In my case the DNS error shows in browser: "___ DNS address could not be found".

Pinging the router's IP results in timeouts. Zero response from the router until reboot. Just received a replacement router and the problem remains. I have pinpointed it to Stremio beyond a doubt.

[MinimusMaximus]

There may be multiple reasons for this problem. For example, community extensions in the application, the application itself, malware, router not working as expected or poorly configured router, internet service provider restrictions, firewall rules (OS's or router), bufferbloat, etc.

Since you think the problem is DNS, we can consider that possibility first. The legacy DNS protocol (Do53) is an unencrypted and insecure. You may think you are using Google's DNS servers, but in reality you are using the internet service provider's servers for various reasons. Choose one of the system-level encrypted DNS protocols (DoT, DoH) and set the server address of any one of the popular third-party DNS providers to run system-wide. Test to see if you have the same problems.

And also you can try the web app of Stremio.

[dalmackay]

There may be multiple reasons for this problem. For example, community extensions in the application, the application itself, malware, router not working as expected or poorly configured router, internet service provider restrictions, firewall rules (OS's or router), bufferbloat, etc.

Since you think the problem is DNS, we can consider that possibility first. The legacy DNS protocol (Do53) is an unencrypted and insecure. You may think you are using Google's DNS servers, but in reality you are using the internet service provider's servers for various reasons. Choose one of the system-level encrypted DNS protocols (DoT, DoH) and set the server address of any one of the popular third-party DNS providers to run system-wide. Test to see if you have the same problems.

And also you can try the web app of Stremio.

To address the first part, this happens with Torrentio (Real-debrid) as the only non-default addon installed. I've reinstalled multiple versions of the app over the last year, often to different drives. Malwarebytes finds nothing on my pc and I have reinstalled windows OS a couple times. The router was just replaced with a 3rd new one, all with different (default and otherwise) configurations. I have contacted my ISP many times about the issue and confirmed that they take no action against Real-debrid traffic and that they never mess with DNS on purpose. I know my neighbors have no problem with it. Router firewall (all 3 of them) is default but I've tried blocking upload to Stremio from windows firewall to no avail.

On the DNS recommendation, my router does not have DoT/DoH capability and I cant do it manually on pc as it seems to require windows 11.

[MinimusMaximus]

@dalmackay It is difficult to help you since you have not shared any error codes, messages or screenshots and you are only telling us what you are experiencing. If I were you, I would try the following:

• Popular providers of DNS-based ad blocking services have apps for Windows. I would try one of them temporarily and set up an encrypted DNS protocol to run system-wide.
• I would try temporarily disabling Real-debrid.
• I would try the web application.
• I would do some research to find out what MTU size is best for my network protocol. If necessary, I would contact my service provider to find out the best MTU size. Then I would check the current MTU size on my router and operating system.
• I would temporarily use the application with a VPN provider.
• I would test the app by connecting my computer to a different network. I would test the app on a different computer on my own network.

[TRtomasz]

You could try changing torrent profile in the settings, but your router malfunctioning is not a stremio issue.

[dalmackay]

this issue is not completed. as i said, this is a brand new replacement router. the issue did not change at all with a router replacement