How to Fix Packet Loss: 9 Steps and Tips from Real Users

Packet loss causing slow service and network connectivity issues?

If you’re experiencing service interruptions, lags, and slow connections because of packet loss, consider using network monitoring software to diagnose, detect, and solve network issues. We’ve also gathered these nine tried-and-tested ways to fix packet loss.

But, before you fix packet loss, here's how you can do a quick packet loss test.

Source: CloudTalk

1. Check network connections

Checking network configuration is the first step toward fixing packet loss. Before trying other troubleshooting methods, go for the steps below.

• Check to see that all cables are plugged in and the network is configured correctly.
• Look at the network's multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) to ensure data packets reach their destinations.
• Find and replace faulty or twisted cables and rusty RJ45 clips. Both can create resistance, which reduces the speed of data transmission. 

2. Restart hardware devices and routers

Network switches and Wi-Fi routers often create cached data, especially when they operate for hours without breaks. Consider clearing cached memory to fix packet loss in such scenarios.

• Reboot network devices, endpoints, and routers to delete temporary files and make additional memory available. 

3. Remove different interference sources

Wireless devices sometimes interfere with wired connections and Wi-Fi signals. Placing these devices near Ethernet cables causes electromagnetic fields to interfere with the data flow. To eliminate all interference sources, you can:

• Turn off all wireless devices, such as wireless cameras, Bluetooth speakers, and internet of things (IoT) hardware devices, and see if that solves the packet loss problem.

4. Switch to a wired connection

A greater distance or a wall between a router and your devices results in low Wi-Fi coverage, which may lead to packet loss over a wireless network. 

• Switch to a wired or Ethernet connection and check if that fixes the issue. You can use category (CAT) 5e or 6 cables to connect the Ethernet ports of your laptop and the router.

5. Update operating system and most used programs

Some users also experience packet loss because of out-of-date operating systems (OS), firmware, or patches. Try the following if you haven’t updated the device’s OS and programs in a while.

• Download and install firmware updates, patches, and the latest OS version, which should solve common issues and prevent bugs from causing data packet loss.

6. Replace old hardware

Run-down network hardware may cause packet loss because it uses older network protocols and contains more bugs than its newer counterparts.

• If you can, replace faulty employee endpoint devices and network infrastructure devices like firewalls, network switches, and routers. 

7. Turn on a router’s QoS settings

A router’s QoS settings assigns more network traffic bandwidth to the apps of your choice. Turning on QoS helps you stop packet loss by organizing network resources for resource-intensive applications.

• Adjust QoS settings in your router's control panel. Prioritize applications that require the most packet loss prevention, such as video calls, online gaming, or streaming services.

8. Free up bandwidth

You may also experience packet loss when you run multiple behind-the-scenes tasks that consume a lot of bandwidth. In these scenarios, try to free up bandwidth by:

• Closing non-critical tasks and software applications that run in the background.

9. Use preventive security measures

Remote employees may experience packet loss when cyber attackers take control of routers and launch packet drop attacks. Organizations must adopt the following preventive measures to stop cyber security threats. 

• Turn on encryption to protect data from unauthorized access.
• Use the best free virtual private networks (VPNs) to secure data transmission.
• Update a router’s security settings periodically.
• Set strong device passwords and change them frequently. 

Which tool should you use to fix packet loss?

NinjaOne is the best network monitoring tool, as per G2’s Spring 2024 Grid® Report. It helps IT teams identify and remediate vulnerabilities, manage endpoints and patches, meet recovery time objectives (RTO), and recover from ransomware with single-pane backup. 

What users like best:

“NinjaOne streamlines many repetitive system admin tasks, allowing us to create a predictably configured fleet of end-user computers with task automation and policies. It allows us to easily run scripts on a single or group of computers. The interface is simple and intuitive, and it took new support members a matter of hours to get accustomed to it.

With new features also being added regularly, it's reassuring to know we haven't just purchased a static product, but a set of tools that has the potential to grow with the business.

The built-in remote control tool is also great, and we have started using it more than Teamviewer now. We have it configured to a point now where it's really looking after itself, and beyond some spot checks that we carry out weekly, there's little for us to maintain regularly. 

The support team is quick and knowledgeable. NinjaOne is one of the best remote monitoring and management tools in the market at competitive license costs.”

- NinjaOne Review, Samir B.

Packet loss FAQs

1. What does packet loss mean?

Packet loss means that a small data unit or network packet fails to travel across a network, between a router and a device, or through servers and nodes because of network anomalies and inconsistencies.

2. Why do I have packet loss?

Network congestion, software bugs, network hardware issues, overloaded devices, and damaged cables are some of the common reasons for packet loss.

3. How does packet loss affect users?

Packet loss affects day-to-day operations, results in lost productivity, and creates poor user experience. Applications using real-time packet processing, such as video calling, voice over internet protocol (VoIP), gaming, and audio conferencing, experience dropped connections and glitches because of data transmission or network congestion errors. 

4. How can I fix packet loss using command line tools?

Open the Command Prompt on your laptop or desktop computer. As you type the command, replace ‘destination_address’ with the domain name or IP address of the server you wish to test. You’ll be able to see the packet loss percentage after sending a few pings to the internet control message protocol (ICMP).

On the way to zero packet loss

Packet loss can happen to anyone, including gamers, power users, and business entities. When it occurs, you’ll likely experience slow loading times, unclear audio, constant buffering, lagging, and interruptions. Try the nine steps above to rule out the reasons for packet loss and find the real culprit so you can implement a real solution. 

You can also try business VPN tools to reduce packet loss, secure your internet connection, and prevent online threats.