How to Avoid Buffering When Streaming Videos

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Internet streaming is an everyday common practice for almost every person. The technology of today has come to such a remarkable point that everything is at our fingertips because of smartphones, laptops, and computers. 

Every tech-savvy or even just a regular user who streams videos on browsers, whether they are using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, or Google Chrome faces some streaming problems on each browser while streaming even if its once in a blue moon.

As online streaming has become a common pastime and people binge-watch TV show seasons thanks to Netflix and other streaming services. It is very frustrating when you are watching a movie or even a short video and your video starts buffering in between the watch session. 

It ruins the immersion that you had in a movie or a TV show. If you want to watch videos in high resolution like 4K, you must first ensure that you have an internet plan with the speed that can support 4k video streaming. 

You must choose Mediacom internet plans that fit within your budget and are capable of providing enough download speed that you can stream videos in the resolution you want. 

These are the steps that you can take to ensure that you have a smooth streaming experience after you have chosen a stable internet connection and there are no unwanted breaks in between your streaming session on your PC.

Keep your PC clean

Always use an Anti-Virus or an Anti-Malware software on your device so that there is no threat to your data and the device is working to its full potential. 

Check if any auto-updates are on

Windows has a habit of starting updates without properly notifying the user and that can lead to videos buffering. You can check for updates in the control panel of windows. 

You can turn off automatic updates to your OS. So that the OS does not start using your internet when you are trying to watch a video.

Close other applications that might be leeching internet speed

If you experience buffering and you have already checked if it is not the Windows update then it could be another software that is using your internet speed. You can open the task manager and check which other app is using internet speed from the Network Column. 

You can click it to change the app list in descending order of network usage and the top network consuming apps will be listed first. Also, consider closing all the unwanted apps from there so you can enjoy your video without any buffering pause.

YouTube videos

When watching videos on YouTube or any other streaming site, if you want to avoid buffering check auto quality in the quality tab in the settings section of the video. This will ensure whenever you get a dip in the internet speed your video will lower its resolution and thus the video will continue playing without pausing to buffer.

Other devices connected to the network?

If there is any other device that is not yours and is connected to the network you are on, it can cause a decline in speed because there is too much load on the router. Removing unwanted devices from the network can free up bandwidth and can improve the internet quality on the device you are watching videos on.

Weak wireless connection?

There could be a weak connection from your PC to your router that can cause signals to drop. You can either use Wi-Fi adapters or use a wired connection to get better connectivity.

VPN issue?

If you are using a VPN to stream content then check if there is an issue with the VPN. Changing the server on the VPN can improve internet speeds if there is a load on the server. 

If you are not using a VPN you can check by changing the DNS server. You can use Google’s DNS 8.8.8.8 or Cloud Flare 1.1.1.1 which are public DNS and are very fast if your internet provider’s DNS is causing streaming problems.

Have you tried turning it off and back on again?

The age-old solution to every tech problem is to restart the device. If you have bad internet connectivity which is causing your videos to buffer, then you can try restarting your router or your Wi-Fi device or both. 

This can resolve any connection errors there may be with the internet service provider.

Check graphic card drivers

You can update your graphic card driver or reinstall it if none of the above-mentioned steps solves the problem. Sometimes an older graphic card driver does not support the codecs from newer video streaming services. 

You can get the graphic card drivers for your PC from Intel, Nvidia, or AMD’s software support site.

Have you exceeded the download limit of your ISP?

Some ISPs have limited download limits and can cap max download speed when you have a reach download limit. Upgrading to a better ISP package or plan might be the solution.

The above-mentioned steps cover most of the common problems that can cause buffering. The best way to check if it is your device or your ISP is to get a different device and try to watch the same video on it. 

This can pinpoint where your problem is and after that, it becomes easier to solve it.