What Is Packet Loss?
Packet loss is the percentage of data packets sent over a network that never reach their destination. Streaming and downloads hide it by resending data, but video calls, voice and online games cannot wait — so even 1–2% loss causes robotic audio, frozen video and rubber-banding.
Ping & jitter test
Measure latency, jitter and timeouts from your connection over 30 seconds.
How packet loss affects what you do
| Loss | Video & voice calls | Online games | Streaming & downloads |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–0.5% | Fine | Fine | Fine |
| 0.5–2% | Occasional glitches | Noticeable hit-registration issues | Usually fine, slightly slower |
| 2–5% | Choppy, words drop out | Rubber-banding, disconnects | Slower; buffering possible |
| 5%+ | Unusable | Unplayable | Much slower than your plan |
Microsoft recommends keeping packet loss under 1% for Teams calls.
Common causes
- Wi-Fi problems — weak signal, interference, crowded 2.4 GHz channels.
- Mobile signal — moving between cell towers, indoor coverage, congested towers at busy times.
- Congestion — a full link at home (someone uploading) or at the ISP during peak hours.
- Faulty hardware or cabling — damaged Ethernet cables, failing routers, noisy DSL lines.
- Routing issues — problems on the path between your ISP and the service, including international links.
How to reduce packet loss
- Test over an Ethernet cable. If loss disappears, fix Wi-Fi: move closer, switch to 5 GHz, or change channel.
- Restart the router/ONT and check cables and connectors.
- Pause uploads and cloud backups — a saturated upload causes loss and latency for everyone.
- Enable SQM/QoS on the router if it supports it.
- If loss persists on a cable at different times, report it to your ISP with saved results from your history.
Related: what is jitter? · what is ping? · why is my internet slow?
Common questions
How much packet loss is acceptable?
Ideally 0%. Below 1% is usually unnoticeable; 1–2% causes occasional glitches in calls and games; above about 3% video calls and online games become unreliable.
Why doesn't every speed test show packet loss?
Web requests use TCP or QUIC, which resend lost packets automatically, so the loss is invisible to them. Measuring loss in a browser needs an unreliable WebRTC channel through a relay server. When that is not available, an honest test reports the measurement as unavailable instead of showing 0%.
Can Wi-Fi cause packet loss?
Yes. Weak signal, interference from neighbouring networks and microwaves, and overloaded access points are among the most common causes of packet loss at home.