How to Fix Discord Stream Lagging in 8 Ways (100% Working)

Jane Zhou updated on Apr 10, 2024 to EaseUS RecExperts

Discord is one of the most popular chatting and video calling programs. It's a safe haven for gamers who like to play games with their friends and sometimes stream videos and games together. This article will talk about how sometimes stream on Discord can lag and what are its possible fixes.

If you're an avid Discord user who enjoys streaming your gameplay or hosting online events, you might have encountered frustrating Discord stream lagging issues that disrupt the smooth flow of your streams. But don't worry, as we have Discord users covered with some helpful tips and solutions.

In this article, we will dive into the common causes of Discord stream lagging and provide you with practical troubleshooting steps to overcome this annoyance. So let's jump right in and get those streams back on track without any frustrating interruptions now!

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Why is Discord Stream Lagging

Discord stream lagging can occur for various reasons, leading to a less-than-smooth streaming experience. Let's explore some common culprits behind this frustrating issue. Understanding these potential causes will help you diagnose and address the lagging problem during Discord streams.

  • 🥲Hardware limitations may contribute to stream lag
  • 🎨Software conflicts can also be to blame
  • 😥Discord server issues or server region settings can impact your stream's performance
  • 🕵️‍♂️Slow or unstable internet speeds can result in lag during Discord streams
  • 🙉High ping or packet loss can cause disruptions, causing your stream to freeze or buffer
  • 👩Insufficient processing power or outdated graphics cards might struggle to handle the demands of streaming, leading to laggy performance
  • ...

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8 Best Practices to Fix Discord Stream Stuttering

It's time that we talk about four best practices that can help you fix Discord stream stuttering. These practical tips and techniques will assist you in troubleshooting and resolving the annoying issue of stuttering during your Discord streams, and here are the eight tips.

Fix 1. Install Discord App Instead of Browser

Installing Discord instead of using the browser version seems to solve the problem quite efficiently. So, users can try to use the downloaded app version of Discord instead of the browser version. Here's how:

Step 1. Go to the Discord download page, and tap the Download for Windows button.

Step 2. Run the setup.exe file that was downloaded, and wait for the installer to conclude.

Step 3. Sign in using your credentials and try streaming.

This is one of the most likely solutions for a lot of users who had issues streaming on the website version. Downloading the app version will rid users of that issue, and they will be able to stream properly. If this doesn't work, then they can try the next fix.

Don't forget to share this post on social platforms to help more users who are suffering from the same problem!

 

Fix 2. Run Discord as Administrator

Sometimes a very simple fix, such as running Discord as an administrator, might fix the issue. This is a common cause for those who use Discord's desktop app version. Here's how they can run it as Administrator on their PC:

Step 1. Press the Windows key on the keyboard

Step 2. Type Discord until the app pops up

Step 3. Tap on Run as Administrator.

This fixes the problem for many users who may not have been given Discord administrative privileges before.

Fix 3. Turn on Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration allows Discord to use the computer's hardware for better video and output. This is one of the chief reasons that a lot of Discord streams lag and do not work as smoothly. Here's how users can turn it on to fix this problem.

Step 1. Open the Discord app on your PC.

Step 2. Head into Advanced settings.

Step 3. Turn Hardware Acceleration On.

This will use GPU and CPU to accelerate Discord's quality and thoroughly improve the stream quality. That's why this is a common fix to the Discord stream lagging issue.

Fix 4. Select Smoother Video Setting

Another thing users can try is to select smoother video settings while streaming. This setting only appears when the user begins to stream their screen on Discord. Here is how they can change this setting once they start streaming.

Step 1. Join a channel and start streaming.

Step 2. Select the Smoother Video setting and choose the right resolution.

Step 3. Tap on Go Live.

This will most likely fix any lagging issues because it'll focus on smoother video rather than the highest quality. And it'll also reduce/resize the resolution accordingly.

Fix 5. Check Internet Issues

Another thing users can do is check their internet issues. This will help them figure out whether the issues are with their internet or not. They can try two things.

