Disney+ Error Code 42: How to Fix It
Error 42 means the Disney+ app couldn't connect to the internet — it points at your network or connection speed, not your account or a broken TV.
Quick answer
Error 42 is a connection problem between the Disney+ app and the internet. Most of the time a quick restart of the app and your connection clears it.
- 1.Fully close the Disney+ app (don't just leave it), then reopen it and try to play again.
- 2.If it repeats, unplug your router for 60 seconds, plug it back in, and retry once all lights are steady.
What it means
Error 42 appears when the Disney+ app started but couldn't establish or hold a stable connection to Disney's streaming servers over your internet — so the video won't load.
Because the fault is on the network side — Wi-Fi signal, router, DNS or a connection speed below Disney+'s minimum — the fix is about steadying the connection, not repairing your TV or your Disney+ account.
Common causes
- Unstable or slow internet. The most common cause: your connection dropped or slowed enough that the app can't keep a steady link to Disney's servers.
- Weak Wi-Fi signal. The TV or streaming device is too far from the router, or the signal is congested, so the stream can't stay connected.
- Router or modem glitch. After an internet outage or a long uptime, the router or modem can stop routing correctly until it's restarted.
- Speed below Disney+ requirements. Disney+ needs about 5.0 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K UHD. If your speed dips under that, playback fails with 42.
- DNS not resolving Disney's servers. Your provider's DNS can occasionally fail to look up Disney's streaming servers, so the app can't reach them even with Wi-Fi working.
Before you start
- Test another app or device on the same Wi-Fi — if streaming also fails elsewhere, the problem is your router or internet, not Disney+.
- Run a quick speed test (fast.com or your ISP's app) and confirm you're above 5.0 Mbps for HD or 25 Mbps for 4K.
- Note whether error 42 started right after an internet outage, a router change, or a Disney+ app update.
Fixes, from safest to last resort
Restart the Disney+ app and connection
No data loss- 1Fully close Disney+ (on smart TVs, exit to the home screen and remove the app from recents; on Roku/Fire TV, press Home so the app isn't running in the background).
- 2On your device, turn Wi-Fi off and back on, or briefly switch to another network and back.
- 3Reopen Disney+ and try to play again.
Closing the app forces it to open a fresh connection to Disney's servers — the fastest fix for a one-off 42.
Power cycle the TV or streaming device
No data loss- 1Unplug the TV or streaming device (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV) from the wall — not just standby.
- 2Wait a full 60 seconds so it fully powers down and drains residual memory.
- 3Plug it back in, let it boot, then reopen Disney+ and retry.
This clears the device's temporary network state and re-initialises its connection, which often resolves 42 on its own.
Reboot your router and modem
No data loss- 1Unplug both the router and the modem (or your combined gateway) from power.
- 2Wait 60 seconds, plug the modem back in first and let it fully connect, then plug the router back in.
- 3Once all lights are steady, retry Disney+.
A restart clears a stalled router or a temporary ISP-side routing issue, which is a frequent cause of 42 after an outage.
Improve your connection speed and signal
Re-setup needed- 1Move the device closer to the router, or move the router away from walls and other electronics.
- 2If your router has a 5 GHz band, connect the device to it for a faster, less congested link.
- 3For the most stable stream, connect the device to the router with an Ethernet cable if it has a LAN port.
- 4Pause large downloads or other 4K streams on the network while you test.
Disney+ needs roughly 5.0 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K UHD; steadying the signal keeps you above that threshold.
Set the DNS manually to 8.8.8.8
Re-setup needed- 1Open your device's network settings (e.g. Samsung: Settings → General → Network → Network Status → IP Settings; LG: Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Connection → Advanced).
- 2Set DNS to Enter manually and type 8.8.8.8 (Google's public DNS).
- 3Save, then reopen Disney+ and retry.
Useful when your ISP's DNS can't resolve Disney's servers. Use 8.8.4.4 as the secondary DNS if the device asks for one.
8.8.8.8Reinstall the Disney+ app (last resort)
Removes apps & settings- 1Only if every step above failed and other apps stream fine on the same device.
- 2Delete the Disney+ app from your device (on Samsung: Apps → Settings gear → select Disney+ → Delete; on Roku: highlight Disney+ → press * → Remove channel).
- 3Restart the device, reinstall Disney+ from its app store, and sign in again.
⚠ Reinstalling signs you out and clears the app's local data, so you'll need your Disney+ email and password to log back in. Try every network step first.
If a menu doesn't match your TV
- Menu names differ by device: 'Reset Network' and manual DNS live under Settings → General → Network on Samsung, Settings → Network on LG, and Settings → Network & Internet on Android/Google TV.
- On Roku and Fire TV there's no manual DNS in the standard menus — fix DNS at the router instead, or set it on your router's admin page (usually 192.168.1.1).
When to contact support
Contact Disney+ support if error 42 persists after a router reboot and reinstall, while every other app streams normally on the same device and network:
- Note your device type and model, your internet speed test result, and which steps you've already tried.
- Ask them to confirm there's no known outage or service issue for Disney+ in your region.
- Have your Disney+ account email ready so they can check for account-side problems.
Sources
- Official source: Disney+ Help Center — Error 42 · 2026-07-13help.disneyplus.com
Frequently asked questions
Does Disney+ error 42 mean my account or subscription is broken?+
No. Error 42 is a network connection error between the Disney+ app and Disney's servers, so it's fixed on the network side (restart the app, reboot the router, check your speed) — not by changing your account or subscription.
What internet speed does Disney+ need to avoid error 42?+
Disney+ recommends about 5.0 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K UHD. If your connection drops below that while streaming, playback can fail with error 42, so a speed test is a good first check.
Why does changing DNS to 8.8.8.8 sometimes fix error 42?+
If your internet provider's DNS can't resolve Disney's streaming servers, the app can be on Wi-Fi yet still fail to connect. Google's public DNS (8.8.8.8) bypasses that and lets the app reach Disney's servers.
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