How to Stop Buffering: Learn to Prevent Internet Video Buffering Issues

But as an online video viewer, if your video gets slow, glitchy, or pauses altogether, you see the video buffering that usually happens in the background. From now on, we will refer to “buffering” as the unwanted slowing, glitching, and stopping that causes frustration.

Some types of internet service are more likely to experience buffering. Streaming with satellite internet tends to cause buffering because of latency, as internet data travels back and forth to outer space.

However, cable internet can also suffer from buffering during peak demand, when many people try to use the internet simultaneously. Buffering is like a pipeline of data getting jammed: When too many people or apps are trying to move data through the same pipe, the pipe can slow down or stop altogether for a time.

But the good news is that no matter what kind of internet service or video streaming app you’re using, you have options to fix buffering issues.

Oftentimes, when you're plagued with constant video buffering, not to mention slow internet in general, the main culprit is typically our internet service provider. It could be time to consider changing your internet plan. Many internet service providers (ISPs) like Hughesnet and Viasat offer multiple tiers of plans with different data caps and internet speeds.

If you’re feeling frustrated by your current plan’s data caps or other issues, contact your ISP and see if an upgraded plan is available. Especially if it’s been a few years since you most recently signed up for internet service, there could be better, faster options in your area. For example, if you’ve been using a satellite internet plan with limited high-speed data, you might want to switch to Starlink, since there are no hard Starlink data caps.

Do you use your mobile phone for streaming video? If you want to avoid buffering, make sure you understand how much mobile data you need to comfortably watch videos. Video streaming in high definition (HD) requires about 900MB of cellular data per hour. The demands of online streaming can make it hard to use your mobile phone for home internet, but low-cost mobile phone service is getting better than ever. Check out Mint Mobile vs. Visible for low-cost unlimited cellular data plans with 5G speed.

While changing or upgrading your internet speed is the best way to reduce buffering time while streaming, here's our list of tips for improving your watching experience. Most of these steps are easy, cost nothing, and can significantly reduce buffering. 

This is the easiest fix. If you want to stop buffering, start by pausing your video. Give the streaming app time to catch up. By pausing the video stream for a few minutes, you allow the streaming service to build up a bigger buffer of video data, which hopefully makes for a smoother stream once you resume playing.

If you want to avoid buffering and don't have home internet data caps, you can often download streaming videos onto your computer or mobile device. Many streaming platforms, like YouTube and Netflix, allow you to download videos directly onto your device. It's a great solution if you're traveling and want to watch shows or movies on the plane or in the car.

Buffering is often a bigger problem during peak usage times when many other internet users are trying to watch videos and gobbling up bandwidth. Peak hours are typically between 6 and 11 p.m. So, if you can wait a few hours, you might have an easier time watching your video after peak demand time has passed.

Sometimes, buffering is caused by a temporary issue within the web browser or streaming app where you watch the video. Try restarting your browser, desktop app, or mobile app that you’re using for video streaming—exit the app or close the browser window, and then open it again. This can help reboot the app and solve the buffering problem.

High-resolution video uses more bandwidth than lower-quality video. Depending on your internet service provider (ISP) and internet plan, watching too much high-resolution video could gobble up your high-speed data and pressure your overall internet experience.

Switch from high-resolution to lower-resolution video, for example, from 1080p to 720p. Most video streaming platforms automatically detect your internet quality and default to the best available quality, but sometimes, it's not enough. They do give you options to change the quality settings to save data. 

If you are using multiple apps and programs while streaming video, the additional bandwidth demand can cause buffering issues. Try closing other apps and unused browser tabs and shutting down any other background programs or games using data or downloading. This can help free up bandwidth for a better video streaming experience. 

When streaming, you may consider disconnecting other internet-enabled devices in your home. This can reduce the demand for data and bandwidth on your home internet and, hopefully, improve your video buffering situation.

If you stream video in a web browser and encounter buffering, try using a desktop or mobile app for that streaming service instead (if available). For example, you can switch from Netflix in a web browser to the mobile app. 

Also, try using a different browser. Ensure you’re using a browser supported by your online streaming service.

