Rubberbanding: The Gamer’s Nightmare
Packet loss is when data gets sent but never arrives. In game, this looks like teleporting, hits not registering (“reg”), or your character skating around.
Step 1: Is it YOU or THEM?
Use our Jitter & Packet Loss Test. If you see 0% loss to our servers, but 10% loss in-game, the game server or the route to it is the problem.
Step 2: Check Your Hardware
- Bad Cable: The most common cause. Swap your Ethernet cable.
- WiFi Interference: If you are on WiFi, switch to 5GHz or 6GHz. 2.4GHz is too crowded.
- Overheating Modem: If your modem is hot to the touch, it might be dropping packets. Reboot it and ensure it has airflow.
Still having issues? It might be Jitter masking as packet loss.
Diagnosing the Source of Your Packet Loss
Packet loss has multiple possible origins, and the fix depends on identifying which one. Use a continuous ping test (ping -t 8.8.8.8 on Windows, ping 8.8.8.8 on Mac/Linux) and watch for “Request timed out” messages. Then run the same test to your router’s IP address (192.168.1.1 or similar). If you see loss to 8.8.8.8 but not to your router, the problem is between your home and the internet — likely ISP-side congestion or a bad modem. If you see loss even to your local router, the problem is in your home network: check your Ethernet cable, try a different port on the router, or rule out a failing WiFi adapter. Narrow it down before replacing equipment or calling support.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much packet loss is normal for internet connections?
Zero to 0.1% (1 packet per 1000) is normal and unnoticeable. 0.1-1% is acceptable for most uses. Above 1%, real-time applications like gaming, video calls, and VoIP start to show degradation — rubber-banding in games, audio dropouts in calls. Above 5%, most real-time communication becomes unreliable. Consistently seeing 2%+ packet loss in a ping test to 8.8.8.8 warrants investigation and a call to your ISP with documentation. Check for other stability issues at the same time.
Can WiFi cause packet loss even when signal strength looks good?
Yes — WiFi signal strength (RSSI) and packet loss are separate metrics. Strong signal can still produce packet loss in high-interference environments because interference causes packet collisions on the shared wireless medium. A network analyzer showing many neighboring networks on your channel, or a microwave/baby monitor nearby, can cause consistent 2-5% packet loss even when your signal strength shows “excellent.” Switching to a less congested WiFi channel or using Ethernet eliminates both causes simultaneously.