It is possible that subscribers may occasionally encounter buffering issues with Paramount Plus. In fact, buffering issues can arise when watching any streaming service simply due to the nature of streaming content over an internet connection. However, if the buffering is happening too often and proving too problematic then it is worth trying to determine what might be causing the issue in the first place.
Paramount+ brings together shows and movies from multiple popular networks making it a good subscription for many individuals and households, but Paramount Plus is not without its issues. Even if a subscriber has an officially supported device, they may still run into performance and streaming-related problems, with a very common one being buffering.
All streaming services buffer videos to some degree as this makes it easier to watch episodes and movies without interruptions. However, sometimes buffering issues can become so bad that they are actually the cause of interruptions. If frequent and aggressive enough, the disruptions can ruin the experience and even put a subscriber off using the service altogether. There could be a few reasons why buffering is proving a problem for an individual or household with the actual internet connection one of the possible causes.
If Paramount Plus subscribers are encountering streaming issues due to buffering then it is worth making sure there are no problems with the internet connection before checking anything else. To be honest, this probably won’t be the issue. If the internet was the problem, the user would most likely encounter similar buffering issues with other streaming apps as well. Still, it is always worth checking to rule it out as a cause. Officially, Paramount+ requires an internet connection of at least 4 Mbps, and there are multiple speed test services available online which can help to determine the speed a device is getting. If it is too low, then the problem may be with the internet connection, even if other apps seem to work fine.
The device could be the issue
It is possible that the device being used to watch Paramount+ is causing a buffering issue. Specifically, the Paramount+ app for that device. To be clear there have been multiple reports of users experiencing the problem on different devices, but the frequency of reports seems to be somewhat higher with certain devices, including PlayStation 4 consoles, smart TVs and Amazon’s Fire TV Stick.
This does not mean that any of these devices are guaranteed to encounter buffering issues. However, if using one of them and buffering is a problem, it is possible that the issue is with the Paramount+ app installed on the device. One quick thing to check is if there is an update available for the app and applying it. If not, closing the app, clearing the cache, and re-launching the app again might help. If that doesn’t fix the buffering, it may also be worth uninstalling the app and reinstalling a fresh version to see if that improves the buffering situation.
Of course, trying to access Paramount+ on a totally different device is also a possibility, and a good one. Although this might be inconvenient, it is a good way to rule out issues with the home internet and Paramount+ itself. For example, if encountering too much buffering when watching on a smart TV, but a streaming player, smartphone, or desktop works fine, the subscriber can probably assume the issue is with the original device or the app installed on the device. In this case, and if the app reinstalling doesn’t work, it might just be better to use a different device to watch Paramount+.
Ads could also be a reason
It is quite difficult to say definitively that any one thing is the reason, as buffering can be caused by a number of factors. For example, and as already discussed, the internet connection and/or the device could be the cause of the problem. However, there are other reasons why an individual may encounter buffering, including ad blockers and even ads.
Paramount+ has a pretty aggressive stance against things like ad blockers. After all, it is an ad-supported service. While there is also an ad-free option available, even ad-free Paramount+ subscribers may still occasionally encounter ads. The main point here is that Paramount+ does check if an ad blocker is present. These checks, as well as the moments when an ad might otherwise be inserted, could potentially be causing buffering issues. To be clear, there isn’t an official suggestion that ads are linked to buffering issues, but the possibility remains nonetheless.
In principle, if using an ad blocker, Paramount+ should automatically stop videos from playing. However, if the video plays, it may result in streaming issues including buffering. Obviously, a fix to this situation would be to simple disable or remove the ad blocker. If no ad blocker is in use, but the subscriber is signed up to the ad-free plan, the issue could be related to the various checks that the ad-free version makes. In this case, it could be worth downgrading to the ad-supported plan to see if there’s any improvement. Although, those subscribers would then need to sit through ad breaks instead of the buffering periods.
Paramount+ buffering summary
There are many reasons why a Paramount+ subscriber might be encountering buffering issues, but some possibilities are more likely than others. As is the case with any streaming service, if the internet connection is too slow then the possibility of buffering issues is increased. Therefore, checking the internet with a speed test, restarting the router if needed, and checking whether buffering problems are present with other services, can all help to determine whether the quality of the internet connection is sufficient. Alternatively, the device could be the issue.
While other subscribers may be using the same device and not encountering streaming problems, the app could still be an issue. The easiest way to verify this is by streaming Paramount+ on another supported device. If there are no buffering issues on a different device, then the problem can be traced back to the original device. Lastly, the plan itself might also be causing the problem. Whether on the ad-supported or ad-free Paramount+ plan, switching to the other option might be worth trying to see if there’s any difference. Of course, this will result in ad-supported subscribers paying more, or ad-free subscribers having to sit through ads, but it may still be worth it if the buffering problem is currently making Paramount+ videos unwatchable.
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