Fix a laggy call
How to fix a laggy video call
A laggy or frozen video call is almost always caused by one participant's weak network or overloaded device. Find who shows the Weak connection icon, test that person's connection, move closer to the router or use a cable, close other video apps and turn off background effects. Meeto lowers quality automatically on a weak network and restores it when the connection recovers.
How do I fix a video call that keeps freezing?
Start by finding out whose connection is the problem, because the fix happens on that person's side.
- Look at the tiles. A participant with a poor connection for several seconds gets a signal-bars icon with the tooltip Weak connection. If only one tile freezes, the problem is that person's network or device, and they should follow the steps below. If every tile freezes for you, start with your own network.
- Test the connection. Guests see Test your connection under the Join button in the lobby. It reports Signaling, Video channel and Backup relay (TURN) as working or not and names the media node it reached. Anyone can also run the connection self-test, which ends with a report code for support.
- Improve the network. Sit closer to the router, plug in a cable if you can, and pause cloud backups, large downloads and other video calls on the same connection. If the test shows the video channel is blocked, try a different network.
- Reduce what the device does. Close unused tabs and apps, switch off a background effect and choose More → Speaker so the screen shows fewer videos at once.
- Rejoin if the call is stuck. If audio and video both stop for a long time, leave and open the link again. The room and its link stay the same.
What does Meeto do on a weak connection?
Meeto adjusts the call in steps, so a poor network costs picture quality before it costs the conversation. A notice tells you what changed.
| Message | What it means |
|---|---|
| Weak connection (on a tile) | That participant's connection has been poor for a few seconds. |
| Unstable network — switched to the stable relay route | Your device now reaches the call through a relay server, which copes better with strict or unstable networks. |
| Weak network — video only from the speaker | To save bandwidth you see only the active speaker's video. Show everyone (All video on a phone) brings the rest back. |
| Weak network — audio only | All video is paused and your camera is off so the conversation keeps going. Turn video back on overrides it. |
| Connection recovered — video is back | The network has been stable for a while and video returned on its own. |
| Reconnecting you to the meeting… | The connection dropped; Meeto is reconnecting you to the same call without a reload. |
Meeto also sends every viewer only the video quality their tiles need, so a small tile does not download a full-size picture. That is why the Speaker layout lightens the load on a slow connection. Read what simulcast is for how one camera reaches people on different networks.
Which network fixes help most?
Wi-Fi signal
Walls and distance cut Wi-Fi quickly. Move closer to the router, or switch to a cable or a phone hotspot for an important call.
Shared connection
Uploads, cloud backups and other people streaming video on the same network compete with your call. Your upload speed matters as much as the download.
VPN and office networks
A VPN or strict firewall can force a longer path. Meeto can relay calls over TLS on port 443, the port ordinary websites use; see firewall troubleshooting.
Every Meeto call runs through Meeto's media servers in Europe or South-East Asia rather than directly between devices, so a call between two countries does not depend on a direct path between the two participants. Learn more in what an SFU is.
What if the computer is the bottleneck?
A busy processor makes video stutter even on a fast network. The fan running loudly and other apps slowing down are typical signs.
- Background effects. Blur and virtual backgrounds are processed on your device. If it cannot keep up, Meeto pauses the effect and your camera and says so; choose Turn on without background. See how to blur your background.
- Other video apps. Quit other meeting apps and close tabs that play video.
- Phone in the background. On a phone, keep the call in front; video in a hidden browser tab is paused to save the battery and data.
- Old browser. Update the browser. A current Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari handles video calls more efficiently.
If the camera or microphone itself is the problem rather than the speed, use camera or microphone not working.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my video call keep freezing?
Usually because the network cannot carry the video in time: weak Wi-Fi, a busy connection shared with uploads or other calls, or a VPN. An overloaded computer causes similar symptoms, especially with background effects on. The steps above separate the two.
Does Meeto lower the quality automatically?
Yes. Meeto first reduces the video you send, then shows only the active speaker's video, and as a last step keeps audio only. A notice appears while video is limited, and video returns by itself once the connection has been stable for a while.
Can I choose a lower video quality myself?
There is no manual quality setting. You can turn your camera off, use the Speaker layout or select Show everyone or Turn video back on to override the automatic step-down. Turning video back on yourself keeps it on for the rest of the call.
Is it Meeto's servers or my connection?
Check whether everyone lags or only one person. Meeto runs media servers in Europe and South-East Asia and connects calls through the nearest one. If everyone's video freezes at the same moment, write to support@meeto.me with the report code from the connection self-test.
Try your first browser meeting
Create a room, share the link and invite someone to join you.