This article talks about dealing with the problem of buffering interruptions whenever you are watching streaming video using Optimum's Internet service. Several possible causes of the buffering problem are discussed. The various solutions to these problems are discussed as well. The option of upgrading to a faster Optimum Internet service is also discussed.
If you are tired of your shows and movies received through Optimum's Internet service repeatedly getting interrupted by buffering, then you are probably looking for a way to solve the buffering problem once and for all. If so, just read on to learn how to fix your buffering problems with Optimum.
Get Rid of Bandwidth Competitors
Your device only has so much bandwidth, which means that it can only do so many things at once. Downloading video and audio can take up a lot of bandwidth. So close all other tabs and apps. Finish any downloads. If there are other people using your Internet, you may need to get them to stop. The fewer things your device is trying to do, the more bandwidth it has, the easier it is for your viewing to proceed uninterrupted.
You should also check your device for any updates that haven't been installed yet. If, for example, your operating system hasn't gotten an important update and your streaming service is expecting you to have it, you may not be capable of utilizing all the bandwidth you have. Installing the update could correct this problem.
Make Some Hardware Changes
The next thing to look at is your router, if you're using Wi-Fi. Your router can sometimes get overwhelmed by the tasks it is supposed to do, and start slowing down as a consequence. Turn your router off, wait for a minute, and start it again. Doing so will clear out the task memory, which might stop the buffering problem.
If that doesn't work, the problem might be that your Wi-Fi connection strength is bad. After all, Wi-Fi is rather slow compared to a dedicated Ethernet connection. Try switching to an Ethernet cable for your Internet connection. This could easily solve the problem.
Check Your Internet Speed
The next thing you should try is checking that you're getting the Internet speed you're supposed to. Go to Optimum's online speed test page and run a test on your Internet speed. If you are getting a lot less than you are paying for, contact Optimum for help fixing the problem.
Upgrade Your Internet Service
Optimum offers three different Internet plans. The cheapest has a speed of 300 Mbps. The middle one has a speed of 500 Mbps. The most expensive one has a speed of 940 Mbps. Each of them is pretty fast, but if you have a lot of users on your home plan, it might not be enough. You can try upgrading to a faster package to solve your buffering problem.
If you have done everything possible to fix the buffering problem and it just won't go away, contact Optimum's customer service. Options include phone, help desk, email, and live chat.
GetHuman has been working for over 10 years on sourcing information about big organizations like Optimum in order to help customers resolve customer service issues faster. We started with contact information and fastest ways to reach a human at big companies. Particularly ones with slow or complicated IVR or phone menu systems. Or companies that have self-serve help forums instead of a customer service department. From there, we realized that consumers still needed more detailed help solving the most common problems, so we expanded to this set of guides, which grows every day. And if you spot any issues with our How Do I Fix Buffering Problems with Optimum? guide, please let us know by sending us feedback. We want to be as helpful as possible. If you appreciated this guide, please share it with your favorite people. Our free information and tools is powered by you, the customer. The more people that use it, the better it gets.