Why Discord Says "RTC Connecting" and How to Fix It

What "RTC Connecting" means and why it happens

RTC Connecting is Discord's way of saying it is trying to establish a voice or video connection with another user or server, but something is blocking that handshake. RTC stands for Real-Time Communication — the protocol Discord uses to send your voice and video. When you see this message, Discord has found the person or channel you want to talk to, but the actual audio or video stream has not started yet.

The connection stalls because of one of three things: your internet cannot reach Discord's servers properly, Discord's servers cannot reach you, or something in between — your router, firewall, or network settings — is stopping the signal. Unlike a text message, which can take a slower route to you, voice and video need a direct path that works right now. If that path is blocked or too slow to establish, you get stuck on "RTC Connecting".

Key Takeaways

RTC Connecting means Discord is trying to start a voice or video call but cannot complete the connection handshake between your device and Discord's servers.
The most common causes are network congestion, firewall or router blocks, DNS issues, or Discord's servers being temporarily overloaded.
Restarting Discord, checking your internet speed, and disabling VPN or proxy tools often resolve the issue within minutes.
If the problem persists across multiple calls, the issue is usually on your network side — your router, firewall, or ISP — not Discord's servers.

Network and internet connection problems

A weak or unstable internet connection is the most common reason RTC Connecting hangs. Voice and video need consistent bandwidth and low latency — the time it takes for data to travel from your device to Discord's servers and back. If your connection drops packets (loses small pieces of data), takes too long to respond, or does not have enough speed, Discord cannot establish the call.

Test your connection by opening a speed test site like Speedtest.net in your browser. Discord voice calls need about 2.5 Mbps download and 2.5 Mbps upload to work smoothly. If you are getting less than that, or if your ping (latency) is above 150 milliseconds, your internet is the bottleneck. Move closer to your router, close other apps that use bandwidth, or restart your modem and router by unplugging them for 30 seconds and plugging them back in.

If you are on WiFi, switch to a wired Ethernet connection if possible — it is more stable and faster. If you cannot use Ethernet, move your device closer to the router and away from walls or metal objects that block the signal.

Firewall and router settings blocking the connection

Your firewall or router may be blocking Discord's ability to send and receive voice data. Firewalls are designed to stop unwanted traffic, but they sometimes block legitimate connections too. Discord uses specific ports and protocols for RTC, and if your firewall does not recognize them, it will silently drop the connection attempt.

On Windows, check if Discord is allowed through Windows Defender Firewall by opening Settings, going to Privacy & Security, then Firewall & Network Protection, and clicking "Allow an app through firewall". Make sure Discord is checked for both Private and Public networks. On Mac, go to System Settings, Security & Privacy, Firewall, then Firewall Options, and add Discord to the allowed apps list.

If you control your router, log into its admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in your browser) and look for port forwarding or UPnP settings. Enabling UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) lets Discord automatically configure the ports it needs. If your router does not support UPnP, you may need to manually forward ports 50000–65535 to your device's local IP address, though this is rarely necessary for Discord.

DNS and proxy issues
DNS (Domain Name System) translates Discord.com into the actual server address your device needs to reach. If your DNS is slow, misconfigured, or blocked, Discord cannot find its servers, and RTC Connecting will hang indefinitely. This is especially common if you are using a corporate network, school network, or a VPN.

Try switching to a public DNS service. On Windows, open Settings, go to Network & Internet, then Advanced Network Settings, then Change Adapter Options. