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RTC Connecting Stuck in Discord [FIXED]

A significant concern for Discord users is the failure to get past ‘RTC Connecting.’

Fortunately, there are a handful of things you can do to make the problem go away. This guide will show you how to fix Discord stuck on ‘RTC connecting.’ So, please, keep reading.

What Does “RTC Connecting” Mean?

Discord is a popular VoIP platform that enables you to spend quality time with the people you care about. It’s the ideal communication tool for your closest friends, gaming buddies, or even school club. You can initiate video calls, send text messages, and voice chat.  This communication software is the total package. You can use the web-based version or download the desktop application to your computer.

Sometimes, Discord users meet a roadblock where they cannot establish a connection. The service continues saying ‘RTC Connecting’ without making any real progress, thereby keeping you from joining a real-time voice chat.

‘RTC Connecting means’ that the platform is trying to start a voice call. Discord uses the Real-Time Chat protocol (or WebRTC) to facilitate concurrent communication. So the problem of sleeping on ‘RTC Connecting’ is network-related.

What Causes ‘RTC Connecting’?

To identify how to fix a stuck Discord connection, we first have to understand why it happens:

  • Unstable Internet Connection: If your internet connection is not reliable enough, that can lead to the unending RTC connection attempts.
  • Dynamic IP: Discord does not perform well when your VPN keeps changing your IP address.
  • VPN without UDP: Discord does not support a VPN that does not have a User Datagram Protocol (UDP).
  • Discord Quarantined by Your Antivirus: Your antivirus program might identify a Discord file as potentially harmful and quarantine it, preventing your connection from succeeding.
  • Server problems: If your region’s server is unable to create a connection, then you cannot join a chat on Discord.

Now that we know what causes the voice connection issue on Discord let us now take a look at the procedures for resolving it.

How to Resolve Discord Stuck on ‘RTC Connecting’

Fixing the RTC problem is easy. There are several things you can do that will guarantee your connection. Before long, you will reunite with your friends. So, here is what you should do:

  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Restart your devices
  3. Check your VPN
  4. Set a different server region on Discord
  5. Disable QoS (Quality of Service) on Discord
  6. Change the audio subsystem in Discord
  7. Temporarily disable your antivirus program or the Windows firewall
  8. Update your network driver
  9. Try a different browser
  10. Change your DNS server
  11. Flush your DNS cache and reset your IP settings
  12. Consult with your network admin
  13. Do the RTC connecting test

You might not have to try all the fixes. Just make your way down the list until Discord makes a successful voice connection. Let us get started.

Fix 1: Check Your Internet Connection

You have to be sure that you do not have any internet issues. You must have a strong connection before you can expect Discord to function as expected. You can contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to help you resolve any connectivity issues you might be having. Once you are sure that your internet is reliable enough, you can then proceed to the other fixes below.

Fix 2: Restart Your Devices

This simple idea is what most users employ to resolve the RTC connecting issue. You may as well give it a try before jumping into the more aggressive solutions.

The RTC Connecting problem could be due to a dynamic IP. As already mentioned, Discord does not do well with an IP that changes from time to time. How do you resolve this? Restart your system, modem, and router through these steps:

  1. Click the Start button in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
  2. Click the Power icon and click on Shut Down.
  3. Remove the battery from the computer (If your battery is removable) and unplug it from the power source.
  4. Unplug the power cords on the back of your router and modem.
  5. Wait for about three minutes and turn the devices back on. Plug the cords and check that the indicators are showing.
  6. Put back the battery into your computer and power it on.
  7. Open your browser and make sure that your internet connection is active.

Check if Discord can now make a connection. If the error no longer occurs, then it means that it was caused by dynamic IP. To handle it so that the problem does not happen again, you can either:

  1. Request a static IP address from your ISP.
  2. Use a Dynamic DNS service that works in real-time to update your new IP address and other details automatically.

Fix 3: Check Your VPN

Although a VPN configuration can improve your overall internet experience, it changes your IP address, which does not always bode well with Discord. However, Discord works well with VPNs that have UDP (User Datagram Protocol) support. UDP establishes a connection that eliminates delays in data sharing. It, therefore, gives you a much faster connection than the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).

If your VPN does not have UDP, then uninstall it and restart your system before starting Discord again.

