Restarting a movie on Disney Plus, while seemingly simple, can sometimes require a bit of troubleshooting depending on the device and situation. This guide provides multiple methods to quickly get back to the beginning of your favorite Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic films.
Understanding the Basic Methods for Restarting Movies
Disney Plus offers several ways to restart a movie, catering to different user preferences and device capabilities. Understanding these methods ensures a seamless viewing experience.
Method 1: The Scrubbing Technique
The most common and straightforward method involves using the scrubbing bar (also known as the progress bar). This technique works universally across most devices that support Disney Plus.
- Pause the movie: Begin by pausing the movie using your remote, mouse, or touch screen.
- Locate the scrubbing bar: Look for the horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen representing the movie’s progress.
- Drag the indicator to the beginning: Using your cursor or finger, drag the indicator (the small circle or square) all the way to the left, to the very beginning of the bar.
- Press play: Once the indicator is at the start, press the play button to restart the movie.
This method is quick and efficient, suitable for most situations. However, occasional glitches might require alternative approaches.
Method 2: The “Episode” Select (For Some Movies with Multiple Parts)
While primarily designed for TV series, some movies, particularly those with special features or organized as parts, might be presented as “episodes.” In such cases, you can directly select the beginning “episode” to restart the movie.
- Exit full screen: Press the “back” button or use the on-screen controls to exit full-screen mode.
- Locate the episode list: Look for an option labeled “Episodes,” “Extras,” or similar. This is often found near the movie’s description or details.
- Select the first episode: Choose the first episode in the list, usually labeled “Part 1” or something equivalent.
- Press play: Selecting this option should restart the movie from the very beginning.
This method is less common but applicable when dealing with movies divided into segments.
Method 3: Exiting and Re-Entering
Sometimes, the simplest solution is the most effective. Exiting the movie entirely and then restarting it can often clear minor glitches that prevent restarting via the scrubbing bar.
- Exit the movie: Use the “back” button or the on-screen controls to return to the movie’s details page.
- Locate the “Play” button: Find the “Play” button (or “Watch Again” if you’ve previously viewed the movie).
- Press play: Clicking the “Play” button will typically restart the movie from the beginning.
This method effectively refreshes the movie’s playback, resolving many minor issues.
Method 4: Restarting the Disney Plus App
If none of the above methods work, the issue might lie within the Disney Plus app itself. Restarting the app can often resolve playback problems.
- Close the Disney Plus app: Depending on your device, this might involve swiping the app away from your active applications list (on mobile devices) or using the “Quit” command (on smart TVs and streaming devices).
- Reopen the Disney Plus app: Once the app is completely closed, reopen it from your device’s home screen or app list.
- Navigate to the movie: Find the movie you want to watch using the search function or browsing the library.
- Press play: Selecting the movie and pressing “Play” should now restart the movie from the beginning.
This method ensures a fresh start for the app, potentially resolving underlying software issues.
Method 5: Clearing Cache and Data (Advanced Users)
For persistent issues, clearing the cache and data of the Disney Plus app can be effective. This method is more advanced and requires caution. Note: Clearing data will remove your downloads and saved settings.
- Locate the Disney Plus app settings: Navigate to your device’s settings menu and find the section related to applications or app management.
- Select the Disney Plus app: Find the Disney Plus app in the list of installed applications.
- Clear cache and data: Look for options labeled “Clear Cache” and “Clear Data” (or “Storage”). Select these options to clear the cached files and data associated with the app.
- Reopen the Disney Plus app: After clearing the cache and data, reopen the app. You may need to log in again.
- Navigate to the movie and press play: Find the movie you want to watch and press “Play” to restart it.
This method provides a deep reset for the app, resolving many persistent playback problems. Use this method with caution, as it will delete your offline downloads.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Restarting Movies on Disney Plus
Here are twelve frequently asked questions that provide more in-depth information about restarting movies on Disney Plus.
FAQ 1: Why Doesn’t the Scrubbing Bar Always Work?
Sometimes, the scrubbing bar might be unresponsive due to temporary glitches in the Disney Plus app or network connectivity issues. Try pausing and waiting a few seconds before attempting to scrub. If the problem persists, try one of the other methods mentioned above.
FAQ 2: Can I Restart a Movie on Disney Plus on My Smart TV?
Yes, the methods for restarting movies on Disney Plus generally work the same on smart TVs as they do on other devices. The scrubbing technique is usually the most convenient.
FAQ 3: How Do I Restart a Movie on Disney Plus on My Phone or Tablet?
On mobile devices (phones and tablets), you can use the touch screen to drag the indicator on the scrubbing bar to the beginning of the movie. Alternatively, exiting and re-entering the movie often works well.
FAQ 4: Does Disney Plus Have a Dedicated “Restart” Button?
Unfortunately, Disney Plus does not have a dedicated “Restart” button like some other streaming services. You must use one of the methods described above to restart a movie.
FAQ 5: Why Does the Movie Resume Where I Left Off Instead of Restarting?
Disney Plus automatically resumes playback from where you last stopped watching. To restart the movie, you need to actively move the scrubbing bar to the beginning before pressing play.
FAQ 6: Is There a Way to Disable Automatic Playback Resumption?
While Disney Plus doesn’t offer a direct setting to disable automatic playback resumption, you can clear your watch history. However, this will remove all your viewing progress across all content.
FAQ 7: What If the Movie Keeps Buffering When I Try to Restart It?
Buffering issues are often related to internet connectivity. Check your internet speed and ensure you have a stable connection. Restarting your router and modem can sometimes resolve buffering problems.
FAQ 8: Can I Restart a Movie That I’ve Downloaded for Offline Viewing?
Yes, you can restart downloaded movies using the same methods as streaming content. The scrubbing bar should work even when viewing offline.
FAQ 9: Does Clearing the Cache Affect My Downloaded Movies?
Clearing the cache typically does not affect downloaded movies. However, clearing the data will delete your downloaded content, so proceed with caution.
FAQ 10: Why Can’t I Find the “Episodes” Option for Some Movies?
The “Episodes” option is only available for movies that are presented as a series of parts or when special features are included as separate episodes. Most standard movies will not have this option.
FAQ 11: What Should I Do If the Disney Plus App Keeps Crashing?
If the Disney Plus app is consistently crashing, try restarting your device, clearing the app’s cache, and updating the app to the latest version. If the problem persists, contact Disney Plus support.
FAQ 12: Does My Account Type (e.g., Disney Bundle) Affect Restarting Capabilities?
No, your account type (e.g., Disney Bundle) does not affect your ability to restart movies on Disney Plus. The methods described above apply regardless of your subscription plan.