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Buffering

What is buffering?

Buffering on the internet refers to the process of preloading data into a reserved area of memory (the buffer) in anticipation of playback during streaming of audio or video content. Buffering is essentially a method to provide a smoother streaming experience for users. When a user streams a video or listens to music online, the data is sent over the internet to their device in a stream of data packets.

How to fix buffering

Sometimes buffering causes your video or music to pause, preventing you from watching or listening to it while the data loads. This problem can be caused by low internet bandwidth, high traffic or higher-quality settings (like watching in 1080p instead of 720p). Some things you can do to fix buffering issues are:

  • Reduce the quality of the stream.
  • Ensure no other devices on your network are using a lot of bandwidth at the same time.
  • Connect your device to the internet via Ethernet cord rather than Wi-Fi.
  • Move closer to your router.