How to solve Xbox High Packet Loss

If you're experiencing Xbox High Packet Loss issues on your Xbox Series X or Xbox One then this is usually related to a network problem, whether that's local to your set up or across the wider server infrastructure. Packet Loss can lead to games lagging or crashing completely, as segments of data are getting dropped rather than transmitted efficiently online, so your multiplayer games are unable to keep up with all of the information getting thrown at them. There are various causes for this problem, and while there are some fixes you can employ if your personal connection is causing the issue, if the errors are coming direct from the Xbox servers then there may be nothing you can do but wait. To try and assist where possible, I've gone over a few causes of Packet Loss on Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, and listed some fixes that might help.

The last time that Xbox High Packet Loss became a significant issue was on July 2, 2024, when Microsoft confirmed Xbox Live was down despite the official status page showing that everything should have still been operational. This outage lasted over six hours before it was eventually resolved, and unfortunately as this seems to have been related to a server-based issue on Microsoft's side there's nothing players could have done locally to fix that situation any quicker.

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:

1. Press the Xbox button on your controller
2. Go to Profile & System > Settings > Network Settings
3. Select "Test Network Speed & Statistics"
4. There'll be a moment where the Xbox calculates these figures
5. 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 such as the Xbox Status page 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.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission