How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering

With hundreds of hours of videos uploaded to the site every minute, YouTube has become a source of seemingly endless entertainment. And for an avid viewer, few things are more exciting than getting a notification that a favorite creator has uploaded a new video. However, a video that is incessantly pausing and buffering can take all the fun out of watching YouTube.

Let’s examine why YouTube videos may be lagging and buffering and how this annoying issue can be fixed.

How to Fix YouTube Lagging and Buffering on a Computer

Since YouTube doesn’t offer a native desktop app, users are forced to rely on web browsers to watch their favorite YouTube videos. Unfortunately, these browsers are frequently to blame for YouTube playback issues. But they aren’t the only ones at fault. Let’s explore what else can go wrong on a computer and cause the YouTube web client to lag. Once the issue is identified, a few simple steps can resolve it.

Poor Internet Connection

Poor internet connection and fluctuating speed might be behind the YouTube lagging and buffering issues. Video playback is an intensive task that requires a stable and speedy network connection. So, if there’s trouble with YouTube video playback, it might be prudent to check the internet speed to determine its stability.

How to Check Internet Speed

Testing internet speed is a simple task that can quickly reveal the reason behind video playback issues. All that needs to be done is visit a speed test website like the Fast website and wait for it to display your connection speed.

Here are approximate internet speeds needed to play each video format with no interruptions on YouTube:

  • SD 360p: 0.7 Mbps
  • SD 480p: 1.1 Mbps
  • HD 720p: 2.5 Mbps
  • HD 1080p: 5 Mbps
  • 4K: 20 Mbps

If the measured internet speed is lower than the required speed, this might explain why there is trouble watching the video. The best solution would be to call the internet service provider and upgrade your internet package. But an immediate solution would be to decrease the playback video quality to match the current internet speed.

Change Video Quality

Choosing a lower resolution for the video being watched should immediately fix the lagging and buffering problem, though it might affect the overall viewing experience.

Here’s how to change the video quality on YouTube:

  1. Click on the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the video’s window.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  2. Go to the “Quality” tab. Select the appropriate resolution based on the current internet speed.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering

Browser Cache

Although the cache is primarily used to help load a previously visited website faster, having too much data stored on a computer can have the opposite effect. So, clearing the browser cache from time to time can do wonders to improve browsing speed.

How to Clear Cache From Google Chrome

Follow these steps to clear cache and browsing data from Google Chrome:

  1. Navigate to the three-dot icon in the top-right corner of the Chrome window.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  2. Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  3. Tap the “Privacy and security” tab from the left side panel.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  4. Press the “Clear browsing data” button.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  5. Go to the “Advanced” tab.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  6. Check all the available boxes except “Passwords and other sign-in data” and “Autofill from data.”
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  7. Click “Clear data.”
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering

How to Clear Cache From Mozilla Firefox

If using a Mozilla Firefox browser, here’s how to clear your cache:

  1. Click the hamburger icon in the top-right corner of the browser window.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  2. Choose “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  3. Go to the “Privacy & Security” tab on the left.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  4. Navigate to the “Cookies and Site Data” section.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  5. Tap the “Clear Data” button.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  6. Select only the “Cached Web Content” checkbox.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  7. Click “Clear.”
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering

How to Clear Cache From Opera

Opera users can clear the browser cache by following these steps:

  1. Press the “CTRL + H” shortcut on the keyboard. Tap “Clear browsing data” at the top right.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  2. Check the box of “Cached images and files.”
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  3. Click “Clear data.”
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering

Outdated Browser

Watching YouTube videos with no interruptions requires an up-to-date browser. If there are playback issues, the browser being used might be outdated and in need of an update.

How to Update Google Chrome

Updating Google Chrome is a straightforward process that should take no more than a few minutes.

  1. Click the three-dot icon at the top right.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  2. Go to the “Help” option.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  3. Select “About Google Chrome.”
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  4. If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to install it.

How to Update Mozilla Firefox

You can update your Mozilla Firefox browser to the latest edition in a few simple steps:

  1. Tap the hamburger icon in the top-right corner.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  2. Navigate to the “Help” section on the drop-down menu.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  3. Choose “About Firefox.”
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to update your browser.
  5. Once the update is installed, click the “Restart to update Firefox” button.

How to Update Opera

Follow these steps to update an Opera browser:

  1. Click the red “O” button in the top-left corner.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  2. Go to the “Update & Recovery” option.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  3. If there’s an update available, tap the “Relaunch now” button to install it.

Outdated Drivers

Outdated graphic and network drivers can cause video performance issues, leading to choppy playback. Luckily, this issue can be easily fixed by updating your drivers.

