Why does my video keep buffering even though I have good internet?
Internet buffering problems are usually caused by one of three issues. Your internet connection is too slow to keep up with the incoming data. The streaming provider can't send your device the data it needs fast enough. Your home Wi-Fi network is slowing things down.
Why does my TV keep buffering? Possibly the most common form of buffering occurs when your internet speed is too slow to download the amount of data needed. In this scenario, your device will buffer the data for the video and then begin playing it when there is enough data downloaded to prevent lag in the stream.
“Buffering” is “waiting”. You've watched everything your ISP has gotten, now they (your router too) is waiting for more packets. The problem is the path from the server to your ISP, not from your ISP to you, so no, no change in router will stop it. Not just that but also make sure you get a proper Wi-Fi.
- Start a ping to google.com. You'll see a series of lines, one per ping, typically with times in the 20-100 msec range.
- Watch the ping times while the speed test is running. If the times jump up when uploading or downloading, then your router is probably bloated.
- Invest in High-Quality Live Streaming Equipment.
- Optimize Your Live Encoder Settings.
- Use a Professional Online Video Platform.
- Choose a Powerful CDN.
- Use a Reliable Internet Connection.
- Transcoding and Multi-Bitrate Streaming.
- Choose the Optimal Resolution.
You might face buffering issues if too many devices are connected to Wi-Fi. Hence, to fix the problem, we suggest removing other devices. This will free up bandwidth and prevent the wireless router from continuously pinging the connected Wi-Fi devices even when not in use.
Poor Wi-Fi Can Cause Buffering
Typically a slow or unreliable Wi-Fi network in the home can be the cause of video buffering on streaming devices. One way to avoid this is to make sure your home network maintains consistent minimum speeds.
As a general rule, the recommended internet speed for streaming in standard definition videos is 3–10 Mbps (Megabits per second). To stream Hulu, Netflix, and Sling TV, you'll want a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps. For more devices and users, you'll want a speed closer to 50 Mbps.
A slow internet connection, overheating, or an out-of-date operating system can cause a Roku to buffer. Media apps that automatically switch to high-resolution videos while on a slow connection that can't handle larger files can also cause buffering.
Many smart TVs have app stores with apps like Speedtest, but you can also head to speedtest.net or fast.com in your smart TV's browser. Now compare the two results. If your TV's speed registers much lower than the optimal speed test you ran first, the problem may be your TV's network connection.
How can I improve streaming on my smart TV?
- Upgrade your internet speed for better streaming. ...
- Upgrade your Wi-Fi streaming hardware. ...
- Switch to wired Ethernet. ...
- Move your router. ...
- Limit the number of people on your Wi-Fi.
- Reboot Your Router.
- Find the Best Place for Your Router.
- Make Sure Your Router Is Updated.
- Secure Your Signal.
- Make Sure You're on a Clear Channel.
- See if There Are Apps Hogging Your Bandwidth.
- Use 5GHz at Short Ranges.
- Get a Repeater/Booster/Extender.
For standard music streaming, you need at least 384Kbps (kilobits per second, which equates to just over 0.33Mbps), while lossless quality requires at least 2Mbps. For video streaming, you will need between 0.5 and 1Mbps for SD and between 3 and 5Mbps for high-definition streaming (HD).
- Your router is more than 5 years old. Technology changes quickly. ...
- You're renting a router from your ISP. ...
- Your Wi-Fi network has connection issues. ...
- Your Wi-Fi range and speeds are getting worse. ...
- Your router runs hot.
Yes, it is always a good practice to regularly clear your browser's cache, especially if you are a heavy Internet user. Clearing your cache can help with re-buffering and choppy video and will release any errors held in your browser's cache memory.
The quickest, easiest, and most painless way to gauge your WiFi speed is to use a free, browser-based test like the one offered by Internet metrics company OOKLA at Speedtest.net. With about 8 billion tests under its belt, OOKLA has more data to back speed comparisons than any other tester out there.
- While watching a video, tap any arrow key on your remote, or the pause button to bring up the player controls.
- Select 'settings' (Cog icon) on top right corner.
- Select your preferred Video Quality under the Video Quality section.
Network Speed
Perhaps the most significant influence on video quality is the speed of your network. If you have a fast network, you will be able to live stream with low latency and without experiencing a drop in image quality.
Causes of buffering
According to The Guardian, internet speed and your equipment (i.e., computer and router) are the two main factors that affect buffering.
- Step 1: Restart everything. ...
- Step 2: Know your internet speed. ...
- Step 3: Try a different streaming service. ...
- Step 4: Check your streaming device's connection speed. ...
- Step 4: Check your modem's connection speed. ...
- Step 5: Check your Wi-Fi router's connection speed.
Can too many devices cause buffering?
When multiple devices use the same network, overcrowding occurs as they all compete with each other to connect to the same router. This means low quality or buffering during streaming, latency during gaming, and frustratingly slow browsing speeds.
- Certain websites are blocked or are nonfunctional.
- Download speeds have slowed.
- Specific websites or services are slower than others.
- Videos are buffering or lagging.
- Your internet speeds are slower than usual.
- Your Wi-Fi connection is choppy or broken.
- Your wireless devices consistently show low signal strength or the signal strength appears to go up and down even when you're not changing locations.
- You experience a far slower internet connection when connected to Wi-Fi.
If your older TV has an HDMI port, then yes, you can use a streaming device with it. If there is no HDMI port, then you cannot.
- Use your Graphics Card for Encoding.
- Load your Overlay from a single Browser Source.
- Adjust Video Bitrate.
- You can set your Video Bitrate in Settings > Output > Streaming.
- Advanced Encoder Settings.
- There are a couple of hidden settings within Settings > Output > Streaming.
- Shut down competing devices and apps. ...
- Turn off unnecessary programs and tabs. ...
- Use a cable instead of Wi-Fi. ...
- Delete your temporary cache files. ...
- Set your device to a lower screen resolution. ...
- Update your devices. ...
- Disable hardware acceleration. ...
- Download your files.
The main factors affecting bitrate are the streamer's internet upload speed and the capacity of the chosen encoder. The better your upload speed, the higher the bitrate you're able to operate at without causing issues such as frame drop.
- Play and Stream a Popular Game.
- Check Out the Competition.
- Improve the General Appearance of Your Stream.
- Remember You Have an Audience: Talk During Your Stream.
- Show Your Personality in Your Dress and Appearance.
- Create Your Own Branding and Image.
- Avoid Streaming at Peak Times.
Google Fiber is the best internet provider for streaming. It's extremely reliable and offers some of the fastest speeds available in the US. It even ranks as the fastest provider nationwide in our Fastest Internet Providers 2022 report.
Your Smart TV or Odyssey Ark gaming screen uses memory just like your phone or PC. The more apps you run on your TV, the more memory it uses and when the memory gets low, it can start to run a little slow. It may take a while to turn on, the apps may take longer to start, or the menu may take longer to load.