Xbox High Packet Loss issues on your Xbox Series X or Xbox One can be caused by all sorts of network problems, but it can cause lagging and crashes while playing games. In short, packet loss comes down to some sort of error that limits your Xbox's ability to transfer packets of data online. Poor packet transfer means poor network performance when it comes it comes to online gaming, so it can be a real problem if you enjoy online multiplayer games. Packet loss can also be caused by all sorts of problems, which means there's not just one fix - in fact, the problem might not even be on your end - but to help you out, I've gone over a few causes of packet loss on Xbox Series X/S and Xbox one and some fixes that might help.
What is High Packet Loss on Xbox?
High Packet Loss is, as mentioned, a form of failing connection wherein packets of data aren't reaching the Xbox from the server, or vice versa. The usual result is connection issues, including failures and timeouts, high ping, latency issues - all the usual horseman of the online gaming apocalypse.
- You can see if you're suffering from Packet Loss on your Xbox by doing the following:
- Press the Xbox button on your controller
- Go to Profile & System > Settings > Network Settings
- Select "Test Network Speed & Statistics"
- There'll be a moment where the Xbox calculates these figures
- It'll then display the details of your connection, including Packet Loss as a percentage.
A little Packet Loss is sometimes normal, but should be less than 3% (and ideally under 1%). Anything over that isn't good, and anything over 10% is going to cause extreme issues like those mentioned above.
Xbox Packet Loss fixes
Because there are multiple issues that can all cause packet loss, there's a variety of fixes and solutions that you can try to resolve them. Here's a list to run through with hopefully one of them bringing you some success:
- Reset your router and connection. If the error is at your end, try turning your router on and off, as well as disconnecting your Xbox and reconnecting.
- Switch to a wired connection rather than Wi-Fi. Wired connections are more stable and generally more reliable than wireless ones. If you're already on a wired connection, move the ethernet cable to a different port on the router, or try a new cable altogether.
- Check to see if other apps or devices are using the connection. Packet Loss can often be caused by lots of traffic and trying to sustain multiple connections at once. If somebody else in your home is gaming or watching videos online, get them to stop and see if that helps.
- Check official sources and social media accounts to see if the fault is at the other end. Packet Loss can sometimes be an issue with the server your console is trying to communicate with, rather than the console itself. Check with accounts like Xbox Support or other useful sources to see if they're having problems - if they are, there's not much you'll be able to do about it, so be patient.
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