Fix 4: Set a Different Server Region on Discord

It could be that Discord is having issues connecting because of your server region. Choose a different one (could be closer to your actual location) and try initiating a VoIP chat again. Follow these steps:

  1. Launch Discord and enter the Server settings. To do this, click on your server name in the top-left corner of the window. Then, expand the drop-down menu and click on Server Settings.
  2. Click the Change button. It is located under the ‘Server Region’ option.
  3. Select a server region from the available list.
  4. Save your changes and try the connection again.

Fix 5: Disable QoS (Quality of Service) on Discord

You might be able to fix the RTC connecting issue by disabling the Quality of Service (QoS) settings on your account. Here is how to do it:

  1. Launch Discord and click Settings in the bottom-left corner of the window. A cog icon represents the option. It is displayed next to your Discord name.
  2. Click on Voice and Video under the App Settings section in the left pane.
  3. Scroll down to the ‘Enable Quality of Service High Packet Priority’ option and click the toggle to turn it off.
  4. Restart Discord. See if you have resolved the error.

Fix 6: Change the Audio Subsystem in Discord

Some users made progress with the RTC Connecting issue by changing the Discord audio subsystem to Legacy. Follow these steps to try it:

  1. Launch Discord
  2. Click Settings (displayed as the cogwheel) in the lower-left corner of the page.
  3. On the left pane, click on ‘Voice and Audio’ in the App Settings section.
  4. Set Audio Subsystem to Legacy.
  5. Re-launch Discord and try making a voice call.

Fix 7: Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus Program or the Windows Firewall

Your third-party antivirus program or the Windows Defender Firewall might be stopping Discord from functioning as it should. The firewall prevents unauthorized access to your computer files and resources. So, it could be blocking off Discord-related traffic and causing the RTC Connecting error.

There is also a chance that your antivirus has added some Discord files into its quarantine folder, thereby preventing the service from running normally.

If you are using the built-in Windows Defender, follow the steps below to disable the firewall temporarily:

  1. Press the Windows key + R combination on your keyboard to open the Run accessory.
  2. Type “control firewall.cpl” (no quotes) and hit Enter or click OK.
  3. Click on ‘Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off’ in the left pane.
  4. Select ‘Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended)’ under the Domain network settings, Private network settings, and Public network settings.
  5. Click the OK button when you finish.

Run Discord and see if you have managed to fix the error.

If you are using a third-party antivirus program, navigate the settings and try disabling the program temporarily. If you are not sure how it works, you can consult the user manual or visit the Help page.

Try joining a chat on Discord. The issue might no longer exist. However, if it does, then re-enable the Windows Defender Firewall or your third-party antivirus program. Then, proceed to the next fix below.

Fix 8: Update Your Network Driver

To ensure that your internet connection has not taken a hit, check whether your network adapter drivers are up to date. You can visit the website of your PC manufacturer to obtain the latest driver software for your device. Make sure that you get the correct version that is compatible with your computer. It is also imperative that you do not try downloading your drivers from an unofficial source. They can harm your PC or introduce malware into the system.

You can also use the Device Manager to update your network driver. Follow these steps:

  1. Press the Windows + R keyboard combination to invoke the Run dialog.
  2. Type or copy and paste “Devmgmt.msc” (no quotes) and click OK to open the Device Manager window.
  3. Scroll through the list of devices to locate Network Adapters. Double-click on it or click the arrow on the left-hand side to expand the option.
  4. Right-click on your network device and select ‘Update Driver Software.’
  5. Click the ‘Search automatically for updated driver software’ option and wait for the process to complete.

To make life easier for you, try using an automatic tool to take care of your computer’s driver maintenance. We suggest you get Auslogics Driver Updater to help you update your network drivers without hassle. It reads your computer to identify its specifications. Then, it runs a scan to detect all the drivers that require attention. You can then select the ones you want to update or click the Update All button to fix all of them.

Driver Updater ensures that you only get the correct drivers for your devices. It downloads the required software from the original manufacturer. This way, you can be sure that your drivers are digitally signed and approved by Microsoft.

Fix 9: Try a Different Browser

Your browser might be the reason why you cannot join a chat on Discord. You may have installed some conflicting plugins. The browser cache might also be causing the Discord website to misbehave. What you have to do is to clear your browsing data and then proceed to disable all extensions. Afterward, try rerunning Discord. If the issue persists, switch to another browser and see if you can start a chat without getting stuck at RTC Connecting.

We will show the steps for clearing your browsing data and disabling extensions on Google Chrome.