How to Update Drivers on Windows

If you have a Windows PC, follow these steps to update the necessary drivers:

  1. Type “Device Manager” in the search box and click the appropriate icon.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  2. Double-click the “Display Adapters” option.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  3. Right-click on your graphic card.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  4. Choose “Update driver.”
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  5. Tap the “Search automatically for drivers” button.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions to update your driver.
  7. In the Device Manager, double-click the “Network Adapters” tab. Right-click on the connection you use.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  8. Repeat steps 4-6.
  9. Restart your PC.

How to Update Drivers on a Mac

MacOS handles all driver updates at once, so you can check if any updates are available and update all your software together.

  1. Click on the apple icon at the top left.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  2. Tap the “System Preferences” tab.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  3. Select “Software Update.”
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software update, if available.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering

Malicious Extensions

Malicious plug-ins and extensions can wreak havoc on your browser and, in turn, your internet usage. These unwanted additions are often installed without your knowledge, so checking the Extensions tab from time to time can help you keep them in check.

How to Uninstall Unwanted Extensions on Google Chrome

Follow these steps to uninstall potentially malicious extensions from your Google Chrome browser:

  1. Go to the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner of your browser window.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  2. Hover over the “More tools” option.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  3. Select “Extensions.”
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  4. Scroll through the list of installed extensions and delete the ones you don’t recognize by clicking the “Remove” button in their section.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  5. Restart your browser.

How to Uninstall Unwanted Extensions on Mozilla Firefox

Unwanted add-ons can be gone from your Mozilla Firefox browser in a few clicks:

  1. Go to the menu icon at the top right of the window.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  2. Select “Add-ons and Themes.”
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  3. Click on “Extensions.” Comb through your installed extensions. If you find an extension you don’t recognize, tap the three-dot icon next to its name and select “Remove.”
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  4. Restart your browser.

How to Uninstall Unwanted Extensions on Opera

If you use Opera, here’s how you can get rid of unwanted extensions:

  1. Press the “CTRL + Shift + E” shortcut to launch “Extensions.” Scroll through the installed extensions and press the “X” button next to any you don’t recognize.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering

How to Fix YouTube Lagging and Buffering on a Mobile Phone

If you’re trying to stream a YouTube video on your smartphone, but it keeps buffering, try force-stopping the app and restarting it. If the issue persists, there are a couple of things you can try to resolve it.

Browser Cache

Although browser cache is meant to help websites load faster, having too much data can interfere with the regular operation of apps. If you’re experiencing issues with YouTube playback, try clearing the app’s cache on your mobile device.

How to Clear Cache on an Android

Here’s how you can clear YouTube’s cache on your Android device:

  1. Go to “Settings.”
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  2. Scroll down to “Apps.”
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  3. Find “YouTube” on the list.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  4. Tap the “Storage” tab.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  5. Press the “Clear cache” button.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  6. Restart your smartphone.

How to Clear Cache on an iPhone

If you own an iPhone, follow these steps to clear YouTube’s cache:

  1. Launch the “Settings” app.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  2. Go to “General.”
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  3. Tap “iPhone Storage.”
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  4. Scroll down to “YouTube” and open the tab.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering
  5. Press the “Offload App” button.
    How To Fix YouTube Streaming That Keeps Lagging And Buffering

YouTube App

If clearing cache and restarting your phone doesn’t do the trick, the YouTube app itself might be to blame for the lagging and buffering. So, try uninstalling the app and reinstalling it from the Play Store or the App Store.

Seamless Streaming

Streaming YouTube videos with no interruptions is essential to a pleasurable viewing experience. Whether you’re watching a video or listening to music in the background, the methods outlined in this article should allow you to enjoy YouTube in all its glory.

Have you had issues with YouTube lagging? How did you resolve it? Let us know in the comments section below.

Sign up and earn $1000 a day ⋙

Pregnant, craving sweet is a boy or a girl? A question of many pregnant mothers!

Pregnant, craving sweet is a boy or a girl? A question of many pregnant mothers!

Having a sweet pregnancy to be a boy or a girl is the question of many pregnant mothers. According to folk experience, the taste of the pregnant mother can guess the sex of the fetus.

The fastest way to increase amniotic fluid for pregnant women with the amniotic fluid index is lower than the standard

The fastest way to increase amniotic fluid for pregnant women with the amniotic fluid index is lower than the standard

Pregnant mothers have less amniotic fluid in the first 3 months, lack amniotic fluid at 32-36 weeks, lack amniotic fluid at 37-40 weeks. So mothers already know how to increase amniotic fluid fastest?

Eat lotus seeds during pregnancy to soak up the golden benefits of this miracle!

