How to Improve the Buffering of Videos
Videos buffer when your Internet connection cannot keep up with the stream. The connection is too slow, either because of the service you subscribe to, or other issues with the signal. The surefire way to fix this is to call your Internet service provider and upgrade to a faster tier. It is possible, however, to improve your buffering problem without upgrading.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Stop browsing the Internet while the video is playing. Bandwidth is limited, and the more applications using it at once, the more your video has to buffer. If you're on a network, or have other devices that utilize the Internet, turn them off during video playback.
-
2
Check the cords that run from your computer to the router or modem. Make sure all cables are secure, and restart your modem. If you have cable, screw the coaxial cords in tightly. If you have DSL, disconnect and re-connect the filters. As component's age, they are more likely to suffer from bad connections, which produce a poor signal.
-
-
3
Pause the movie for a minute or two. This gives the buffer time to catch up and preload more of the video. Leave it paused longer, if the video is longer than 10 minutes. The longer you keep it almost, the less likely it is to buffer with one positive. If possible, wait until the progress bar fills all the way to the right.
-
4
Defragment your hard drive. While the video is downloading, the data saves to a temporary location on your hard drive. If the drive is highly fragmented, it takes longer to write to the disk, ultimately reducing performance. Type “Disk Defragmenter” into the Start menu, and press “Enter.” Choose your drive from the list, and click "Defragment Disk." It could take a few hours, but you can continue using the computer while it works.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Some videos have multiple streaming resolutions to choose from. For example, if it is a YouTube video, click the Resolution menu in the bottom right corner, and select “360p.” This reduces quality, but this may eliminate the buffering altogether.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
