1y ago

TIL why YouTube buffers when my network is fine. Set network to prefer IPv4 or disable IPv6

learn.microsoft.com

Configure IPv6 for advanced users - Windows Server

I have 2ms ping to YouTube and my network is wired 1gbit so it was odd to get so many buffering issues. So i did a search and this solution immediately solved the buffering issue! Prefer IPv4 or disable IPv6 and it's buttery smooth

29 comments

Youtube recently implemented malicious design to make it lag when you don't have premium and/or an Ad blocker
- I thought this was only an issue with Adblock or Adblock Plus
  Edit: Switched to Nitter
  
  Just an fyi, any still functioning nitter instance won't work much longer. Even the one you posted is already rate limited.
  
  You’re 100% correct but people keep spreading this nonsense…
- I have Premium and have been experiencing numerous buffering issues lately. Fingers crossed that this fix works.
  
  Do you still have an ad blocker on? It wouldn't surprise me that even with a premium they still messed up.
  I'm asking because even when you authorize ads on YouTube by deactivating or even uninstalling your adblocker it still blocks videos, so I'm not convinced that premium removes all their malicious move tbh.
I think this is specific to your network. The only time I’ve seen a difference between them it’s been the other way around, and IPv6 has been around for long enough that I think breakage related to IPv4 hackery will be more common than early-adopter IPv6 breakage.
Random question: You’re not on Verizon by any chance, are you?
- The default ipv6 issue was mostly when I try to play 8k HDR 60fps on youtube. 4k is BARELY fine (maybe very close when 4k HDR 60)
  
  Yes, I understand that you're having issues with IPv6. You're not on Verizon by any chance, are you?
Maybe look at your router if you're using the ISP provided one—I still come across ISP provided routers that have weird issues with their IPv6 support.
- Well, things are working fine now. I found the solution from a locked Reddit thread
  
  Fair play, if it works, it works. One to keep in your back pocket if you ever have issues with anything that needs IPv6 in the future.
You haven't really explained "why", it's just that there are two roads to YouTube and nobody complains when IPv6 is faster.
- Scroll down in comments
Thanks for sharing! Disabling IPv6 fixed my buffering problems on Apple TV, wired with Premium. I suspected my pi-hole initialy. Its insane that Google is apparently incapable to properly network their services.. even if you pay for them.
- I'm glad you found this helpful. Is there a way to set preferred ipv4 on Apple ecosystem rather than fully disabling ipv6?
  
  I haven‘t gone that route, I disabled it at router level. Might look into disabling it on VLAN basis and moving the Apple TV into a specific one with IPv6 disabled.
Wow, I just rando browse this site and came upon this. Ten minutes later I am seeing a REMARKABLE improvement in my internet performance. Thank you!
- IDK if this helps Internet performance on other sites, maybe it would lol? I do have buffer issues on other streaming websites but i thought that was because they have bad infrastructure(small web sites, some may pirate stuff) Edit: Ok I just tested several other streaming platforms/sites and they all have improved after setting pref ipv4, no more buffering issues!!!
Thank you for this. Your link is for Windows Server, its subtly different for standard Windows 10/11, I found this link that directed me what to do here; https://kb.firedaemon.com/support/solutions/articles/4000160803-prioritising-ipv4-over-ipv6-on-windows-10-and-11
I've just done it, hopefully this will sort all the buffering issues I've been having not just with Youtube but Deezer too
If you are using Firefox or any of the forks or an adblocker; that's probably why it's buffering. Freetube or NewPipe is the way to go.
- I'm still main on chrome atm. I use firefox as well but there are some features on Chrome that's not on firefox. Nvidia RTX video enhancement super resolution works on chrome but not firefox. Also HDR doesn't work on firefox =/ Oh just did a side by side test on the same video, YouTube does not give firefox the option for 8k or HDR, max is 4k 60fps on firefox.

29 comments