Living in the age of digital technology, we have access to numerous entertainment websites with Netflix being the best of them. Watching shows on Netflix extends far beyond just entertainment. This platform not only provides us with thousands of movie titles but also documentaries, comedy shows, and classic films. Binge-watching shows on the weekend has become an important ritual for many people.
When it comes to watching movies on Netflix, the only dilemma that people face is the issue of slow internet speed. Despite the fact that you are paying a high price for your internet service, it is easy to find yourself exasperated with slow internet speeds. If you are suffering through this particular problem, then it is time to make sure that you are getting the right internet speed for your Netflix-entertainment needs.
The very first step is to have an idea about how much internet speed you need in order to stream a high-definition movie on Netflix. 4K movies consume a lot of data, which is why you will need a decent internet service that can cope up with the quality of the film. According to Netflix itself, these are the internet speeds that you need for a buffer-free movie experience:
| Speed Requirement | Video Quality |
| 0.5 MBPS | Normal Quality |
| 1.5 MBPS | Normal Quality |
| 3.0 MBPS | SD Quality |
| 5.0 MBPS | HD Quality |
| 25 MBPS | Ultra HD Quality |
In order to watch movies in HD quality, make sure that you have subscribed to the Netflix HD plan. Do not forget to set the video quality setting from low to high or auto. All the titles will play in HD as long as you have a connection of at least 5 Mbps.
How to manage bandwidth usage?
When watching movies on Netflix, bear in mind that higher quality videos will consume more bandwidth than lower-quality videos. So, unlike spectrum, if your service provider is offering you limited bandwidth, change the video settings to low or medium. This will help you save your data and it will last for the entire month.
How to check your connection speed?
You can easily check the speed of your internet connection through the following steps:
- Launch the Netflix app and go to the home screen.
- Navigate to the Settings page.
Please note: In case you do not see the gear icon, your device does not support this speed-checking feature. - Select your network.
- Netflix will automatically verify that you can connect to the network and it will also check the speed of your connection.
- Once the test is complete, the results will be displayed on your screen. Make sure that your internet connection meets the speed requirements as indicated by Netflix.
Fortunately, we live in an era where internet speeds are increasing on a daily basis. Every now and then, companies launch a new package, which offers a little more speed than the previous one. According to Ookla, the average download speed jumped to 95 Mbps, which is a 35% increase from last year. Similarly, there was an increase in the upload speed as well which matters a lot if you are a hard-core gamer.
If you are facing the problem of slow internet speed, try changing your modem or router. The older versions do not support high-speed internet. Plus, they do not have a wide Wi-Fi range. If this technique does not work, try rebooting your modem by unplugging the power cable. Wait for 30 seconds before plugging the modem again. Sometimes, simply restarting the modem can help resolve the issue. Make sure that you place your modem in an open area. Concrete walls and other electronics intercept with the signals, which is why you do not receive healthy signals.
People who are still complaining about slow internet speeds should consider changing their provider. Internet speed is rapidly growing and nowadays, even the rural areas have access to high-speed internet connectivity. You can check the speed of your connection by visiting www.speedtest.net. Make sure that you test your connection on a regular basis. After all, you have to ensure that you are getting the speed for which you are paying your provider.