Eat lotus seeds during pregnancy to soak up the golden benefits of this miracle!

Eat lotus seeds during pregnancy to soak up the golden benefits of this miracle! The effect of lotus seeds, some delicious dishes suggest pregnant mothers when using lotus seeds.

Nasal hygiene for newborn babies, simple but requires the right method

Nasal hygiene for newborn babies, simple but requires the right method

Young children, especially infants with weak immature resistance, are susceptible to respiratory diseases. Properly clean the newborn baby's nose to prevent maternal diseases!

How to eat black sesame during pregnancy so that a beautiful baby can easily give birth?

How to eat black sesame during pregnancy so that a beautiful baby can easily give birth?

Black sesame is very good food for both pregnant mother and fetus. So how to eat black sesame during pregnancy to get the most out of the benefits of this food?

Top mens perfume 2020 most glamorous and elegant

Top mens perfume 2020 most glamorous and elegant

As an elegant gentleman, do you know which of the top scent for men 2020 has the most favorite scent including faces? Let's find out together!

Are 2 people with the same mole position, are the spouses?

Are 2 people with the same mole position, are the spouses?

Are 2 people with the same mole position, is it predestined to heaven, spouse or not? Why will people with a spouse be more likely to become a couple?

Hard abdomen after cesarean section - What are the causes and treatment?

Hard abdomen after cesarean section - What are the causes and treatment?

What are the reasons for abdominal hardening after cesarean section? Is this phenomenon dangerous? Mother should do to avoid consequences later?

Learn the nutritious menu for children with delicious 16-month-old, fast weight gain

Learn the nutritious menu for children with delicious 16-month-old, fast weight gain

Anorexia children need to be stimulated taste buds to make them more interested in meals. Let's find out what the menu for an anorexia 16-month-old baby should note right below.

After giving birth, can we eat mangosteen? How to eat good for the birth mother and newborn baby?

After giving birth, can we eat mangosteen? How to eat good for the birth mother and newborn baby?

Can mangosteen be eaten after birth when this is a nutritious and attractive fruit? According to nutrition experts, mangosteen is very beneficial for her birth.

Should mothers drink fresh turmeric or turmeric starch after giving birth?

Should mothers drink fresh turmeric or turmeric starch after giving birth?

Turmeric is one of the foods that are very good for the health and skin of postpartum women. So is it better to drink turmeric after giving birth or with turmeric starch?

3 landmarks must be done for fetal malformation ultrasound to make the baby healthy and secure

3 landmarks must be done for fetal malformation ultrasound to make the baby healthy and secure

Every fetus is at risk for defects and an ultrasound is the earliest detection method. So at what point does fetal anomaly ultrasound to help detect defects?

Feeding a baby porridge before bed can be dangerous!

Feeding a baby porridge before bed can be dangerous!

Should children eat porridge before going to bed? The shocking answer from the doctor made women seriously consider feeding their children porridge at night.

Fetal heart rate 150 is a boy or a girl, the mother knows interesting things about the babys fetal heart?

Fetal heart rate 150 is a boy or a girl, the mother knows interesting things about the babys fetal heart?

Fetal heart rate 150 is a boy or a girl, based on fetal heart rate to know the sex of the baby is not correct? Together learn the meaning of the fetal heart numbers.

Pregnant women can eat seaweed and how to eat the best for the fetus?

Pregnant women can eat seaweed and how to eat the best for the fetus?

Pregnant women can eat seaweed? Scientific studies have shown that pregnant women should eat seaweed in a moderate amount for the best mother and fetus.

Do you miss your ex? Apply these 16 ways right away to stop the problem

Do you miss your ex? Apply these 16 ways right away to stop the problem

Are you missing your ex? If not, it was a lie. Because once a girl falls in love and then breaks up, how many people do not remember their ex?

How is fetal head circumference normal, what is abnormal?

How is fetal head circumference normal, what is abnormal?

Head circumference is an important indicator that the fetus is developing normally. However, if this indicator is abnormal, what should pregnant mothers do?

How is fetal nose bone length normal?

How is fetal nose bone length normal?

Does any mother know that measuring fetal nasal bone length plays a very important role in pregnancy, no less than other indicators?

Pregnant mother eating pickled vegetables can affect the fetus?

Pregnant mother eating pickled vegetables can affect the fetus?

Mother elected to eat pickled vegetables good or not good? Join us to learn through the article for advice and specific information on this.

How many hair whorls does your baby have? Lets see what whirlpool says about a childs personality and future

How many hair whorls does your baby have? Lets see what whirlpool says about a childs personality and future

The folk whirls on the head of a child can indicate personality, destiny and intelligence level. Let's see exactly how this is.