How to Fix Packet Loss on Windows

What Causes This?

Packet loss happens when some of the data traveling between your PC and the internet never arrives. On Windows, this is usually caused by weak Wi-Fi, overloaded network hardware, outdated or buggy network drivers, VPN or firewall interference, or too many background apps using bandwidth. In some cases, the problem is outside your PC, such as ISP congestion or a bad router connection.

Common Symptoms

• Games stutter, lag, or show high ping warnings
• Voice or video calls cut out, freeze, or sound robotic
• Streams buffer even when your internet speed seems fine
• Websites load partially or fail to load on the first try
• Downloads pause, fail, or run inconsistently

How to Fix It Manually

1. Restart your network equipment and PC

   1. Shut down your PC.
   2. Unplug your modem and router from power for 30 seconds.
   3. Plug them back in and wait until the internet light is stable.
   4. Turn your PC back on and test the connection again.

2. Check whether Wi-Fi is the problem

   1. If possible, connect your PC directly to the router with an Ethernet cable.
   2. Test the same app, game, or website again.
   3. If packet loss improves on Ethernet, your Wi-Fi signal, interference, or router placement is likely the issue.
   4. Move closer to the router, avoid USB 3.0 devices near the adapter, and switch to 5 GHz Wi-Fi if available.

3. Close apps that are using bandwidth in the background

   1. Open Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
   2. Click Processes and look for apps using a lot of Network.
   3. Close cloud sync tools, launchers, browsers with many tabs, streaming apps, or downloads you do not need.
   4. If needed, open Settings > Windows Update and pause updates temporarily while testing.

4. Update or reinstall your network adapter driver

   1. Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
   2. Expand Network adapters.
   3. Right-click your Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter and choose Update driver.
   4. Select Search automatically for drivers.
   5. If the issue started recently, right-click the adapter, choose Uninstall device, restart your PC, and let Windows reinstall it.

5. Reset the Windows network stack

   1. Click Start, type cmd.
   2. Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
   3. Run these commands one at a time:

      ipconfig /flushdns
      netsh winsock reset
      netsh int ip reset

   4. Restart your PC after the commands finish.

6. Disable VPN, proxy, or overly aggressive filtering

   1. Turn off any VPN, gaming VPN, or traffic-shaping app and test again.
   2. Go to Settings > Network & internet > Proxy and make sure a proxy is not enabled unless you use one intentionally.
   3. If you installed third-party antivirus or firewall software, temporarily disable its web/network filtering to see if it is causing dropped packets.

7. Test packet loss directly

   1. Press Windows key + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
   2. Run:

      ping 8.8.8.8 -n 20

   3. If you see lost packets, test your router too by running:

      ping 192.168.1.1 -n 20

   4. Loss to the router usually points to a local PC, Wi-Fi, or router issue. Loss only to internet addresses may point to your ISP or a remote server.

Fix It Automatically with Kudu

Kudu can help reduce packet loss by finding background apps, services, and startup items that strain your system and network connection. It also helps clean up unnecessary processes so your PC has fewer interruptions during gaming, calls, streaming, and downloads.

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