If you’re watching videos on a mobile or TV app, check for updates to the streaming app software. Check the settings on your streaming app; some smart TV apps will update whenever they’re connected to the internet. But if you’re having problems with buffering, it’s worth double-checking to see if you can update the app manually.

If your system’s software is not up to date, this can affect your buffering experience. Whether you use a laptop, tablet, mobile phone, or desktop computer to stream videos, you should always check for ongoing software updates to ensure you have the latest version. Along with improving your streaming performance, these updates can help you get quick fixes for known bugs and security threats.

If you use a computer to stream videos, try installing updated graphics drivers. These can be found on the website of your video card manufacturer, such as AMD, Intel, or NVIDIA.

Most people won’t need to try this fix because their video cards are automatically updated whenever they update their Microsoft or Apple software, but it’s still worth checking into.

Another quick fix to stop buffering is clearing your device’s cache, cookies, and browsing history. This can help free up space and relieve pressure on your network.

Simply unplug the router, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. This hard reset will also restart your internet connection, which can often help clear up buffering issues by unclogging the data pipeline.

A weak Wi-Fi signal can increase buffering. To improve your Wi-Fi performance, change the location of your router. A central location will often deliver a better Wi-Fi signal, but specifically moving it closer to where you're trying to stream will be most effective for cutting down buffering.

Do you primarily use one device for video streaming, such as a desktop computer, laptop, or smart TV? If so, you could improve your streaming experience and avoid buffering by plugging that device into an Ethernet cable. This setup brings internet bandwidth directly to your streaming device and helps you avoid the challenges of weak Wi-Fi signals. 

If you experience constant buffering issues, your router could be the problem. Check with your internet service provider (ISP) to see if your router needs repairs or if you qualify to receive a newer router model from the ISP. Depending on your internet service, you could also buy your router. Ensure your router is dual-band and can offer a 5GHz network, faster than the 2.4GHz band and ideal for video streaming. If you use satellite internet service, make sure you’re using the best satellite modems and routers.  

Special devices called Wi-Fi extenders, boosters, and repeaters can expand the range of your home Wi-Fi router by up to 2,800 square feet. Sometimes, expanding the range of your Wi-Fi can reduce buffering by delivering a more consistent Wi-Fi signal.

Another step to improve your home Wi-Fi range to stop buffering, especially for people who live in larger homes with multiple family members, is to get mesh Wi-Fi. Mesh Wi-Fi is similar to a Wi-Fi extender but is a solution for your whole house. With mesh Wi-Fi systems, such as Google Nest or Amazon Eero, you can get multiple routers that connect within your home, providing seamless two-way Wi-Fi coverage in all directions.

Now that streaming video has become one of the most popular cable TV alternatives, your choice of streaming device is even more important than your choice of TV manufacturer. Different streaming devices tend to have a few special tips for avoiding buffering.

Depending on which device(s) you use for video streaming, try these tips for a smoother experience.

One commonly reported issue with the Amazon Fire TV Stick is it overheating, which causes slow, interrupted video streaming. To correct this problem, pull out the Fire TV Stick and let it cool.

If your Amazon Fire TV Stick is buffering, there are a few specific tips to improve your device’s performance:

1. Check for Fire TV device updates (Settings > My Fire TV > About > Check for System Update).
2. Restart your Fire TV device (Settings > My Fire TV > Restart).
3. Clear the cache and data of the app (Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications, select the app > Clear Cache, and then Clear Data).
4. If your device is still buffering, you could consider resetting the Fire TV Stick to its factory defaults. This will remove all in-app purchases and other downloaded content. To do a factory reset:

                  a. Safely eject expandable storage (if needed).

                  b. On your remote, press and hold the Back arrow key and the right side of the navigation circle together for 10 seconds.

                 c. The TV screen will ask you to choose to Continue or Cancel the factory reset. Choose “Continue.”

                 d. If you do not choose “Continue” or “Cancel,” after several more seconds, the device will reset automatically.

