These days, watching a movie is as easy as a few clicks of a button. Yes it was that easy, until the film froze and the buffer crawled like a snail. It is often difficult to say what is responsible for the slowdown. If all attempts to improve your internet settings, computer usage, and router settings are fruitless, consider subscribing to a different internet service plan or, concurrently, a different service provider.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Fixing Internet Connection
Step 1. Use Ethernet for online connection
Wired connections are usually faster than WiFi. Try connecting your computer to your router with an Ethernet cable. You will probably see an improvement.
This option is usually not available for mobile devices
Step 2. Try to be close to a WiFi signal
If you can't use Ethernet, connect with a WiFi signal as this is much faster than a standard phone data connection. Move to the same room as the wireless router room, or purchase a device to extend WiFi coverage to amplify the signal throughout your home.
See the section on how to optimize your router below to get the most out of your WiFi signal
Step 3. Turn off the competing device
If you are on a network that shares an internet connection, disconnect all devices from the network when they are not in use. Additional computers and mobile devices can greatly slow down the video stream.
Step 4. Contact your PIJI
Call your Internet Service Provider (PIJI) or Internet Service Provider and have them analyze your Internet connection for possible problems. Sometimes, PIJI can fix the problem that is making your internet slow down from their side. If your data usage has exceeded the usage limit, PIJI may “choke” your connection so that it becomes much slower until the next billing cycle.
Upgrading your internet package subscription can also be an option, or switching to a different PIJI
Method 2 of 3: Speed Up Computer and Software
Step 1. Close all programs that you are not using
If other intensive applications are open, your computer or mobile device may not be able to stream videos as fast as your internet connection provides. Video games and programs that use the internet can be a burden on the processor, even if you are not actively using them.
The discussion that follows in this section is focused on computers. If you are using a mobile device, please go directly to the router optimization section
Step 2. Check your computer's memory usage
On Windows, open “Task Manager” by pressing Ctrl alt=""Image" Delete. On a Mac, go to Applications → Utilities → Activity Monitor. On both Windows and Mac, take a look at the list of processes and determine "carefully" which processes to close by following these guidelines:
- If you recognize the name of an application, and are not currently using it, stop the application by clicking End Process or Quit Process.
- If you don't recognize the name of a process, leave it alone. If processes you don't recognize are using a large amount of “Memory” or “%CPU”, try restarting your computer or doing a scan for viruses.
Step 3. Get rid of the virus
Some malicious viruses force your computer to use its processing power for other people. Download antivirus software if you don't have one installed on your computer, then scan your computer for viruses using that software.
Step 4. Disable hardware acceleration on older computers
By turning off hardware acceleration, then instead of using the computer's allotted settings, video playback applications can manage resource requirements. This idea is good if your computer has to struggle to handle modern websites and videos, but isn't necessary for higher power devices.
- On a Windows computer, click this link and follow the instructions that match your operating system.
- On a Mac, disable this setting in Flash players or other video players by right-clicking, command-clicking, or "two-finger-clicking" the video itself to bring up a menu of options.
Step 5. Clear your browser cache
Go to browser preferences and find cache settings. Clear that cache, or increase the amount of space your browser can use to store information.
See these instructions for more browser-specific information
Method 3 of 3: Optimizing the Router for Video Streaming
Step 1. Access your router settings
Access your wireless router settings by typing the router's IP address. Here is a list of the most common router brands.
Step 2. Go to your router settings
Enter the username and password you chose for your router, or the default password for your router brand. After accessing the settings, read on for ways to optimize your network for video streaming.
Step 3. Turn on QoS or WMM
Each router company manages router settings slightly differently. You may find a direct link to “QoS” or “Quality of Service”, or you may need to click through the other menus until you see the QoS settings. Change this setting to “On” to prioritize video streaming and other high-intensity network usage. On some newer routers, you can turn on the “WMM” setting to get similar results.
- Select “Downstream QoS” on the Netgear router, “not” “Upstream QoS”.
- If you don't see any change, the bottleneck that is slowing your network down is probably your Internet Service Provider.
Step 4. Try enabling Burst ACK if possible
If your router has an ACK setting, it's likely that this function is on the same menu as the QoS setting. Change your ACK setting to “Burst ACK” possible increases video streaming speed, but may cause connection drops, shorter range, or other problems with certain connections. Take note of the default setting (usually “Immediate ACK”) so that you can reverse this change if you see any problems above.
Step 5. Upgrade your router
If your wireless router is outdated, it might be a good idea to replace it with a newer model. For best results, buy a router with the 802.11n standard (and not "802.11n draft") for the best signal, or the newer 802.11ac standard.
Check if the router's results match what's advertised by visiting the WiFi Alliance website and searching for the product name in the top right of the search bar. If it is on the list, it means the product is certified
Tips
- If the video streaming is unusually slow, stop the process and wait for the video to buffer, or download the video if a download link is available.
- If YouTube only supports one small section at a time, change this option by using the YouTube Center add-on.
- It's also a good idea to keep your browser or video streaming app up to date.
