Packet loss

Online games send information in small chunks called packets – your position, your button presses, what other players are doing. Packet loss means some of those packets go missing on the way. Even a small percentage of lost packets can cause problems, because the game is missing information it needs to stay in sync.

Packet loss is often confused with high ping, but they are different. Ping is about how long data takes to arrive; packet loss is about data not arriving at all. You can have low ping and still suffer packet loss.

Symptoms to look out for

• Rubber-banding: your character snaps back to where they were a moment ago.
• Actions that do not register, such as shots or button presses that seem to vanish.
• Other players teleporting, freezing or moving jerkily.
• Voice chat cutting in and out.
• Disconnections in severe cases.

Many games include a network statistics option that shows packet loss, sometimes as a percentage or warning icon.

Common causes

Weak or congested Wi-Fi is the most common cause at home, especially through thick walls or with many devices connected. Faulty cables, an overloaded router, problems with the broadband line, or congestion further along the internet route can also be responsible. Sometimes the problem is with the game’s servers, in which case other players will usually report the same issue at the same time.

What to try

Start with the simplest steps: move closer to the router or use a wired connection, restart the router, and pause large downloads on other devices. If you use powerline adapters or mesh Wi-Fi, check they are working properly. If packet loss persists across different games and devices, your broadband provider can test the line. If it only happens in one game at certain times, check the game’s official status page for server problems.