Why Is Netflix So Slow? Let’s Load Quickly And Stream Faster

ISP mostly involved and throttled Netflix and causing it forever to load. You can avoid being throttled and watch with good quality and speed.

Because of Net Neutrality, ISPs now have more rights and power than ever before. They can track and log your data but, most importantly, throttle your connection. Yes! You heard it right. Your ISPs are behind, making your web browsing experience worse.

Some popular ISPs, including Verizon, Comcast, Century Link, and AT&T, perform bandwidth throttling. These companies are throttling the entire connection and throttle your speed when you access certain websites. The most popular ones are streaming sites like Netflix. A study revealed that ISPs do throttle selective streaming websites, and Netflix is one of them. Despite having 195.15 million paid subscribers, Netflix users experience throttling.

Whenever you stream your favorite TV show or movie on Netflix, you either face slow speed, connection lags, or buffering in the content. All these things spoil your Netflix experience. There are instances when your internet speed is fast, but Netflix is buffering, so it’s merely Netflix throttling. Your ISPs are throttling your connection when you stream on Netflix to maintain a stable internet connection. 

Netflix has also made it clear on their Help page that you can experience buffering while streaming. You should always check your connection speed, restart the device, and check if your network supports streaming to resolve the issue. However, there’s another quick way to prevent Netflix buffering and slow speed, and that’s using a reliable Netflix VPN.  

Here in this article, I will share how to avoid Netflix buffering with a VPN. Also, I’m going to share some other quick ways that can speed up the Netflix connection. But before we get into this, let’s first discuss why you experience slow Netflix speed.

Why does Netflix Load Slowly?

There are many reasons, but most probably, your ISP is involved in slowing down your Netflix buffering. Other potential reasons why Netflix may be slow, including:

1. Internet connection speed: A slow internet connection is one of the most common reasons for slow Netflix performance. If your internet connection is not fast enough, it may take longer for Netflix to buffer videos and play them smoothly.
2. Network congestion: Another possible reason for slow Netflix performance is network congestion. This can happen when many people in your area are using the internet at the same time, causing your connection to slow down.
3. Device issues: Your device may also be causing slow Netflix performance. If your device is old or not powerful enough, it may struggle to stream high-quality videos smoothly.
4. App issues: Netflix may also be slow due to issues with the Netflix app itself. If the app is outdated or not working properly, it may cause slow performance.
5. Server issues: Finally, Netflix servers may also be the cause of slow performance. If Netflix servers are overloaded or experiencing technical issues, it may cause slow video streaming.

To improve Netflix’s performance, you can try troubleshooting your internet connection, using a more powerful device, updating the Netflix app, and checking for any server issues on Netflix’s end.

Also, if you don’t know about Netflix throttling, here is the complete guide on how to test and bypass Netflix throttling.

How To Fix Netflix Buffering Issue

If you’re experiencing slow buffering while streaming on Netflix, there are several steps you can take to try to solve the issue:

1. Use the fastest Netlix-Supported VPN: by using the fastest VPN with Netrlix, you can quickly get rid of ISP throttling and regain your regular internet speed.
2. Check your internet connection speed: You can test your internet speed using a website like speedtest.net. If your internet speed is slower than what’s required for streaming Netflix (3 Mbps for standard definition and 5 Mbps for high definition)
3. Use a wired connection: Try to connect the router directly using an ethernet cable. This can provide a more stable and faster connection than using Wi-Fi.
4. Restart your device and modem/router: Restarting your device and modem/router can help improve connection speeds.
5. Close other applications and devices: If you have multiple devices or applications using your internet connection sometimes, it can slow down your connection speed. Close any unnecessary applications and disconnect devices you’re not using.
6. Change your streaming quality: You can adjust the streaming quality on Netflix to match your internet speed. Go to “Account” > “Playback settings” and select a lower quality (such as “Medium” or “Low”) to improve buffering.
7. Update your Netflix app: Make sure you have the latest version of the Netflix app installed. You can check for updates in your device’s app store.

If none of these steps work, you may need to contact Netflix support or your internet service provider for further assistance.

Other Ways to Fix Netflix Buffering Despite Having Fast Internet Speed

Slow speeds and buffering are hell annoying. They waste your time and spoil your streaming experience. Sometimes, using a VPN doesn’t even work to make Netflix speeds more suitable. 

You should take the following steps to fix Netflix’s slow speed and buffering.

Switch Off Hardware Acceleration

At times outdated hardware is one fundamental reason for buffering and slow loading speed when you’re streaming on Netflix. If your hardware is the main trouble, then turn off the hardware acceleration by configuring the Adobe Flash Player setting. Disable the option which says ‘Enable the hardware acceleration’’. 

After turning it off, you can enjoy a buffer-free Netflix video with fast speeds.

Update Your Software

Updating your software is another way by which you can fix the Netflix slow speed issue. It is one of the cheapest and easiest methods that doesn’t require any extra charges. It takes both money and time to update hardware, but you can update the software within a few minutes. Make sure you’re doing it at regular intervals.

Besides updating software, also update your graphic card and web browsers. Updating them cleans up any malicious content or caches that interrupts the connection. Also, it fixes security flaws and ensures a safe streaming experience. 

Decrease Video Quality

Undoubtedly streaming on Netflix consumes a lot of the regular bandwidth. You often set your video at a high quality, which is one reason for slow Netflix speeds. You should always set your video quality as this trick does great wonders for the users.

Close Unused Apps in the Background

When you’re streaming so, it’s always a great idea to close all the applications you are not using. It is essential to do because open apps consume a lot of your bandwidth, and you don’t know much about it. By doing so, you can watch an increase in your streaming speeds. 

To focus the internet bandwidth on your streaming service, it’s necessary to close all the apps in the background.

Change Your Router Device

Your device’s quality is vital when using the internet—an outdated router results in a poor internet connection. Also, you experience low WiFi signals that aren’t enough to load Netflix and affect your video streaming quality.

The weak the WiFi signals will be, the lower will be your streaming experience. Thus, changing your router device from time to time is essential. You should change the device every six months. You can also go with the wired connection on your desktops, as these are ideal for video streaming.

Ending Note

To sum up, ISP throttling is still effective. Almost all popular names are behind this act. Great services like Netflix also throttle their users’ connections. As a result, users experience slow speed and buffering throughout their streaming experience. 

By using a VPN, one can always address the throttling issue. If you’re facing significant troubles while streaming on Netflix, you should use a reliable VPN. However, sometimes other external factors slow down your Netflix speed. Hopefully, all the points mentioned above are clear to you, and you have learned how to fix Netflix buffering issues. 

FAQs on why Your Netflix is so slow?