What is packet loss?
Understand what packet loss is, how much is acceptable and why it hurts games and calls more than videos.
Everything that travels over the internet is split into small pieces called packets. When some of them don't arrive, we have packet loss.
Why videos suffer less
Streaming services load a few seconds ahead and request again what was lost. In calls and games there's no time: the lost piece simply disappears.
How much is acceptable
0% is ideal. Up to 1% usually goes unnoticed. From 2% to 5%, calls sound robotic. Beyond that, the experience is poor.
Common causes
Weak Wi-Fi signal or interference, damaged cables, an overloaded router and temporary problems on the provider's network. If loss continues on a cable, consider contacting your provider.
Put it into practice
Test packet loss →