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Fix: Internet Speed is Fast, but Video Calls are Slow
Can’t stand buffering? Change your Wi-Fi channels
5 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
When it comes to video calls, the quality of the connection can make or break the experience. Even with a high-speed internet connection, you may still experience some video lag and freeze.
If this is the case, restarting the affected video chat application should do the job, but if it doesn’t, you’ll have to attempt more advanced troubleshooting.
So why would a video call have poor video quality if there are no issues with bandwidth or connectivity? With video calling, both people are sending and receiving data at all times, so you’ll need much more throughput to get good-quality video calls than you do for standard video streaming.
However, aslow internet connectionis not the only factor that can degrade your video meetings. Low upload speeds, Wi-Fi interference, andnetwork congestionalso play a part. Further, if yourcomputer is running low on memoryand can’t allocate enough resources to the call, it will have the same effect.
What can I do if my video calls are choppy even though the internet works fine?
Try the following basic workarounds before attempting the somewhat technical solutions:
1. Switch to a faster GHz band
It’s important to note that not all PCs are compatible with 5GHz Wi-Fi. To counter this limitation, you canupgrade to Windows 11,upgrade your PC, or switch to atri-band router.
2. Remove bandwidth limits
3. Update your graphics card
And because Windows can sometimes fail to find the right driver, you need assistance from a third-party tool.Outbyte Driver Updateris a powerful, easy-to-use software that automatically identifies your system and finds all problematic drivers in just a few minutes.
It will then download & install the latest official drivers to help your computer speed up.
OutByte
4. Adjust your graphic settings
If you have an older PC that cannot handle the undue pressure on the CPU, it’s best to forego this step and adjust your resolution settings from HD video to something like 480p. It may not be a high-quality video, but it’s decent enough to hold an online meeting.
5. Reset your network
6. Enable your VPN
7. Change Wi-Fi channels
If there’s too much congestion on the channel your device currently uses for its Wi-Fi connection and you have access to more than one Wi-Fi network, go to another channel and see if that gives you a better connection.
You can manually switch channels on most devices, but we recommendusing Wi-Fi scannersto see available channels and set you up with the least crowded one.
Why are video conferencing apps dropping my internet down?
Most internet providers offer speeds that can only handle a certain amount of bandwidth usage before they start getting overwhelmed and slowing down everyone’s connection. The only fix here is to limit the number of connected devices or ask your Internet Service Provider to increase your bandwidth.
Video conferencing apps also require a constant stream of data to be sent and received by the app’s servers to function properly.
All this back and forth can overload your carrier’s servers, causing them to become sluggish or even go down completely. The solution is to upgrade to a package with faster speeds.
Still, with older hardware, you’ll find that even with all these steps, you are unable to resolve the issue of your internet being fast, but your video calls are slow. You can test this theory, and if you’re experiencingslow internet on one computer but fast on another, it might be time to upgrade your PC.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this issue. From our research adding a VPN was the most upvoted but do let us know in the comment section.
More about the topics:internet connection errors,Windows 11
Claire Moraa
Windows Software Expert
Claire has a knack for solving problems and improving the quality of life for those around her. She’s driven by rationality, curiosity, and simplicity, and always eager to learn more about Microsoft’s products. With a background in teaching and reviewing, she breaks down complex topics into easily understandable articles, focusing mostly on Windows 11, errors, and software.
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Claire Moraa
Windows Software Expert
With a background in teaching and reviewing, she breaks down complex topics into easily understandable articles, focusing mostly on Windows 11 errors.
Reviewed byAlex Serban
