How to Finish Buffering When Streaming

Hither's how to banish buffering and get back to polish playback.

5 quick fixes for buffering while streaming

  1. Lower the video quality to standard definition (SD).
  2. Disconnect all other devices in the business firm from the internet.
  3. Reboot your router.
  4. Turn off other applications that might exist running in the background of your streaming device.
  5. Upgrade your internet programme with more speed or information.

Find a amend net programme in your area.

It's Lord's day night, the pizza is pipage hot, and you lot and your kids have fired up Disney+ for moving picture nighttime. But someone else has arrived: information technology's your onetime enemy, buffering.

Why does buffering happen? And how can yous stop buffering pauses while streaming?

Well, information technology turns out that buffering might non exist what you call up it is. Nosotros'll walk you through what causes buffering problems and how to stop buffering failure. Believe it or not, information technology is possible to stream a shine video even with a slower internet connectedness from satellite itnernet providers similar Viasat and HughesNet.

What causes buffering?

Buffering is the process of preloading chunks of data and then yous can have a smooth video streaming experience. This creates a buffer that ideally lets you watch your content all the mode through with no delays.

So, to clear up a common misconception: buffering is not the point where your video pauses and that irritating loading symbol spins on the screen: this is really the signal where buffering has failed.

Although your video is constantly buffering, people take mislabeled the spinning wheel of death as the moment buffering begins. But for the sake of simplicity, we'll go on referring to it as "buffering."

How to finish buffering while streaming

If you lot fire up a stream and notice that the buffering is bad, attempt ane of the following options to prepare the problem.

  1. Turn information technology off and turn information technology back on. Yes, we're serious. True, this advice has been the subject of many jokes, but it actually works. Rebooting your Idiot box, router, or streaming platform tin be the fresh start your system needs to get back on track. Don't knock it until you try it.
  2. Make certain no applications are running in the groundwork. Brand sure there are no downloads happening while streaming. It's also a practiced idea to shut any other programs or apps if you're streaming on a reckoner or phone.
  3. Disconnect other devices from the network. If yous've got other smart TVs, computers, tablets, or other devices connected to your network, they could be using up bandwidth and cutting into your stream. Either put them in airplane manner or turn them off. This is something you lot take to be especially conscious of if your net speed is 25 Mbps or slower.
  4. Delete your browser cache and temporary files. If you're on a laptop and streaming through your web browser, immigration the cache and other temporary files tin can clean out some gunk and may assistance speed things upwardly. In Google Chrome, you lot can find this choice under Settings > Avant-garde Settings.
  5. Reduce the video quality. If all else fails, lower the video quality of your stream to get things moving more quickly. If you have Viasat, you lot tin can practice this automatically past using the Viasat browser. The exact process to exercise this will vary depending on the device and streaming platform y'all're using, but you'll usually detect this setting in either your streaming app'south settings or your device settings. Many streaming platforms will practise this automatically when they sense slowing, but doing it manually can expedite things.
  6. Switch your router to 5 GHz. If your modem/router is using two.four GHz frequency instead of 5 GHz, the betoken will travel further but information technology will exist slower, which could be causing buffering problems. Proceed your router close to your main streaming devices and use v GHz for the best experience. To check out what frequency you're using, blazon 192.168.0.1 into your browser window. It will bring up a window with your internet provider's name and inquire you for your admin name and countersign. Afterwards entering your countersign, you'll be given an selection to cull between 2.four GHz and 5 GHz.
  7. Download content instead of streaming. You can download content from pop streaming apps prior to watching it. Download content the mean solar day earlier you lookout man and yous won't have to deal with streaming problems.
  8. Upgrade your cyberspace service. If y'all've tried the other suggestions and nothing is helping, it's probably due to your net plan. You either have bereft net speed or information to proceed upward with video streaming. Satellite internet customers generally have problems with frequent streaming. If yous run out of priority information before the cease of the month, your satellite provider will deprioritize your data—which basically means it'll tiresome down your speeds. Speeds are slowed to 1–3 Mbps, which usually isn't enough for streaming (Netflix recommends five Mbps). Satellite internet might not be your only pick, though. Other good internet options for rural areas include 5G/4G LTE home internet, stock-still-wireless, and DSL, which oftentimes offer ample data allowances and speeds for streaming.

If you live in a remote area and satellite net is your just option, we recommend Viasat if you similar to stream video content. Viasat's acme 2 plans include 200 to 300 GB per calendar month of data, while comparably priced HughesNet plans offering only 50 GB per calendar month. Cheaper plans get you much less data—a measly 12 GB per month on budget plans.

