A method, performed by a server, for providing, to a client device, media segments from multiple variant streams, the method comprising: providing, to the client device, a variant playlist file that identifies a plurality of variant streams each corresponding to a different encoding of a same media presentation; tracking sequence numbers of a first set of media segments downloaded by the client device, wherein media segments of the first set of media segments are encoded at a first encoded bitrate and are identified in a first playlist file for a first variant stream identified in the variant playlist file; receiving, from the client device, a request for a second playlist file that identifies a plurality of media segments from a second variant stream, from the plurality of variant streams encoded at a second encoded bitrate; responsive to the second encoded bitrate being higher than the first encoded bitrate: determining a number of media segments to include in a set of media segments from the second variant stream that correspond to the tracked set of media segments already downloaded by the client device, the number determined based on an amount of network bandwidth available for the client device; identifying, for the second playlist file, the set of media segments from the second variant stream that correspond to the tracked set of media segments already downloaded by the client device, the set of media segments from the second variant stream amounting to the determined number; and providing, to the client device, the second playlist file that identifies the plurality of media segments from the second variant stream including the set of media segments from the second variant stream that correspond to the tracked set of media segments already downloaded by the client device; and responsive to the second encoded bitrate being lower than the first encoded bitrate, providing, to the client device, the second playlist file that identifies the plurality of media segments from the second variant stream, wherein the second playlist file identifies only media segments having sequence numbers that exceed a highest sequence number of the media segments, from the first variant stream, downloaded by the client device. providing, to the client device, a variant playlist file that identifies a plurality of variant streams each corresponding to a different encoding of a same media presentation; tracking sequence numbers of a first set of media segments downloaded by the client device, wherein media segments of the first set of media segments are encoded at a first encoded bitrate and are identified in a first playlist file for a first variant stream identified in the variant playlist file; receiving, from the client device, a request for a second playlist file that identifies a plurality of media segments from a second variant stream, from the plurality of variant streams encoded at a second encoded bitrate; responsive to the second encoded bitrate being higher than the first encoded bitrate: determining a number of media segments to include in a set of media segments from the second variant stream that correspond to the tracked set of media segments already downloaded by the client device, the number determined based on an amount of network bandwidth available for the client device; identifying, for the second playlist file, the set of media segments from the second variant stream that correspond to the tracked set of media segments already downloaded by the client device, the set of media segments from the second variant stream amounting to the determined number; and providing, to the client device, the second playlist file that identifies the plurality of media segments from the second variant stream including the set of media segments from the second variant stream that correspond to the tracked set of media segments already downloaded by the client device; and determining a number of media segments to include in a set of media segments from the second variant stream that correspond to the tracked set of media segments already downloaded by the client device, the number determined based on an amount of network bandwidth available for the client device; identifying, for the second playlist file, the set of media segments from the second variant stream that correspond to the tracked set of media segments already downloaded by the client device, the set of media segments from the second variant stream amounting to the determined number; and providing, to the client device, the second playlist file that identifies the plurality of media segments from the second variant stream including the set of media segments from the second variant stream that correspond to the tracked set of media segments already downloaded by the client device; and responsive to the second encoded bitrate being lower than the first encoded bitrate, providing, to the client device, the second playlist file that identifies the plurality of media segments from the second variant stream, wherein the second playlist file identifies only media segments having sequence numbers that exceed a highest sequence number of the media segments, from the first variant stream, downloaded by the client device.