Sitting down to binge-watch your favorite TV shows can be super frustrating, and you may ask why does Paramount Plus keep buffering?
You can increase your ability to reduce buffering in several ways when viewing Paramount Plus.
Why does Paramount Plus buffer so much?
The cause of Paramount Plus buffering is likely caused by inefficient internet bandwidth optimization.
When your internet bandwidth is not optimized, buffering will often occur when streaming content.
Here are some tips on how to make stop Paramount Plus Buffering:
How to stop Paramount Plus Buffering
Method 1: Reset your Router
A simple restart of your home internet router can effectively eliminate the buffering on Paramount Plus.
How do I reset my router?
The easiest way to reset your router is to unplug it from the wall socket for 30 seconds before plugging it back in.
We suggest power-cycling your router to improve your streaming experience on Paramount Plus.
This process will increase your bandwidth and allow for faster content streaming.
Why does resetting your router reduce Paramount Plus Buffering?
Consider all the devices that are currently or have previously been connected to the router. In our modern digital age, many devices have likely been connected to the router.
Your router can be compared to a small computer, and its speed may decrease as additional tasks are added.
Having all those devices connected will reduce the bandwidth available to the Paramount Plus app and subsequently throttle your download speed, creating buffering.
Method 2. Restart your streaming device
To access Paramount Plus, you will use a streaming device to access the app.
The most common streaming devices for Paramount Plus are:
- Smart TVs
- Streaming Stick such as Apple TV, Firestick, or Roku
- Games Consoles such as PlayStation and XBOX
- A PC or MacBook Laptop
The universal recommendation for these devices and the first step in eliminating Paramount Plus freezing issues is to perform a power cycle of these systems.
To perform a power cycle of the devices, unplug them for 60 seconds before plugging them back in.
This restart allows any updates downloaded in the background to install and start successfully and clears the system cache.
Clearing the system cache and any lingering apps running in RAM can help reduce the buffering on Paramount Plus.
Reducing the number of apps running in the background gives Paramount Plus stream the needed content.
Method 3. Disconnect other devices in your home from the internet
If you’re unable to reset your router, it’s advisable to disconnect any non-essential devices from the internet.
Is someone in your home watching Netflix? What about your phone? Is someone downloading on XBOX?
Every device you can disconnect from your internet connection will help stop Paramount Plus buffering issues.
Method 4. Close any apps that are running
If you have followed our second step of restarting your streaming device, then this step would have been completed for you, otherwise, please continue to close any running apps.
How does having open apps cause Paramount Plus to buffer?
Imagine your internet connection to your Paramount Plus application like an artery in your body. The more games and apps running are like blockages in your arteries, sorry for the weird analogy!
Those blockages impede your ability to stream content faster, resulting in buffering when watching the Paramount Plus app.
Several users have reported increased performance when closing apps on LG TVs.
Method 5. Update your streaming device software/firmware before downloading
Whether you are using a TV, Streaming Stick, or Games console, updating your firmware or software to the latest version can help prevent issues from arising over time.
Sometimes updates can be missed, or an installation can be interrupted and cause issues with your streaming device.
Old firmware or a partial firmware installation could cause Paramount Plus to buffer.
Ensuring you have the latest software on your devices also gives you access to new apps and an improved viewing experience.
Method 6. Use an Ethernet cable rather than a Wi-Fi
It is almost always true that you will get a better download speed when you use an Ethernet (Wired Connection) rather than Wi-Fi.
Wired connections are faster and experience less interference. Additionally, fewer factors could impact the connection’s quality.
Wi-Fi connections are slower and generally have a slower response time.
The quality of your internet connection can be affected by the distance between your streaming device and the walls, floor, and ceilings, resulting in buffering issues while using Paramount Plus.
I always use a wired connection when available, and you should too!
Method 7. Upgrade your Internet Connection
Not everyone has access to high download speed through their ISP (Internet Service Provider), but for those that do, consider upgrading your internet connection.
It is pretty straightforward that a 100mbps connection will have a slower download rate than a 1gbps connection.
8. Disable any Ad blockers or VPNs
VPNs and Ad blockers can negatively affect the streaming performance of Paramount Plus.
Your connection to a VPN will always limit the speed at which you can stream content.
9. Upgrade your Router
If you have consistently upgraded your internet speed through your ISP but are still using an older router, you may wish to check your router’s maximum download speed.
It’s all good having a 1gbps connection, but if your router can only download at 100mbps, you have a massive bottleneck and a solid explanation for why Paramount Plus is buffering.
Method 10: Check the Paramount Plus servers
When Paramount Plus keeps freezing or pausing, most issues will usually be with your network or playback device.
Before you go into the other fixes listed below, it is worthwhile to check that there are no issues or outages with the Paramount Plus platform.
11. Contact Paramount Plus Support
If you have tried all the tips above and nothing has worked, you can contact Paramount Plus support for further assistance.
Conclusion
If you have followed the guide, you will have successfully reduced the chances of encountering buffering of Paramount Plus on your streaming device.
We hope that you enjoy buffer-free streaming.