Best satellite internet plans for streaming

Provider

Programme

Toll

Data

Speed

Get it

HughesNet HughesNet

HughesNet 50 GB $149.99/mo. l GB/mo. 25 Mbps

Viasat Viasat

Viasat Unlimited Aureate 50 $99.99/mo.* 200 GB/mo. fifty Mbps

Viasat Viasat

Viasat Unlimited Platinum 100 $149.99/mo.* 300 GB/mo. 100 Mbps

*Promotional toll is for the starting time 3 months. Regular net rate applies afterward 3 months. A 1-time installation fee may apply. Equipment charter fee is $12.99/mo. Taxes apply. Minimum 24 month service term required.

†Service plans require a 24-month commitment.

See all the best Viasat and HughesNet plans bachelor in your area.

What causes buffering problems?

Internet buffering bug are unremarkably caused by one of three issues.

  • Your cyberspace connection is too tedious to go on upwardly with the incoming data.
  • The streaming provider tin't ship your device the information it needs fast enough.
  • Your home Wi-Fi network is slowing things down.

How to know if your internet can't keep up

There are a number of reasons why your network might be struggling:

  • There are too many devices on the network at ane time.
  • Your internet equipment (modem and router) are outdated, damaged, or not operating properly.
  • Your internet access provider (ISP) is experiencing technical problems or is otherwise overloaded with traffic.
  • Your net parcel's speed lacks the bandwidth to support the quality of video you lot're trying to stream. (Many streaming platforms volition automatically downgrade the video quality if issues arise, but this is not ever enough.)

The skilful news is that if the problem is on your stop, you tin can do something about it. Nosotros'll get to that in a 2d.

How to know if your Wi-Fi network is causing buffering issues

If you've noticed that you go a lot of buffering pauses while streaming in certain rooms of the house but non others, it's a Wi-Fi network consequence. Your router may take a range that's also small to encompass your whole house, or perchance the indicate is having to pass through walls, drinking glass, metal, or other things. It might cut out completely or it might just be slow.

The offset solution to home network issues is to motility your modem and router to the aforementioned room you utilize the internet in the most often. If this isn't possible or if you have several rooms you demand internet access in, then you tin become an extender to stretch your Wi-Fi betoken farther then it volition cover more of your house. To learn more about boosters and extenders, check out our review on the meridian 5 Wi-Fi boosters.

How to know if your streaming provider can't go on upwards

Applied science isn't perfect, and sometimes things just go haywire. Your streaming provider (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Peacock, or another streaming service) may be experiencing a ton of traffic. Some other possibility is that a fundamental data center may have gone downward, dramatically cutting the amount of information your streaming provider can push out.

In any case, there's not much you can do to resolve these problems, and so now we'll focus on what y'all tin gear up: your own connection.

Need a faster internet parcel? Check out cyberspace providers in your surface area.

How to prevent buffering while streaming

If you lot're wondering why Netflix keeps buffering every fourth dimension you try to watch something, you might want to await at prevention. The best way to deal with abiding buffering is to prevent it from happening in the get-go place. Fortunately, this is a problem that has many solutions.

Programme your streaming for not-peak hours. You may not realize it, merely the internet has a rush hour. According to the FCC, net usage peaks from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.thousand. More people are actively using the internet during this time than any other. This tin put a major strain on an ISP's network, which in plough trickles down to you lot in the course of slower overall speeds as the provider tries to remainder bandwidth and keep everyone's connexion running every bit smoothly as possible. Planning your streaming time exterior this rush hour can go a long way toward minimizing issues.

Upgrade your router. Not all wireless routers are created equal, and while they generally terminal a long time, the technology they use tin can get outdated quickly. If your router is more than a couple years old, it'southward a good idea to check its specs and make certain information technology can support the internet speed you lot're paying for. If you have HughesNet or Viasat satellite net, you volition probably be using a modem/router combo provided by your ISP. Just if it hasn't been updated in more than 3 years, contact HughesNet or Viasat to see if you tin can get a newer model.

Connect your streaming devices using Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi. If possible, connecting your streaming device directly to your modem and bypassing Wi-Fi entirely is a sure way to go more out of your connection. Even the fastest Wi-Fi networks are vulnerable to interference and signal loss from traveling through the air and objects in your dwelling house. An Ethernet connection avoids these problems.

