While playing online videos, a majority of media streaming
services load the content via buffering. Buffering refers to the process
through which the video is tentatively downloaded on the device prior to
playback. But, often users see that the playback pauses because of buffering.
This means that the internet speed is too slow, and the buffer size is smaller
than the playback speed. Let's examine the different ways to increase video
streaming speed.
1.Do not
fight for airtime
Nowadays, modern homes are equipped with modern gadgets and
smart devices. These inter-connected things do make our lives easier. From
smart bulbs to smart fridges, now a number of appliances have become
web-enabled. With smart espresso makers, we can make ourselves a cuppa without
having to get out of the bed.
Even though smart devices have made lives more convenient,
especially for the more laid back people, we often do not remember that the
more gadgets are connected to the same network, the more data it will use, and
the slower will the speed become.
For this reason, whenever you need to stream any content,
just head over to the network connection, turn off data or network sharing and
disconnect the connected devices that you are not using. Moreover, ensure that
you close all the background apps that use the internet.
2. Clear
temporary cache and cookies
It is essential to remove cookies and cache because they end
up having a negative impact on the device's performance.
Typically, when the user closes any tab or exits the
browsing app, the OS deletes several internet files that were downloaded.
But, if the user powers off the system without giving a
chance to the browser to properly shut down, these files will start causing a
lag and will slow down the web browser.
For this reason, prior to streaming, visit the settings of
the browser and delete the browsing history, temporary internet files, and
cookies.
3. Change the
Wi-Fi channel
If you have connected the device to a Wi-Fi network and the
movie is still loading from a long time, just change the Wi-Fi channel. Connect
to a less crowded channel to get a better reception.
4. Switch to a
wired connection
Even though Wi-Fi is very convenient, there is a high
probability that it could be the reason behind the sluggish buffering speed.
You might face this problem even after investing in network extenders and
high-speed modems.
Switching to Ethernet cable might help solve the slow
buffering issue. Apart from boosting the connection speed, it will also stop
the connection from being dropped.
5. Reset the
router
In some cases, resetting the router helps. If you have not
reset the home network ever since you first got it, then if you reset it now,
your bandwidth might improve. When you reboot the network, all the cache stored
in the network gets cleared. Moreover, power cycling also restores the network
to the default settings. Therefore, all the other connected devices get removed
from the network.
KarenMinton is a creative person who has been writing blogs and articles about cyber security. She writes about the latest updates regarding mcafee.com/activate and how it can improve the work experience of users. Her articles have been published in many popular e-magazines, blogs and websites.
