Why does my Wi-Fi only cut out during video calls?

Video calls are much more sensitive to network hiccups than browsing or streaming. A brief Wi‑Fi drop that you barely notice in other apps can still freeze or disconnect a live call.

Common reasons include:

• Live calls have very little buffering, so they can’t hide interruptions well.
• Calls need steady upload as well as download, and upload congestion is often the bottleneck.
• Wi‑Fi can experience interference, packet loss, and jitter from distance, walls, and nearby wireless traffic.
• Heavy use on your network can cause latency spikes, which real-time apps handle poorly.

Things you can try:

1. Move closer to the router or reduce obstacles.
2. Try the 5 GHz band if your router supports it; it’s often less crowded, though it has shorter range.
3. Lower video quality or disable HD in your call app.
4. Pause large downloads, backups, or streaming on other devices during calls.
5. If your router has QoS or traffic prioritization settings, you can try enabling them, but availability and effectiveness depend on the router.
6. Test with Ethernet if possible. If the problem still happens on a wired connection, the cause is more likely your internet service, router, or computer rather than Wi‑Fi alone.