Best Router Settings for Streaming: QoS, Bands, DNS and More

Most routers work fine straight out of the box. But a few settings can make a real difference for streaming — especially in busy households where the TV competes with gaming, video calls and downloads.

Here are the best router settings for streaming, what each one does, and which ones you can safely ignore. If you haven’t yet, check that your plan is fast enough using our guide to internet speed for streaming.

Before you start

• Find the admin page or app. It’s usually printed on a sticker on the router, or there’s a companion phone app.
• Change one setting at a time and test streaming afterwards.
• Write down original values so you can undo changes.
• Know how to factory reset — usually a pinhole button held for 10+ seconds.

1. Update the firmware

Firmware is the router’s operating system. Updates fix bugs, improve Wi-Fi performance and close security holes.

• Look for Firmware update or System → Update.
• Turn on automatic updates if the option exists.
• Provider-supplied routers often update automatically.

This is the lowest-effort, highest-value setting on the list.

2. Use QoS or device priority

Quality of Service (QoS) tells the router which traffic matters most when the connection is busy.

Common forms:

• Device priority — mark your TV or streaming box as high priority.
• Application priority — prioritise “video streaming” over “downloads”.
• Smart/adaptive QoS — the router detects traffic types automatically.

When QoS helps

Situation	QoS benefit
Large downloads while streaming	High
Gaming and streaming at once	High
Several people on video calls	Medium
Light use on a fast connection	Low

Some QoS systems ask you to enter your connection speed. Use a figure slightly below your measured speed, so the router manages the queue rather than your provider.

3. Choose the right Wi-Fi band

Most routers broadcast 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, and newer ones add 6 GHz.

• Band steering (one network name for all bands) is convenient and usually works.
• If a TV keeps landing on 2.4 GHz, split the bands into separate names temporarily, connect the TV to 5 GHz, then decide whether to recombine.

Our guide to improving Wi-Fi for streaming explains when each band is the better choice.

4. Set channel and channel width sensibly

Channels

Automatic channel selection is fine for most homes. In crowded buildings, use a Wi-Fi analyser app to find a quieter channel:

• 2.4 GHz: use 1, 6 or 11.
• 5 GHz: choose a channel with few neighbouring networks.

Channel width

Wider channels (80 or 160 MHz on 5 GHz) are faster but more prone to interference. If streaming is unstable in a crowded area, try 80 MHz instead of 160 MHz. On 2.4 GHz, 20 MHz is usually the most reliable.

5. Decide on DNS

DNS translates names into server addresses. A slow DNS server can make apps take longer to load menus and start playback.

• Your provider’s DNS is usually fine and can help route you to nearby content servers.
• Public DNS services are an alternative if your provider’s DNS is slow or unreliable.
• Changing DNS won’t increase streaming speed; it only affects how quickly connections begin.

If you change DNS, do it on the router so every device benefits, and test whether apps genuinely feel faster.

6. Turn on WMM (if it’s off)

Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) is a built-in Wi-Fi feature that prioritises video and voice traffic. It’s on by default on almost every router and required for modern Wi-Fi speeds. If you find it switched off, turn it back on.

7. Enable IPv6 if your provider supports it

Many providers and streaming services support IPv6. Leaving it enabled (often the default) is generally best. If you see unusual connection problems with a specific app, temporarily disabling IPv6 is a known troubleshooting step — but turn it back on if it makes no difference.

8. Schedule restarts

Some routers let you schedule an automatic restart, for example at 4 am once a week. This clears memory and can prevent the slow-down some routers develop over long uptimes.

9. Keep the network secure

Security settings protect your streaming accounts and your bandwidth:

• Change the default admin password on the router.
• Use WPA3 (or WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode) Wi-Fi security.
• Use a strong Wi-Fi password and change it if too many people know it.
• Turn off WPS if you don’t use it.
• Put smart home gadgets on a guest network if your router supports it.

An unsecured network lets others use your bandwidth — slowing your streams. Our guide to streaming account security covers protecting the accounts themselves.

Settings you can usually ignore

• Transmit power — leave at maximum unless advised otherwise.
• Beamforming — on by default and helpful; no need to touch it.
• MU-MIMO / OFDMA — leave enabled on modern routers.
• Port forwarding — not needed for streaming apps.

Example: a console update ruins movie night

A common situation: the lounge TV buffers whenever a games console downloads a large update. On routers with these features, the fix takes a few minutes in the router app:

1. Mark the streaming box as a high-priority device.
2. Enable smart QoS with the connection speed set slightly below the measured speed.
3. Schedule console updates for the early hours.

The TV can then hold its quality during downloads, and the console still gets its updates overnight.

Provider routers vs your own

Routers supplied by internet providers are improving, but some have limited settings. If yours lacks QoS, band options or decent range:

• Check whether your provider offers a newer model for free.
• Use a mesh system in “access point” mode alongside the provider’s router.
• Or replace it with your own router, if your provider allows it — keep the original in case you need to return it.

A quick settings checklist

• Firmware up to date, auto-update on
• TV or streaming box set to high priority (QoS)
• TV connected to 5 GHz (or wired)
• Sensible channel and channel width
• WMM enabled
• Strong admin and Wi-Fi passwords, WPA3/WPA2
• Optional weekly scheduled restart

Still buffering?

If router settings don’t solve it, the cause may be distance, interference or your broadband line. Compare a wired connection with Wi-Fi in Wi-Fi vs Ethernet for streaming, then work through our step-by-step guide on how to stop buffering.