Roku devices host multiple channels, so if you’re experiencing buffering, try a different channel and see if the issue persists. If the buffering seems to be happening only on one channel, try this:

1. Remove the channel from the Roku home screen.

                 a. Go to the channel tile.

                 b. Press the * key on your remote.

                 c. Choose “Remove channel.”

                 d. Restart your Roku device at Settings>System>System restart.

                 e. After your Roku device restarts, add the channel to your Roku home screen again.

       2. If the channel is still buffering after the restart and re-adding, contact that channel provider directly and ask for support. Many channels on Roku are maintained by those other channel providers, not by Roku. 

If your Roku device is buffering on multiple channels, try restarting the Roku or resetting to factory presets.

Apple TV users don’t report many buffering issues. In general, Apple TV devices only buffer if your internet connection is too slow to keep up with the demands of the streaming video.

If your internet speed is lower than required for the Apple TV stream, Apple TV content will not automatically adjust its quality. This is different from other streaming services like Amazon or Netflix, which offer automatic video quality reduction for viewers with slower internet service.  

So if Apple TV content is in HD or 4K, and your internet service doesn’t have enough speed to show that content, Apple TV will not reduce its video quality to accommodate your internet speed. Check your internet service and make sure it has the right speed to support Apple TV.

If you’re streaming video on a laptop, many of the tips to stop buffering are the same as mentioned previously in this article. Find the instructions for your computer’s manufacturer (Apple, PC, etc.) and try these possible fixes to stop buffering on your laptop:

• Close extra applications, programs, and background tasks.
• Reduce video quality to lower resolution.
• Check for viruses and malware.
• Clear out your browser cache, cookies, and history.
• Update your video system’s graphics card drivers.
• Plug in your laptop to an Ethernet cable.
• Reset your router.

Android phones face the same challenges as any devices that use mobile data for video streaming. Try these quick fixes to stop buffering on your Android:

• Use Wi-Fi instead of mobile data (if possible) for faster speed.
• Close other apps that are using data behind the scenes.
• Reduce the video quality.
• Disconnect other devices that are sharing your Wi-Fi network.
• Keep your Android phone software updated.
• Check the Google Play Store for updates to the video streaming app.
• Clear the video streaming app’s cache and data.

There are a few suggested tips to stop buffering on your iPhone:

• Try watching similar videos on different apps. For example, is the video buffering only within a certain video streaming app? Or is it also happening to videos on the Safari mobile browser?
• Try watching videos on your Wi-Fi network, as well as on cellular data. It could be a network-specific issue.
• Restart your iPhone.

If restarting the iPhone does not solve the buffering issue, try these other general fixes:

• Check for iPhone software updates.
• Check the App Store for updates to your video streaming apps.
• Check your internet connection, available cellular data, and internet speed.

Different online streaming services have a few unique shortcuts and changes you can make to stop buffering. Check out the buffering tips for each of these top streaming services:

Here are a few quick fixes to stop buffering on Netflix:

• Check if your network can play Netflix (some public networks don’t allow video streaming).
• Check to see if your internet connection is fast enough for Netflix’s recommended speeds, and for how much data Netflix uses.
• Restart your device.
• Sign out of Netflix and then sign back in.
• Restart your home modem or Wi-Fi router.
• Try to improve your Wi-Fi signal.
• Ask your internet service provider (ISP) for help to improve your internet connection.

The best ways to stop buffering on Hulu depend on whether you’re using a Hulu app or watching Hulu on your computer. To avoid buffering on the Hulu app, we recommend following these steps:

1. Close the Hulu app completely and then try reopening Hulu.
2. See if your internet connection speed is fast enough for Hulu’s recommended speed. If not, you might want to look into a better internet plan.
3. Turn off your streaming device, modem, and router; wait a few minutes, and turn them back on.
4. Try other apps and programs on your device—if other apps are also having issues, contact your internet service provider (ISP) for support.
5. Check your device’s app store for updates to your device software and to the Hulu app.
6. Clear your device’s cache and data.
7. Uninstall and reinstall Hulu on your device.

