How To Stop Buffering When Streaming?

stop buffering when streaming tv

stop buffering when streaming tv

Imagine this: You’re watching your favorite show and things are about to get intense — and then the video starts buffering. What a way to ruin the moment, right?

Luckily, this problem is easily solvable.

Below, we’ll show you how to stop buffering when streaming and get into all the possible causes. Ready?

How to Fix Buffering?

stop buffering when streaming movie
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There’s nothing more maddening than when your video is loading slowly. But don’t get too frustrated! Here’s all you need to know about it:

What Does Buffering Mean?

Buffering means preloading data into a reserved part of memory. Basically, it downloads data in advance and loads in the background while you’re watching.

You can even see it in the bar at the bottom of your video player.

Ideally, this memory serves as a buffer that grants you an uninterrupted streaming experience.

However, it often has delays. Some are very noticeable and will disrupt your viewing.

What Causes Buffering?

Quite a few factors can cause slow buffering. Generally speaking, it comes down to user issues or network problems.

User-level causes include:

  • Slow Internet performance — Weak WiFi signal, VPN connections, and modem or router failures can impact buffering.
  • Limited WiFi bandwidth — Too many devices are streaming on the same network.
  • Streaming HD content — High-definition videos are more data-heavy.
  • Older devices and browsers — Outdated devices and clients can’t keep up with today’s Internet performance.

On the other hand, network-level reasons are usually related to ISP or streaming provider issues. Your ISP could be experiencing an outage or congestion, directly influencing your buffering speed.

Similarly, your streaming provider may be to blame for the following issues:

  • Latency — Data packets take longer to travel from servers to users.
  • Network strain — Too many content requests can cause delays.
  • TCP connection — A break in the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) can lead to packet loss.

How to Improve Streaming Buffering?

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Here are some tried-and-true fixes for video streaming issues:

  • Pause the stream and let the buffer build up for a couple of minutes.
  • Reduce the video quality.
  • Disconnect other devices from your network to free up bandwidth.
  • Try a wired connection for better streaming speed.
  • Restart your modem and router.
  • Change your DNS servers to public ones like Google (8.8.8.8) and Cloudflare (1.1.1.1).
  • Clear out your cookies and browser cache.
  • Disable your VPN or upgrade to a faster provider.

(Avast)

How to Stop Buffering when Streaming on TV?

If you keep experiencing video buffering on TV, try these solutions:

  • Move your router closer to your TV and make sure there’s nothing between them.
  • Close all other apps while streaming.
  • Update your TV’s software and firmware.
  • Reboot your streaming device.
  • Disconnect other TVs, tablets, phones, and computers from your network.

Conclusion

So, now you know how to stop buffering when streaming! In a nutshell, the issue is either due to your internet speed/bandwidth or your ISP and streaming service.

Once you identify the cause, it’s fairly straightforward to fix it. Rebooting your streaming devices and lowering your video resolution usually do the trick. Good luck!