Move your router closer to where you stream. If an Ethernet connection isn't possible, try moving your router closer to your living room (or any room you do virtually of your streaming in). This can reduce signal loss and interference, resulting in a stronger, faster Wi-Fi connectedness.

Download video content earlier viewing. Nearly streaming services allow y'all to download video on a device like a tablet or iPhone for offline viewing afterward. If you're having a lot of buffering issues while streaming and it's due to a slow internet connection, then take the internet speed out of the equation by queuing up your future shows as downloaded content. Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime number, and other streaming services all offer this feature, although not all content is available for download. You lot'll demand to use the streaming app to download content. Look for the download icon (an arrow pointing down) side by side to the content y'all want to watch.

Go on your devices updated. We know information technology seems like a nuisance, but letting your devices update their software when the prompt pops up helps ensure they're equally secure and functional equally possible. Many times these updates include problems fixes or other improvements that can increase operation and may cutting down on streaming problems. The aforementioned goes for your apps. And remember: updates aren't just for computers. If you lot have a TV that'due south connected to the internet or a gaming organisation you stream through, these need periodic updates too. To update your smart TV, use your remote to get to Settings > Support. If there'due south a software update shown, click update.

Become faster cyberspace. More than speed may exist needed to stream throughout the month. To give you an idea of what you demand, Netflix recommends a minimum of v Mbps per Hard disk drive stream and 25 Mbps for 4K. You can find out what internet speeds are available in your surface area by typing your naught code beneath.

Tips for livestreaming events

Livestreaming events creates some unique issues, particularly with satellite internet. If you want to stop buffering issues on livestreaming events you're dissemination, here are a few tips.

  1. Skip the Wi-Fi and connect your figurer directly to your modem with an Ethernet cable. This will give you the fastest speed possible.
  2. Test your cyberspace upload speed—this speed will decide how fast you lot can send information out to your viewers if you're the ane streaming the content, so information technology's of import. Find your upload speed with an internet speed test.
  3. Once you have your upload speed, carve up that number in half to get your maximum video bitrate speed. Don't try to stream at a college bitrate or you'll have buffering problems while livestreaming.
  4. You can set or change your bitrate in OBS (Open Circulate Software) by going to Settings/Output and and then checking Streaming/Video Bitrate. Enter your maximum video bitrate speed. The lower the maximum bitrate is, the smaller the resolution (canvas size) you lot will want to apply.
  5. Do not use whatsoever other devices while livestreaming. Plough off devices or put them in airplane style, and brand sure your BFF isn't in the basement gaming during your livestream.

FAQ nearly buffering

Why does my streaming service keep buffering?

Your streaming service is buffering either because your cyberspace connexion can't keep upward with the amount of data coming in or your streaming provider can't push the data to your device fast enough. Learn more nigh streaming with satellite internet.

Will a Wi-Fi extender stop buffering?

It's possible that a Wi-Fi extender could stop buffering,but but if your buffering is acquired past slowing from your home Wi-Fi network. The best Wi-Fi extenders are designed to strengthen the indicate of your Wi-Fi connection, potentially raising the internet speeds your device is using. If you don't desire to purchase a Wi-Fi extender, try moving your router closer to the device that'south experiencing issues or vice versa.

How tin I speed upward HughesNet net?

You tin can speed up your HughesNet internet connection past connecting your reckoner to the HughesNet modem with an Ethernet cablevision. Also, watch your monthly information resource allotment. Once you lot reach your limit with HughesNet, your cyberspace connexion volition still piece of work but it'll be much slower than normal until your data resets the following month. Data issues are behind a lot of satellite internet slowing problems, including streaming problems.

How can I troubleshoot TV streaming buffering problems?

Follow these Goggle box streaming buffering troubleshooting tips:

  • Reduce video quality to SD (or from UHD to HD).
  • Turn off the Idiot box and plow it dorsum on.
  • Turn off other devices that are online (they're using some of your bandwidth).
  • Ability cycle the modem (turn off and on again).
  • If y'all're using a figurer or tablet, quit all other applications (multiple applications tin slow the processing speed of your device).

Kristin Cooke

Written by

Kristin Cooke

After graduating with a degree in English from the University of Utah, Kristin learned to geek speak while working as a technical recruiter, interviewing software developers and tech companies. For over 20 years, she has created honor-winning content for technology, health, and finance companies. Kristin is an abet for affordable cyberspace for all and writes about rural cyberspace solutions, satellite internet news, and tech products at SatelliteInternet.com. Her piece of work has been featured in New York Postal service, PCMag, Forbes, Business Insider, Telecompetitor, Space.com, and The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.