How to Fix Slow Streaming Video Problems on Your Laptop
A laptop across the house from the router is working with the weakest signal in the building, which is why video that plays fine on the TV stops to reload part-way through on the laptop. That pause is buffering. A provider slowing video traffic makes it worse.
Speedify is a software app for Windows, macOS and Linux laptops that uses Wi-Fi, 4G/5G cellular, Ethernet and other internet connections at the same time. That needs two or more internet connections, such as Wi-Fi plus a phone’s 4G/5G cellular shared over USB tethering or Speedify’s cellular sharing feature; on a single connection Speedify works as an encrypted VPN and cannot stop that connection from dropping. The sections below name the causes on a laptop, list the fixes in order, and explain how Speedify puts a second internet connection to work.
Why Video Streaming Is Slow on a Laptop
Platform issues. Just to confirm that there aren’t any issues with the platform you’re trying to stream video from, check their status page or support social media pages. Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Disney+, BBC and the rest should all be up and running. If it’s not them, then it’s definitely you.
ISP throttling. Some ISPs slow down video streaming traffic to save capacity on their network. Playing the same video with and without a VPN shows whether it is happening to you; a speed test may not, because only the video traffic is slowed.
Slow internet from your ISP. Test the speed of your internet connection: Netflix recommends at least 5 Mbps for Full HD (1080p) and 15 Mbps for Ultra HD (4K).
Unstable internet from your ISP. When you test your speed, check out the lag and jitter numbers: the lower, the better.
Laptop lagging, not just buffering. If the picture stutters while the progress bar shows the video is already loaded, the laptop itself is struggling: close other tabs and apps, plug in the charger (battery saver modes can slow playback), and update the browser and the graphics driver.
Fixes for Slow Video Streaming on a Laptop
Each of the streaming platforms offers a connection troubleshooting guide on their website. Try that first. If it doesn’t help, try the steps below for issues related to your internet connection:
- Reboot your router and laptop. Sometimes that’s all you need to do.
- Move closer to the wireless router. Actually, use a wired connection, if available.
- Close any background programs that might be using bandwidth on your laptop. These include backup programs, social networks, collaboration tools, etc.
- Check to see if there are any other devices on your home network using bandwidth. Maybe your kids are streaming something themselves. Or playing games online.
- If your ISP is throttling streaming traffic, use a fast VPN. When streaming traffic goes through the encrypted tunnel, the ISP cannot see which service it comes from, so it cannot single out video for throttling. Services you add to Speedify’s Bypass list go outside the tunnel, so this does not apply to them.
- If you have a second Internet connection available, such as Ethernet or a phone’s 4G/5G cellular (tethered by USB, with an iPhone on a Mac, or shared through Speedify’s cellular sharing feature), don’t let it go to waste. Use it together with your home Wi-Fi on your laptop for faster, more stable internet. All you need is an app that combines connections, like Speedify.
Faster Video Streaming on a Laptop with Speedify
As a VPN that combines connections, Speedify allows you to combine multiple Internet connections at once on your laptop. This happens through a VPN-grade encrypted tunnel, so your privacy and data security is protected.
If one of the connections you’re using becomes slower or even disconnects, Speedify will automatically start moving traffic to the other working connection(s). When the initial connection is back, it starts using it again.
And don’t worry: just because Speedify is also a VPN doesn’t mean you can’t access your favorite streaming platforms. Speedify’s bypass feature allows only trusted traffic from Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Disney+ and more to go around the encrypted tunnel.
Those are the fixes for slow video streaming on a laptop. You can now try Speedify for free.
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Speedify combines Wi-Fi, 4G/5G cellular, Ethernet, Starlink and satellite into one faster, more reliable internet connection. Free to try: 5 GB a month with a free account. No credit card required.
🚀 Speed
Faster uploads and downloads, because Speedify uses all your internet connections at once.
📶 Stability
If one internet connection drops, Speedify moves your traffic to the others in milliseconds.
🔒 Security
AES-256 encryption on every internet connection, on any network you join.
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