This article talks about the buffering problem when you watch streaming video using one of CenturyLink's Internet services. A variety of possible causes of the problem are described. The solutions to each of these problems are also described. The option of upgrading to a faster CenturyLink Internet service is discussed as well.
If you use CenturyLink's Internet service to watch your movies and shows but keep getting them interrupted by buffering, then you need to learn the different potential causes of this problem, and what you can do to fix them. Read on to learn more.
Maximize the Bandwidth
If your device is doing other things besides showing you your video, then your video streaming service is possibly not getting enough bandwidth out of your device. You need to stop everything else the device is doing to free up all the bandwidth you can for watching your movie or show. Close all other apps and tabs. Finish up any downloads you have going on. This will let your device give all of its attention to your video streaming.
Bandwidth could also be stolen by other devices connected to your network. If other people are on your network when you have buffering problems, you may need to have them stop what they're doing while you watch your movie or show.
If neither of these fixes work, check your viewing device for updates that have not yet been installed. If your device is missing an important update that your streaming service expects it to have, it might not be able to use its available bandwidth very well. Install the updates and see if that fixes the problem.
Change the Hardware
Your router might be the problem, if you have Wi-Fi. It can get overloaded by everything it is supposed to be doing, and then start to slow down as a result. To fix this problem you just need to turn your router off and then on again after waiting for a minute. This will erase the task cache.
The problem could be poor Wi-Fi connection strength. Your Wi-Fi signal can be reduced by walls and other obstacles. Try moving your device closer to the router. You can also switch to an Ethernet cable for an Internet connection. A hard wired connection is usually a lot faster than a Wi-Fi connection.
Check the Internet Speed
If nothing else has worked so far, check that you are getting all the download speed you should. CenturyLink has an online speed test you can use to test your Internet speed. If you are not getting what you should be getting, contact CenturyLink to get help with the problem.
Upgrade Your Internet Service
CenturyLink offers two Internet plans. The cheapest one has a speed of 100 Mbps. The more expensive one has a speed of up to 940 Mbps. If you are on the cheaper, slower plan, upgrading to the faster one might solve the buffering problem.
If you need any additional help solving your buffering problem, contact CenturyLink's customer service department. Contact options include help desk, phone, email, and a few live chat options.
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