How to Clear Browsing Data on Chrome

Follow these steps:

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. Click the hamburger icon (three vertically-aligned dots) in the top-right corner of your screen.
  3. Click on Settings from the list of options.
  4. Scroll down to the Privacy and Security category.
  5. Click on Clear Browsing Data.
  6. Select All Time under Time Range.
  7. Mark the checkboxes for Browsing History, Cookies and Site Data, and Cached Images and Files. These are the items that will be cleared from the browser.
  8. Click the Clear Data button. Wait for the process to complete.

How to Disable Google Chrome Extensions

Follow these steps:

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. Click the hamburger icon (three vertically-aligned dots) in the top-right corner of your screen.
  3. Hover over More Tools and click on Extensions.
  4. Click the toggle on each of the extensions to disable them.

If the issue is resolved after you have carried out the above procedures, you can continue using your browser. However, if it remains, try using a different browser, such as Mozilla Firefox. See if that helps.

Did this solution work for you? If no, then try the next one below.

Fix 10: Change Your DNS Server

DNS (Domain Name System) connects URLs with their IP addresses. It makes it possible to type decipherable words and phrases instead of a string of numbers into your browser when you visit a website. In other words, you may say that the Domain Name System is the Internet’s phonebook.

Your DNS server translates domain names into IP addresses, allowing DNS clients to reach the origin server. So, it stands to reason that it can affect your browsing speed and accuracy.

Changing from the one assigned to you by your ISP to a more widely-used server like Google DNS is a step in the right direction. It is worth the shot.

Follow the procedure shown below:

  1. Invoke the Run dialog box. Press the Windows + R keyboard combination. That is, press R while holding the Windows key.
  2. Type or copy and paste “Control ncpa.cpl” (no quotes) into the text field and click the OK button on the dialog or hit Enter on your keyboard.
  3. Right-click on your network and click on Properties from the context menu.
  4. Locate Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4) in the list and double-click on it to open the properties.
  5. Switch from ‘Obtain DNS server address automatically’ to ‘Use the following DNS server addresses.’
  6. Enter the following values:
  • Preferred DNS Server: 8.8.8.8
  • Alternate DNS Server: 8.8.4.4
  1. Click OK to save the changes.

Afterward, move on to the next fix.

Fix 11: Flush Your DNS Cache and Reset Your IP Settings

After changing to Google DNS, the next thing you have to do is to flush your DNS cache and reset your IP settings. Here is how to get them done:

  1. Click the Start button in the lower-left corner of your screen.
  2. Once in the Start menu, go to the search bar and type “Command Prompt” (no quotes).
  3. Right-click on Command Prompt in the search results and click on Run as Administrator.

Tip: Alternatively, you can open an elevated command prompt window via the WinX (Also known as Power-user) menu. Hold down the Windows key and press X. Then, click on Command Prompt (Admin) in the menu.

  1. Allow Windows Command Processor to make changes to your computer by clicking the Yes button when User Account Control prompts you.
  2. Once in the Command Prompt (Admin) window, enter the following commands one after the other and press Enter on your keyboard after each one:
  • ipconfig /flushdns
  • ipconfig /all
  • ipconfig / release
  • ipconfig /renew

After running all the above commands, close the Command Prompt (Admin) window and restart your computer. You can then re-launch Discord and see if the error is gone.

Fix 12: Consult with Your Network Admin

Are you using a school or business network to access Discord? You cannot make any headway if the location has disabled Discord. They might have done this to ensure that you remain productive throughout the workday (or school day as the case may be). You can ask your network admin to find out whether that is the reason why you cannot connect.

Fix 13: Do the RTC Connecting Test

You should run a test on your computer if none of the solutions above yielded any results. Here is how:

  1. Visit the WebRTC website.
  2. Click the green Start button located at the top of the page to initiate the test.
  3. Wait for the process to complete. It will take about 3 minutes.
  4. When the results appear, see if you can resolve any of the detected errors.

Conclusion

Getting stuck at RTC connecting is an issue that Discord users have to deal with sometimes. It makes it impossible to start a chat, keeping you waiting for minutes unending. The problem is usually network-related. As unpleasant as it is, there are practical solutions that will help you get past it. We have presented them in this guide, and we hope you found them beneficial.

Do feel free to drop any questions you might have in the comments section below. Which of the fixes worked for you? Let us know by sliding into the comments section. We love to hear from you.