If you’re experiencing buffering while watching Hulu on your computer (Hulu.com), Hulu recommends following these steps in the order listed below:

1. Check if your computer’s OS and browser meet Hulu’s system recommendations.
2. Check your internet connection speed and see if it meets Hulu’s recommendations.
3. Try to improve your internet connection by connecting your computer to an Ethernet cable, turning off other devices on your Wi-Fi network, closing other applications and programs on your computer, etc.
4. Turn off your computer, modem and router; wait a few minutes and turn them back on.
5. Clear your browser cache.
6. Fully close your browser and all background programs, then relaunch the browser and open Hulu.com again.
7. Use an Incognito/Private browser window to access Hulu.com.
8. Enable JavaScript and cookies on your browser.
9. Enable location services if you have a Hulu Live TV plan.
10. Try a different browser. Hulu supports Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge on Windows 10.

YouTube offers a few specific ideas to stop buffering when streaming videos on the YouTube website or app:

• Restart your internet connection.
• Check your internet speed and see if it’s fast enough for YouTube’s recommendations:

• Reboot your device.
• Close the YouTube app, and open it again.
• Uninstall and reinstall the YouTube app.
• Update your browser.
• Clear your browser cache and cookies.
• Update the YouTube app.
• Update your device’s system software.
• Check your data usage.
• If you haven’t already, turn on data usage for YouTube:
  1. Go to your device Settings.
  2. Tap Cellular.
  3. Under the "Cellular data" section, go to YouTube.
  4. Next to YouTube, tap the button so it's on.

For the YouTube TV app on a supported smart TV, YouTube recommends the following fixes for buffering or other playback issues:

• Close and reopen the YouTube TV app.
• Turn off the device, wait 30 seconds, and then turn it on again.
• Check for updates for the device and for the YouTube TV app.
• Uninstall and reinstall the YouTube TV app.
• Check your internet speed and see if it is fast enough for YouTube TV’s recommended download speeds:

Disney+ recommends the following fixes to stop buffering and other streaming issues:

• Make sure your streaming device is supported by Disney+.
• Check your internet connection speed to make sure it’s fast enough for the Disney+ recommended speeds:
  • 5Mbps for High Definition content
  • 25Mbps for 4K UHD content
• Try other apps on your streaming device—are you having the same issue with other apps, or is it limited to the Disney+ app?
• Fully exit and restart your Disney+ app.
• Clear the cached data on your device.
• Uninstall and reinstall the Disney+ app.
• On a computer:
  • Exit and restart your browser.
  • Try an Incognito/Private browser.
  • Try a different browser.
  • Clear the browser cache.
  • Make sure JavaScript and cookies are enabled.

Amazon recommends the following fixes to help stop buffering on Prime Video:

• Close the Prime Video app and then reopen it.
• Restart your device: unplug it, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in.
• Make sure your device or browser is updated.
• Is your streaming device connected to a TV or display monitor? If so, make sure you’re using a HDMI cable compatible with HDCP 1.4 (for HD content) and HDCP 2.2 (for UHD and/or HDR content).
• Stop using the internet for other activities or devices. Disconnect other devices from your network.
• Check your Internet connection.
• Restart your router/modem.
• Sign out of Prime Video and then sign back in.
• Uninstall the Prime Video app, and then reinstall it.

On SatelliteInternet.com, our editorial team bases our analyses on several hours of research, results from our speed test tool, customer interviews, first-hand testing, and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. We dig deep to get hard-to-find information on internet plans, fees, and upcoming brand developments. We make this information easy for you to find in one place via our in-depth reviews, and we use our satellite internet industry expertise to analyze the options to help you make the most informed decision for your household.

Buffering on streaming videos is often caused by a slow internet connection, lack of bandwidth, or extra demands on video content providers and platforms. Outdated browsers, graphics cards, and apps can also cause video buffering.

Satellite internet plans, depending on your data caps, might experience more buffering because of latency—the extra time it takes for satellite internet signals to travel back and forth from orbit in space. Your exact experience will depend on your satellite internet plan and your location.

The average household uses 500GB of data per month, which is about 167 hours of streaming HD video. But if you’re trying to decide how much internet data you need, consider your location, your budget, and your family’s internet usage. Unlimited high-speed data could give you good peace of mind.