Summer is upon us, baseball is in full swing, and if you’re opting to stream any games this season, you must ensure your internet connection is up to par. (Yes, I realize I just mixed my sports metaphors.) No one wants to lag and miss a late-inning home run to the tune of your neighbors cheering upstairs.

The hard truth is that when you’re streaming significant events at the same time as everyone else, there will always be a bit of lag or delay. There’s not much that you — or your neighbors — can do about that collective baseline lag. It’s just a consequence of how our internet connections work. But if your neighbors upstairs consistently seem several seconds ahead of you, odds are that your home network might be slowing you down. 

You can optimize your internet in a few quick steps, which I’ll walk you through below. If you still struggle with slow streaming speeds, you may have to make long-term changes, like upgrading your Wi-Fi router. But for now, let’s focus on easy, quick improvements you can tackle in just a few days.

Run a speed test

The first step to getting a faster internet connection is to figure out what internet speed you’re actually getting. I have a sneaking suspicion that many of you aren’t sure what speed you should be getting. If you’re not certain, check your account online and verify what speed you’re paying for.

Next, run a simple internet speed test to determine whether you’re getting sufficient download and upload speeds in the room where your TV is located. The best, most thorough approach is to run multiple tests at different times of day to get a complete picture of your connection’s speed. Why? Average download and upload speeds vary depending on how congested the network is, so make sure you’re aware of factors like that when testing.

There are plenty of free internet speed tests, but I most frequently use the Ookla speed test. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) I’ve got the app on my Apple TV and can see the results on my LG TV, but you can also run it in your browser or by using a free speed test app on your Android or iOS device.

In our CNET guide to how much internet speed you really need, we recommend a minimum of 25Mbps for streaming 4K video per FCC guidelines, so that’s your starting point. Overall, most households should aim for minimum download speeds of at least 100Mbps, if speeds like those are available and affordable at your address, especially considering the number of smart devices connected in our homes (which we’ll touch on just below). 

Now that you’ve tested your speeds, compare them to the speeds you’re paying for. If the numbers are far off, it might make sense to contact your internet service provider and find out if something is awry on that end, or if possible, you could even try to negotiate a faster plan for less money than you’re paying now. If you’ve been with your ISP for a while, you may be surprised to discover that better, cheaper plans are now available. 

Check your layout

Wi-Fi is incredibly convenient, but it could slow you down if your equipment isn’t centrally located. Put simply, the farther away from the modem and router your streaming device is, the lower its wireless speeds will be. If speeds are low enough, you’ll start to see buffering as the streaming device struggles to pull the video content over the air fast enough to show it to you in real time. For context, my colleague at CNET pays for gigabit speeds but wasn’t getting those speeds until she optimized her Wi-Fi setup.

I mentioned earlier that I ran my Ookla speed test from my Apple TV. My wife and I decided to connect our Apple TV directly to our router via an Ethernet cable instead of using a Wi-Fi connection. We wanted our streaming services — Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV Plus, etc. — to access the fastest speeds in our house, which isn’t possible via Wi-Fi. If you can manage to configure it that way, a wired Ethernet connection will boost the speeds of any device you connect to, like your TV.

If you cannot connect via Ethernet cable, the next best option is to watch the show on a device or TV in the same room as your modem and router. The less distance between your router and your Wi-Fi streaming device, the better your chances for uninterrupted performance.

Use your router to check your household bandwidth usage

If you’re still encountering problems even though your download speeds seem to be up to snuff, you may be having trouble with your router. The first thing to try is the oldest trick of turning it off and back on again. I know that can be frustrating to hear, especially if you’ve ever asked for help from anyone in tech services and the first response is, “Have you unplugged it and plugged it back in?”

The truth is, sometimes it can be that easy — restarting your router helps it reset and function better.

Something else worth considering is the number of people and devices using your network. We mentioned earlier that the ideal download speed for streaming 4K video is 25Mbps, but each device on your network uses bandwidth, making it harder for your TV to consistently get the needed 25Mbps.

Our homes are now filled with a myriad of connected devices, including mobile phones, laptops and smart TVs. There are also gaming consoles, security cameras, voice assistants, connected speakers/sound systems, smart thermostats, smartwatches and countless other smart home gadgets. These are all vying for bandwidth.

Take an inventory of the smart devices in your household and, with your partner, roommate, kids or whoever else is at your abode, agree on what can be temporarily removed from your network to allow a less congested network as you try to stream your favorite programming.

On that note, if you have people in the home who want to watch something different than the live event you want to stream — consult with them beforehand and see if you can come up with a list of shows or movies that can be downloaded before your event. Maybe download some episodes of Bluey for the kids. Or perhaps your roommates would enjoy binge-watching some episodes of Severance or classic episodes of The Office. Whatever it may be, take the time to get your household on board and those alternatives downloaded early, and you can avoid strife, arguments and backed-up bandwidth during your live event.

Run a final checklist

OK, you’ve done several practice runs. Now it’s Go Time. Just before your live event is about to start, it’s time to run through the steps one last time to ensure your internet is ready.

Rerun that speed test

The fantastic download speeds you registered several days prior won’t do you any good if they’re lacking on the day you need them most. It’s always wise to check your download speed before marking off any other items on your list.

Return to your router and double-check the bandwidth status

If your speeds are slow, run back through that checklist: Can you remove any smart devices from your network? Do you need to remind other family members to stick to the game plan and hop off the streaming services or gaming sites? Ensuring everything is in order before the event starts will help minimize any lag and frustrations during the event.

Now you’re set to get the best experience possible for your home’s current setup. You’ve done all you can. So, sit back, grab your ice-cold beverage and a bowl of your favorite snacks and enjoy!

Don’t suffer the buffer FAQs