Laggy or frozen video chat: fixes by network, from home Wi-Fi to 5G and campus
Updated
Live video needs a steady upload connection in both directions, so lag usually comes from the network you're on, not your camera. The fix depends on where you're connecting from. Do the two-minute triage first, then jump to your network.
Free in your browser. Sign in with Google, 18+ only.
Two-minute triage
- Close tabs and apps that stream, download or run other video calls.
- Reload the page and tap Start again.
- Pause any VPN or proxy and try once more.
- Restart the browser, and install any waiting update.
- Try the other network: Wi-Fi if you're on cellular, cellular if you're on Wi-Fi.
On home Wi-Fi
Upload speed matters more than download for video chat, and many US home plans have much slower upload than download. If someone in the house is gaming, streaming 4K or backing up photos, your video takes the hit.
Pull the router's power cord, wait half a minute, then reconnect it. If it has a 5 GHz network, use it when you're close by. Move out of rooms with thick walls between you and the router. On a laptop, an Ethernet cable is the most reliable fix there is.
On 5G or LTE
Phones throttle video to save data or battery. On iPhone, turn off Low Data Mode in your cellular or Wi-Fi settings, and turn off Low Power Mode. On Android, turn off Data Saver and battery saver. Some browsers have their own data-saving mode too.
Keep the browser on screen. Phones pause the camera and network for apps in the background. Signal also varies a lot indoors, so a spot near a window can help.
On campus, office or hotel Wi-Fi
Shared networks sometimes block or limit the kind of direct connection live video uses. If calls hang or drop on campus, at work or in a hotel, try your phone's cellular data. If that works, the network is the problem, not your device.
Dorm and apartment Wi-Fi is often crowded in the evening. Calls late at night or earlier in the day can be smoother.
When the lag is on their end
If one call is choppy and the next is smooth, the other person's connection was probably the issue. Say "you're freezing up a bit," and tap Next if it doesn't improve. Nobody minds.
Calls to people far away can carry more delay. If your match area is Worldwide, switching to United States or My state may help.
Still freezing? Send us the details
Try a different browser (Chrome instead of Safari, for example) or a different device. If nothing works on any network, email hello@momos.live with your device, browser, network type and what you see on screen.
Where you're connecting and what to try first
| Network | Common culprit | First fix |
|---|---|---|
| Home Wi-Fi | Low upload or a busy household | Restart router; use 5 GHz or Ethernet |
| 5G or LTE | Low Data Mode or Data Saver | Turn off data and battery saving |
| Campus, office or hotel | Network limits on live video | Switch to cellular data |
| Any network | VPN or too many tabs | Pause VPN; close other tabs |
| Only some calls | The other person's connection | Tap Next |
Frequently asked questions
How fast does my internet need to be?
Steadiness matters more than a big number. If HD streaming works and nothing else is using your upload, video chat usually runs well.
Does matching Worldwide cause more lag?
It can. Calls to people far away travel farther, which can add delay. Setting your match area to United States or My state may make calls feel snappier.
Why is it smooth late at night but choppy in the evening?
Evening is peak time for streaming and gaming on home, dorm and apartment networks. Less traffic late at night often means smoother video.
Will switching browsers help?
Sometimes. momos works in Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox. If one keeps struggling, try another and make sure it's up to date.
Adults only. Never recorded.
momos is for people 18 and older. We don't record or store calls, and report and block are always one tap away. See the safety center.