#1. Troubleshoot PC's internet

#2. Restart the Router

This fix also seems to resolve the issue for a lot of Discord users.

Fix 6. Clear Discord Cache

Clearing the Discord cache is another great fix. Now it's important that users follow the right method of removing the cache. This means going into the AppData folder and manually deleting the cache files like this.

Step 1. Open the run command by pressing Windows + R.

Step 2. Type %AppData% and press enter.

Step 3. Find the Discord folder.

Step 4. Press CTRL + A to select all files and delete them.

This will delete all the cache files and improve streaming performance.

Fix 7. Close Apps That Are Hogging Internet Bandwidth

There are times when other apps are taking too much internet bandwidth. As a result, this causes issues with Discord, and the stream lags. Here is how users can check the apps that are taking bandwidth.

Step 1. Press CTRL + Shift + ESC keys to launch Task Manager.

Step 2. Head into the Performance tab. Open Resource Monitor.

Step 3. Expand the Network Tab and check which app is taking the most bandwidth.

Now the user will have to check the PID and then close that from Task Manager.

Fix 8. Reinstall Discord

The final and perhaps the best solution for this issue is reinstalling Discord. And outdated version of the program can also cause this issue. So download the latest Discord version from their website. After that, uninstall and reinstall it like this.

Step 1. Open Control Panel, and head into Uninstall a Program.

Step 2. Find and uninstall Discord.

Step 3. Reinstall Discord using the newly downloaded file.

🎥Also, you can watch the tutorial video to fix the problem:

  • 0:00 - Explanation
  • 0:48 - Restart Discord as Admin
  • 1:27 - Lower stream resolution/FPS
  • 2:22 - GPU limited? Disable Hardware Accelerated Encoding
  • 4:04 - Disable Hardware Acceleration in Discord, Steam, etc.
  • 4:40 - Close background programs & Pause videos/streams

Bonus Tip. How to Record Discord Streaming

Let's talk about a bonus tip that can help you record Discord streaming. You're going to need a third-party tool called EaseUS RecExperts. It is a user-friendly screen recorder that provides a variety of powerful recording techniques to capture and record your screen activities with ease.

Some of the key reasons you need EaseUS RecExperts are:

  • Record your screen, webcam, or both simultaneously
  • Capture audio from your system, microphone, or both sources
  • Edit your recordings with basic tools like trimming and annotations

With EaseUS RecExperts, you can effortlessly record tutorials, gameplay, video conferences, and more. The software provides flexibility in capturing your screen or webcam, allowing you to customize your recordings according to your needs.

Step 1. Launch EaseUS RecExperts. There are two modes for screen recording. Choose "Full Screen", this tool will capture the whole screen; choose "Region", you will need to select the recording area manually.

Step 2. After that, you can choose to record the webcam, system sound, or microphone as you like. Of course, you can turn them off if you only need to record the silent screen.

Step 3. Then, you can click the red "REC" button to start recording. Now you will see a menu bar on your screen. If you want to pause the recording, click on the white "Pause" button; to end the recording, click on the red "Stop" button.

Step 4. After recording, you will be led to the recording list interface. Here you can view or edit your recordings easily.

Final Words

These are the best fixes for fixing Discord stream lagging. Users can try all of these methods to fix the issue with their Discord desktop or web version. We hope this post will be helpful!

Discord Stream Lagging FAQs

1. Why is Discord so choppy?

Discord can become choppy due to various factors, including poor internet connection, high server load, outdated software, or conflicts with other applications running on your device. That's why it's important to follow the techniques shown in the article to fix the Discord choppiness.

2. Does hardware acceleration make Discord stream lag?

Hardware acceleration in Discord can sometimes contribute to stream lag, especially if your hardware is outdated or incompatible. Disabling hardware acceleration might help improve the performance and reduce lag during Discord streams. But this is not always the case, as some hardware can more than just manage hardware acceleration.

3. Does Discord streaming affect FPS?

Discord streaming can impact FPS (frames per second) depending on the resources it consumes. Running Discord in the background while gaming might lead to a slight decrease in FPS. However, the impact is generally minimal and can vary based on your system's specifications.