There’s nothing worse than being deep into a Netflix binge and seeing the red buffering circle appear. Eventually, after a couple of minutes on pause, the binge can continue – until moments later when it happens again. At this point, you check to see if your device is connected to the Wi-Fi, and then you turn into a tech guru and do everything in your power to eliminate the dreaded buffering ring. Throughout this article, we’ll tell you how to reduce movie streaming buffering.
Plug in Ethernet
If you’re streaming through your laptop or other ethernet-ready devices, but you’re using a Wi-Fi connection, consider plugging your device directly into the router. By doing this, you will eliminate any obstacles standing in the way of the router and your device. If you’re still having issues after this, then continue to the next method.
Rebooting the Router
Everybody knows that, regardless of the device, the first thing to try is rebooting (turning it off and on). When devices are left on for a long time without powering down, they may come across several different issues including incomplete downloads. When you reset a device, you might just force a fix for any existing issues.
Check with Your ISP
Your internet service provider (ISP) is responsible for ensuring that you receive your promised download speeds. In some cases, your ISP may be facing issues on their end, which will just mean a waiting game until it’s rectified. If you’re out for a long time and it has an impact on your life, you may be able to claim a partial refund.
Depending on the movie you’re attempting to stream, especially 4K movies, you may not have a powerful enough download allowance on your package. In this case, get in touch with your ISP and upgrade the package. For example, Wyyerd Fiber offers download speeds well-suited to streaming movies.
Reduce Streaming Quality
If switching to a higher broadband allowance doesn’t suit your budget, you’ll need to make some adjustments to your streaming habits. For example, if you’re trying to enjoy a 4K movie but it isn’t loading, then you’ll have to deal with watching it at a lower quality. On many streaming platforms, there’s an option in the corner to change the quality. For example, if 4K won’t work, you can try using 1080p (high definition).
Avoid Peak Periods
Internet service providers have a responsibility to everyone that uses their network, which means you’ll be taking a share of the total broadband being provided to an area. Unfortunately, when there are lots of households trying to access the services at once, it can put a strain on the overall performance. Therefore, to get the best speeds available, consider watching movies outside of peak times.
If you enjoy streaming movies, you’ll find nothing more annoying than buffering issues. Luckily, there are several ways you can reduce buffering issues by making a few simple adjustments to your setup. However, if you’re still not having any luck, it’s worth talking to your ISP and upgrading your package.
