Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are undoubtedly a unique product that can aid online safety and privacy. However, with advancements in technology, the VPN has also evolved into a frontier of entertainment. Today, many streaming aficionados rely on VPNs to watch their favorite foreign content. But is the VPN experience worth it? They rely on a network of servers to provide remote access to the web to the user. Unsurprisingly, this connection gets affected by latency and bandwidth.
Hence, VPNs with a poor network can cause slow internet, and slow internet ultimately leads to buffering. As you can see above, today’s title is a question, “Can a VPN cause buffering?” And regrettably, our answer is yes. However, the world of tech isn’t black and white—oftentimes, there are two sides to a coin. And the motivation behind this article is to explore the numerous possibilities behind VPNs and buffering. Thus, without further ado, let’s delve into the topic!
What is buffering?
Before we start, it is paramount that we help our readers understand the term “buffering”. Although we are sure that everyone must have experienced buffering once in a while. It is a normal part of the internet, after all, and chances are it will likely never go away completely. Why? Because it is a phenomenon that is directly proportional to the strength of your internet connection, your internet coverage, speed, and the resource servers.
With these many factors in play, unless technology experiences a breakthrough in compression methods or remittance of data, users will have to suffer from it. But what is buffering? We can explain it as a process that allows data to be front-loaded before it gets converted into a readable format in front of the user. Today, buffering majorly exists while transmitting video files due to the large amount of data it processes. A file with a smaller size doesn’t buffer because the front-loading is pretty quick. Hence, buffering allows a video file to front-load before it plays, providing smoother streaming without pause or stutters.
It happens before the beginning of a video or occasionally between the playtime, to catch up with the cached data. However, excessive buffering can be tedious. It is a direct result of a slow internet connection. Although many factors play into it, we can’t downplay the importance of connection speed when talking about buffering. If your internet is fast enough to keep up with the playback, it is unnecessary. But the internet is vast, and the data packets that travel from the video server/source to your device have to cross multiple relays. The routing itself happens instantaneously.
However, the packets can get delayed at any juncture due to numerous reasons, resulting in buffering. To sum it up: buffering allows a streaming video or media file to get downloaded while the user is still accessing it. It works by pre-downloading and caching the file; by temporarily storing it on your device memory. However, this buffer allows users to enjoy a video without downloading it and has made streaming easy and accessible. But it depends on your internet speed and causes a headache if it is slow.
Can a VPN be the reason for buffering?
In simple words, yes, a VPN can cause buffering. But that is not the only reason behind it. As a fact, lots of factors contribute to buffering, such as:
- Quality of your internet connection
- The loss of data packets in transit
- High ping
- Latency
- Bandwidth limitation
- ISP throttling
- Mediocre Wi-Fi router
- Resource server congestion
- Network congestion
- Numerous devices using the same network
Thus, buffering can’t directly correlate to VPNs, even though they slow down internet speed. VPN allows VPN clients to connect to the remotely located VPN servers over the internet. Thus, the data packet that travels to the target website can get routed around the globe. It increases latency. VPNs employ encryption and decryption of data, which results in high consumption of computing abilities. It also consumes more “strength”. Hence, a VPN directly affects the speed of your internet connection. Thus, if you stream videos on a VPN connection, chances are it will buffer. Some reasons behind VPNs causing buffering:
- Small server network
- Unsaturated server location
- High latency
- Low bandwidth
- Poor virtual servers
- Lack of advanced features like Port forwarding
- Outdated or slower security protocols
How to prevent buffering?
We put together a list of potential remedies to counter buffering on their devices, irrespective of VPNs:
- Try to clear your cache memory and RAM.
- Users can either close background apps that consume data or restart the device
- You can always pause the video stream for a couple of minutes to handle buffering
- Use a source with less crowding
- Enhance your internet connection
- Either contact your ISP or subscribe to a better plan
- Don’t crowd your network by granting access to unrecognized devices
- Some videos are resource hungry. Ensure your graphics card drivers are up-to-date
- Try to use a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi
- Upgrade your router to one capable of using a 5 GHz band
- Don’t overload your browser with unnecessary extensions
- Reduce the video quality
- Don’t share your Wi-Fi password
How to use a VPN to stop buffering
Despite VPNs inducing buffering, you can use them to enhance your streaming experience. VPN may not necessarily cause buffering if you:
Change VPN providers
The easiest solution is to scrap your old provider and employ a new one. Not all VPNs are equal. Some focus on privacy, while some aim for a balanced experience. However, there are vendors with excellent streaming performance. Users can use a VPN with relevant features like Smart DNS and port forwarding. Also, try to go for a service with a global presence and a sufficient network. You can also find those with the latest protocols. All in all, a good VPN would do the trick.
Tweak VPN settings
A VPN will detect and employ the best setting automatically. However, sometimes it may not be enough as the issue requires fine-tuning. Thus, changing your VPN settings can be a solution. You can always change your VPN’s security setting to alter the port or use another protocol. Some recommended changes are:
- When using OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), use port 1194
- Enable SSH connections on any port
- Similarly, use SSL encryption
- You can also use port 80 or try a higher port like 41185
You may also:
- Use an SSL/TLS tunnel — SSL is a reliable tunneling protocol that can overcome throttling and reduce buffering. Similarly, a VPN with Stunnel or SSL (Secure Socket Layer) can enhance your streaming experience.
- Change the VPN protocol — You may give up security for speed. Some protocols like WireGuard offer the best of both worlds. You can also use the obsolete PPTP for the fastest streaming experience or the much conservative L2TP/IPsec.