What the RTC Connecting error means and how to fix it

The RTC Connecting error in Discord means your computer cannot establish a connection to Discord's voice and video servers. RTC stands for Real-Time Communication — the system Discord uses for calls and voice channels. When this fails, you'll see the error message in a voice channel, and you won't be able to hear or speak to anyone.

Most of the time, this error clears itself within a few minutes. If it doesn't, the fix usually involves restarting Discord, checking your internet connection, or adjusting a single setting in Discord's voice options. The steps below cover the most common causes in the order that fixes them fastest.

Key Takeaways

  • RTC Connecting errors usually resolve on their own within a few minutes — wait before trying anything else.
  • Fully closing Discord and reopening it fixes the problem in most cases where waiting doesn't work.
  • Disabling hardware acceleration in Discord's voice settings resolves the error for many users whose graphics drivers are outdated.
  • Switching Discord's voice region to a server closer to your location can help if your internet connection is slow or unstable.
  • If none of these steps work, the problem is usually on Discord's end, and you should check the Discord status page to see if servers are down.

Wait a few minutes before taking action

Discord's servers occasionally have brief connection hiccups that resolve without you doing anything. When you first see the RTC Connecting message, wait three to five minutes and see if the connection establishes on its own. Check that you are still in the voice channel — sometimes Discord disconnects you automatically after a timeout.

If the error clears after waiting, you're done. If it's still there after five minutes, move to the next step.

Close Discord completely and reopen it

A restart fixes the RTC Connecting error about half the time. Close Discord entirely — not just minimize it. On Windows, right-click the Discord icon in your system tray (the small icons in the bottom right of your taskbar) and select Quit Discord. On Mac, click Discord in the menu bar at the top and select Quit Discord.

Wait ten seconds, then open Discord again. Try joining the voice channel once more. If you still see the RTC Connecting message after waiting another minute, continue to the next step.

Disable hardware acceleration in Discord

Hardware acceleration tells Discord to use your graphics card to process video and voice. When your graphics drivers are outdated or unstable, this can cause RTC connection failures. Turning it off forces Discord to use your CPU instead, which is slower but more reliable.

Open Discord and go to User Settings (the gear icon in the bottom left). Click Voice & Video in the left menu. Scroll down and find the toggle for Hardware Acceleration. Turn it off (the toggle should turn gray). Close and reopen Discord, then try the voice channel again.

If this fixes the problem, your graphics drivers may need an update. You can update them through Windows Update (on Windows) or by visiting your graphics card manufacturer's website. For now, leave hardware acceleration off.

Change your voice server region

Discord lets you choose which regional server handles your voice connection. If you're far from the server Discord selected automatically, or if that server is overloaded, you may see the RTC Connecting error. Switching to a closer region often fixes this.

In the voice channel, look for a small icon that shows your current region — it usually appears near the top of the channel name or in the voice settings menu. Click it and select a different region closer to your location. If you're in North America, try US East or US West. If you're in Europe, try Europe. Join the channel again and wait a minute for the connection to establish.

Check your internet connection

A weak or unstable internet connection can prevent RTC from connecting. Run a speed test at speedtest.net to see your current download and upload speeds. Discord voice calls need at least 1 Mbps upload speed to work reliably. If your upload speed is below 1 Mbps, that's likely the cause.

If your speed is low, move closer to your Wi-Fi router or connect with an ethernet cable if possible. Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Close other programs that use the internet — streaming video, large downloads, or online games can interfere with Discord's connection. Once your connection is stable, try Discord again.

Check Discord's server status

If none of the steps above work, Discord's servers may be down or experiencing problems. Visit status.discord.com to see whether Discord is reporting any outages. If the page shows red or yellow status indicators, the problem is on Discord's end and you'll need to wait for them to fix it.

You can also check the Discord subreddit (reddit.com/r/discordapp) to see whether other users are reporting the same error. If many people are affected, it's almost certainly a server issue. If only you are affected, the problem is on your end and one of the earlier steps should have fixed it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does RTC Connecting mean I'm banned from voice channels?

No. RTC Connecting is a connection error, not a ban. If you were banned, Discord would show a different message saying you don't have permission to join. RTC Connecting just means your computer can't reach Discord's voice servers right now.

Will restarting Discord delete my messages or settings?

No. Restarting Discord only closes and reopens the program. All your messages, servers, and settings stay exactly as they are. Restarting is completely safe.

What if I'm on a school or work network?

Some networks block the ports Discord uses for voice calls. If you're on a school or work network and RTC Connecting won't go away, try Discord on your phone's mobile data instead of the Wi-Fi. If it works on mobile data, your network is blocking Discord voice. Contact your network administrator to ask them to unblock it.

Can I fix RTC Connecting on my phone?

Yes — try the same steps. Close Discord completely, reopen it, and try the voice channel again. If that doesn't work, switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data or vice versa. If you're on Wi-Fi, move closer to your router. Phone networks rarely have the hardware acceleration setting, so that step usually doesn't apply.