There are a few common reasons why you may experience poor video quality during video calls:
Internet Connection Issues
The most common culprit for bad video quality is an unstable internet connection. Video calling requires a consistent high-speed broadband connection for smooth, uninterrupted video. If your internet is slow or keeps dropping in and out, it will significantly impact your video quality.
Try testing your internet speed to identify any issues. You want a download speed of at least 3-4 Mbps for a decent quality Skype video call, and up to 6 Mbps for HD quality. Anything below 2 Mbps will result in a lot of lag and pixelation.
Problems tend to get worse if others are also streaming or downloading on the same network. Ask housemates to limit internet use during your calls, or connect your device directly to the router via Ethernet cable.
Finally, switching broadband providers or plans to fiber internet or higher speed cable may be necessary to boost speeds if your current plan is just too slow to handle video calling.
Wi-Fi Signal Issues
Using Wi-Fi can also impact video quality if the signal is weak. The further you are from the wireless router, through walls and floors, the worse the signal will be. This leads to latency and interruptions in the video feed.
To improve your Wi-Fi signal:
- Move closer to the router or into the same room
- Change the channel on your router to reduce interference
- Use a Wi-Fi booster, range extender, or mesh network
- Connect via Ethernet cable instead of wireless
Hardware Issues
Problems with your computer, phone, webcam, microphone or other hardware can also worsen call quality.
An older, underpowered device may struggle to encode and transmit HD video smoothly. This results in a grainy, low-frame rate video feed. Try limiting video resolution in the app settings if your processor can’t keep up.
Webcams, especially built-in ones, often capture poor quality low-resolution video. Using an external USB webcam can drastically improve video quality on a desktop or laptop computer.
Dirty webcam lenses, dead pixels, aging smartphone cameras, and low-end webcams will all degrade video quality. Check for dust, replace if necessary.
Finally, distorted or intermittent audio from a bad microphone pick-up can ruin call quality. Test with headphones to isolate hardware issues.
Video Call App Settings
The video conferencing app settings on your devices could also be contributing to poor video quality.
Resolution
Most apps let you manually adjust resolution. Low resolution video will look extremely pixelated and blurry but will require very little bandwidth. Try increasing the resolution to see if your internet connection can handle it.
Frame Rate
Frame rate determines how many images are transmitted per second. More frames = smoother, more natural video. But higher frame rates require faster internet speeds. If your connection struggles, try reducing the frame rate.
Data Usage
You can limit data usage in app settings. This saves mobile data but results in more compression and lower video quality.
Automatic Adjustments
Some apps like Facetime dynamically optimize video quality based on your connection strength. If the internet slows down, the app automatically reduces resolution and frame rates to compensate.
Disable these auto corrections if you want to manually optimize video settings instead.
Network Issues Between Callers
Network problems on the other caller’s end will also affect your call quality. Even with a strong internet connection on your end, you’ll suffer from lag, freezes and pixelation if their connection drops out. There’s not much you can do in this situation apart from asking them to troubleshoot their network issues as well.
VPN Interference
Using a VPN can negatively impact video call quality due to added data overhead and routing through remote servers. Try disabling your VPN and see if it helps reduce latency and buffering issues during calls.
Background Apps and Processes
Too many programs and processes running in the background on your computer or phone can interrupt resources needed for your video call, resulting in glitchy and choppy video quality. Try closing other open apps before joining the call.
CPU and RAM Usage
Video calls require significant processing power for encoding video and audio in real time. If your device’s CPU is overloaded or you’re running low on RAM, video call quality can suffer greatly.
On a computer, open task manager to monitor for any spikes in CPU and memory usage during the call. Try closing other programs to free up resources for your video call app.
Network Congestion
During peak usage times, increased traffic on your local network or ISP can also affect video quality. More people streaming and downloading at once places strain on connections. See if adjusting the call timing improves quality, or contact your ISP about congestion issues.
Conclusions
Here is a summary of the key factors that commonly impact video call quality:
| Issue | Potential Solutions |
|---|---|
| Slow internet speeds | Upgrade internet plan, use Ethernet cable, limit other connectivity |
| WiFi signal problems | Move closer to router, change channel, use range extender |
| Old/poor quality hardware | Upgrade devices, use external webcam |
| Video resolution too high | Lower resolution in app settings |
| Low frame rate | Increase frame rate if internet allows |
| Auto corrections enabled | Disable auto adjustments, manually configure |
| Other caller’s network issues | Ask them to troubleshoot their connection |
| VPN interference | Disable VPN during calls |
| Too many background processes | Close other open apps before call |
| CPU/RAM overload | Close other programs using resources |
| Network congestion | Adjust call timing, contact ISP |
By methodically troubleshooting each potential issue above, you should be able to significantly improve the quality of your video calls. Start with the simplest solutions like closing background apps and moving closer to your router. If issues persist, continue working through the list until you identify the factors impacting your call quality. With a little optimization, you’ll be video calling smoothly in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my video lagging and choppy?
Choppy and lagging video is usually caused by insufficient internet speeds or an unreliable connection. Try testing your internet speed to identify issues. Anything below 2 Mbps will result in poor quality video. Upgrading your internet plan, using Ethernet instead of WiFi, and limiting other devices on your network can help boost speeds.
Why is my video call quality grainy and pixelated?
Pixelation and grainy quality is the result of the video resolution and compression rate being too low. Increase the video resolution in your app’s settings if your internet connection can handle it. Or try getting a better webcam that can capture higher resolution video.
Why do my video calls freeze and disconnect?
Frequent freezing and disconnecting points to severe connection problems. Unstable internet with a lot of packet loss, low speeds, and frequent drops will interrupt the video feed. Switching broadband providers or plans may be required to get a faster, more reliable connection.
Why is my video blurry and out of focus?
Blurry video is usually hardware related – dust or dirt on the webcam lens, or a low quality lens itself especially on built-in webcams. Try cleaning the lens carefully with a microfiber cloth. Upgrading to an external HD webcam can significantly sharpen video quality.
Why don’t my video calls fill up the whole screen?
Most apps letterbox video calls with black bars on the top/bottom or sides to match each user’s aspect ratio. Changing your webcam capture resolution to match your display’s native resolution will fill more of the screen. Continually adjusting your distance from the webcam will also autofocus and zoom in/out.
Tips for Improving Video Call Quality
Here are some additional tips for making sure you have the best video call experience possible:
- Position your webcam at eye level – putting it lower can make it seem like you are looking down and create an unflattering angle.
- Have proper lighting in front and above you to illuminate your face clearly.
- Be mindful of what’s in the background to avoid distractions and clutter.
- Keep your microphone close to pick up audio properly but away from noisy devices.
- Use headphones to avoid echo and ambient noise interfering.
- Pick a quiet space without interruptions or background noises.
- Limit dynamic motion and multitasking to let the video encoder focus.
- Make sure other household members aren’t using up internet bandwidth.
- Test call quality regularly and tweak settings until optimal.
Following video call best practices ensures you present yourself clearly. Combined with technical troubleshooting, you can significantly enhance call quality.
Conclusion
Grainy, pixelated, and stuttering video can ruin the video calling experience. However, in most cases the issues can be isolated and resolved by methodically working through potential causes. Start with easy fixes like closing apps and moving locations to optimize Wi-Fi connectivity. If poor quality persists, consider running speed tests, upgrading internet plans, adjusting app settings, and swapping out faulty hardware like old webcams. With consistent broadband speeds, optimal device performance, and apps configured to your environment, you should begin enjoying smooth, glitch-free video calls in no time.