Not much is more frustrating than the constant choppiness and pauses of a buffering video. Whether you’re watching on your 4K TV, tablet, computer, or smartphone, it can seem like an annoying internet issue you just have to learn to live with. Fortunately, that's not the case. From simple tips to upgrading your service to give your home a major online boost, here's what you can do.

How to Avoid Video Buffering

1. Close Other Apps

When playback starts to buffer, close all the apps you aren’t using. Even while these aren’t active, they still connect to the internet to fetch information like emails or news and social media updates. In other words, they’re taking up bandwidth that could be dedicated to streaming. You should notice faster loading speeds once everything else is closed.

2. Pause the Video

If you aren’t in a rush, pause the video. This allows more of the stream to preload, which is indicated on many video platforms by the growing gray bar at the bottom of the screen. It creates a larger buffer, so you can then comfortably watch without interruptions while the remainder of the video loads. 

3. Upgrade Your Internet

If quick DIY efforts aren’t working, your internet speed is likely the culprit. It can only accommodate a certain amount of data passing back and forth on your network. If you’re streaming 4K video or have a lot of smart devices connected to the network, there won’t be sufficient space for video data to travel smoothly through your connection, resulting in buffering. 

A local internet service provider will assess how many devices are typically connected to your network and how the family spends time online. This could include people watching movies or TV in different rooms or playing bandwidth-hungry online video games. The provider will then recommend speeds that will handle everything for smooth performance every day.

Ready to upgrade your internet service? For over 125 years, Horizon has ensured residents of Southern Ohio have reliable connections for all their communication and entertainment needs. They offer a range of affordable internet speeds for households of every size as well as premium cable and telephone services. Start exploring pricing and packages on their website and connect on Facebook to discover more tips. Call their Chillicothe, OH, office at (740) 772-8200 to speak with a team member.