Users across India report app disruptions and network errors; Jio confirms a temporary glitch and later says services are restored.
October 16, 2025, India: JioHotstar Experiences Outage; users across the country faced widespread issues with the platform’s app and streaming services. Complaints flooded social media, with many reporting missing features, error messages, and inability to play content. The company acknowledged a technical glitch and later confirmed resolution. (Times of India)
User Complaints and Symptoms
As users attempted to access JioHotstar, many encountered “Network error” alerts or saw blank screens when trying to stream shows. Some reported that the **search icon disappeared** from the app interface, and basic navigation options like “Continue Watching” or login access were unavailable. (Mint)
On the web version, while the interface appeared intact, clicking on content often resulted in a “Something went wrong” error. (Mint)
Timeline and Reach of the Disruption
Outage reports began escalating midday, with Downdetector showing hundreds of users flagging issues related to app connectivity, streaming, and server errors. Many of the complaints came in from major metro areas. (Times of India)
Some users pointed out that the outage occurred during peak usage hours, affecting access to live events, ongoing TV episodes, and sports streaming. (Free Press Journal)
Official Response from JioHotstar
In a statement, JioHotstar acknowledged the disruption: “Due to some unforeseen technical issue, some of our users may have issues while streaming content or accessing the platform. Appreciate your patience while we work to resolve the issue. We regret the inconvenience caused.” (Economic Times)
Later, the platform confirmed the problem was resolved: “Hi! The issue was temporary and has been resolved now. Please try accessing the app again. If the issue persists, please let us know. Happy streaming!” (Economic Times)
Impact on Users & Viewing Experience
Many users expressed frustration on X (formerly Twitter) with messages like: “What the heck happened to @JioHotstar? No search button or anything there.” (Mint)
Others noted missing app functionality, inability to stream live cricket events or ongoing OTT shows, and higher-than-normal buffering. (Free Press Journal)
Resolution and Recovery
After investigating, JioHotstar’s technical team reportedly addressed the root cause of the glitch. Service access, streaming, and app features were progressively restored. Users began regaining full access to content within hours. (BizzBuzz)
By late evening, most reports of error messages and feature outages had subsided. (BizzBuzz)
Platform Background & Significance
JioHotstar, formed after the merger of Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema in February 2025, commands one of India’s largest OTT user bases. (Wikipedia)
Given its high viewership and role in broadcasting live sports and regional content, any outage—even brief—can disrupt millions of users. This latest incident underscores the technical challenges that streaming platforms face during peak demand.
Sources: Times of India, Mint, Economic Times, Free Press Journal, BizzBuzz