How To Stream With Bad Internet? Quick Guide

Wondering how to stream with bad internet and how to optimize the issue?

You have visited the right post.

Here we will list some quick ways to optimize your stream when you’re having bad internet and then grant you some useful tips on how to improve your connection.

Stick around as we explain how to improve the quality of your video without actually having to troubleshoot your connection.

It is known that the optimal image resolution on the video you are streaming is 720×1280, but if your internet connection is bad and you want your stream to run well, you have to consider lowering your resolution down to 640×80.

This way you will still have a smoothly running stream at the cost of bad resolution on your video.

This method sure is effective, but keep reading in order to learn not only how to stream with bad internet, but also possibly improve your internet connection.

Let us now learn the methods in detail!

How To Stream With Slow Internet Connection?

Having a slow internet connection could be really frustrating at some point, especially if you are streaming online in any streaming app.

On most of the streaming platforms, the recommended internet speed is 3Mbps which will eventually result in the lowest resolution possible.

In contrast, if you are seeking the quality of Ultra HD/4K, the minimum recommended speed is 25Mbps.

There are many different approaches to stream proper video while having slow internet speed and most of them include some basic steps which are relatively easy to follow.

Keep reading as we list some of the most efficient methods to achieve quality stream while having a bad internet connection.

Read Next: Learn how to stop buffering while streaming online.

Method #1 Lower the Image Quality

As mentioned above, decreasing the image quality of the device you are currently using will result in a smoother stream, but lower resolution.

Some of you think that the stream should lag and run in a high resolution instead of running smoothly on really bad quality.

From the viewer’s perspective, having a smoother stream is definitely the right choice.

Changing the resolution of your video differs in every streaming platform but the result is always the same.

You don’t need to worry if your streaming app is foreign or widely popular, because the result is logical.

Lowering the image quality consumes less network, and a slow connection will be able to handle it.

Method #2 Lower Video Format of Compression

When selecting the correct video format for your stream, things could eventually get quite technical, so we recommend you stick with the three video formats down below.

Each and every compression format has its pros and cons, but some of them are quite effective, especially you are trying to stream with bad internet.

We will now provide you with the three compression formats that are most effective when having a slow connection.

The three formats you choose from when having a slow connection are:

• H.264
• MJPEG
• MPEG4

Let’s say you are streaming on Twitch TV and the handiest format for your situation is the H.264, compression format.

This format does not need that much bandwidth in comparison with the other two and will surely share similar image quality to the end of your stream.

The plus of this format has a wide range of applications we can freely admit that it can handle HDTV broadcasts, low-bit rate internet streaming, and stream applications.

It contributes to reducing bandwidth usage and so you can use this format for higher pictures and integrate great streaming audio.

When it comes down to the other 2 compression formats, they are also quite useful in such situations but could also require more bandwidth compared to the H.264 format.

If you can’t choose the H.264 format for your stream, feel free to select the MJPEG or the MPEG4 format which are also a good choice when your internet is not that good.

If you still haven’t gotten familiar with how to stream using bad internet, make sure to scroll and attempt all three formats on your stream to identify which one performs best.

Method #3 OBS Settings

We assume that you’re using the OBS, which is the most popular streaming platform.

If you are using another application to stream online, the same options should be available in the settings.

The steps below apply particularly to the OBS Studio software which is used on a PC.

To improve the stream quality follow the steps:

• Open the Settings on your Open Broadcast Software (OBS).
• Change the Video tab.
• Change the Resolution & Output of your stream down to 1280x720p.
• Use Bilianier for the downscale filter.
• Use 25 frames for the Integer Value (FPS).

To get the most out of OBS when it comes down to a bad internet connection, you will also have to change some of the advanced output settings that you might not be quite familiar with.

This is why we have listed some straightforward methods in order to improve the quality of your stream while struggling with a bad connection.

• Through the Output menu, use simple for the output mode.
• Use 1000 bitrate value.
• Differ the encoder to Software (x264).
• For the recording quality choose, FLV to be your recording format from now on.

Now after having your output settings corrected, head to the advanced settings tab in your OBS studio and follow the step below:

• Click on Advanced (should be located on the top left of your screen).
• Beneath the stream delay, make sure that  “Enabled” is checked.
• Set the duration for 20 seconds.

Once ready go ahead and try to stream now.

Check if how your stream performs now and if all the settings and configurations are now applied.

Still, Wondering How to Stream with Bad Internet?

If none of the above tips did help to improve your stream when using bad internet, we have listed some alternative methods for you to try.

Method #1 Change Your Current Browser

When having a slow connection, the browser will benefit from the limited connection to send requests before returning the stream.

There is a great possibility for this to be the main reason you are experiencing buffering when posting a stream online.

Choosing another browser for your streams can create a noticeable difference in the loading time of the page.

Method #2 Lower Your Frame Rate

A great method to troubleshoot any buffering when having a slow connection speed is to lower the frame rate of your stream.

Many modern cameras will allow you a frame rate starting from 1 up to 30, and your online streaming will become more flexible with these possibilities.

When streaming with greater FPS, more bandwidth is consumed, and this could result in buffering if you are struggling with slow internet speed.

Lowering your FPS will eventually save bandwidth and would work great with a slower connection

But it definitely isn’t the best approach as this could result in your video being choppy.

Bottom Line

We hope that we have answered the question of how to stream with bad internet in detail and acknowledged you for anything that may hide within the process.

Every method of making your stream runnable with a slow connection has its pros and cons.

But it will eventually help the video you are currently streaming run without interruptions and the annoying buffering.

If you are interested in more technical content, head to our blog where you will find many interesting articles to read.