In the days before heavy internet reliance, packet loss by your favorite console was not an issue. These days, times have changed. Gone are the days when you had to merely insert a cartridge or pop in a CD/DVD in your Xbox or other devices. Since gaming now relies so heavily on the internet, high packet loss can be an issue. While internet reliability has increased dramatically, it does still happen. We’ll go into some specifics about what it is, why it happens, and how to fix it. That way, you can enjoy your Xbox One without worrying about high packet loss.
What is High Packet Loss?
All internet-enabled devices engage in a transfer of data to and from the internet. That data is divided into bundles or “packets”. When you stream video games, shows, movies, or other media, data can get lost. While you can expect some packet loss from time to time, it can be inconvenient if you are watching something on your Xbox. That said, it can be much more frustrating if the information keeps getting lost on the way to or from the game you are playing. That is especially true if you are playing against other players online. You could be fine one moment and find yourself face down because of the high packet loss. You can see the results of that happening with connection timeouts, high ping rate or latency, rubberbanding, and crashing networks.
What Causes High Packet Loss?
Often, the root cause of this issue has to do with high gaming traffic. In other words, the number of people playing the game exceeds the number of players the server can handle. When that happens, the game starts losing data because it can’t keep up with demand. Like a dam, they have ways of letting the water out to avoid breakage (the network crashes). That means lag may occur quickly and disappear at times. Another cause of packet loss is the improper configuration of your Xbox, whether it is because of a bad cable, poor WiFi strength, network interference, sub-par channel signal, or others. All of those factors can cause high packet loss between your Xbox and the game server.
How to Check Packet Loss on My Xbox One?
To find out what yours is, please follow these steps for the Xbox One.
- Power up Xbox One and launch the Settings app.
- Now, go to Network section and select Network Settings.
- Choose the option that says Test Network Speed & Statistics.
After running the test, you’ll be able to see how your system is performing. As we mentioned, some packet loss is acceptable. If you find that your packet loss on Xbox One is:
- Less than or equal to 1% – Good – You shouldn’t have any issues playing your favorites.
- Between 1% – 2.5% – Acceptable – Some packet loss, but still within normal range.
- From 2.5% – 10% – Questionable – Problems with packet loss start to happen, causing issues on games or streaming other media.
- 10% or Higher – Unacceptable – At this level, you’ll suffer severe packet loss. Competitive gaming is nearly impossible at this point.
How to Fix High Packet Loss
There are several things you can do to combat high packet loss manually. These include restarting your router, disconnecting your Xbox One, enable/disable the router’s QoS feature, try using a wired connection, go offline with your console, and avoid peak gaming times. If these options are not doing the job, your ISP may be throttling your connection. That can happen when some providers watch your internet usage patterns. Using a “packet sniffer”, the ISP can perform a deep packet inspection to get that information. These devices are common to help make sure data is transferred smoothly. Connecting to a VPN is a quick and easy way to make sure you protect your Xbox One gaming or content streaming. That way, you won’t have to worry about ISP throttling. As long as your packet loss issue is because of your ISP, connecting to a VPN is a great solution.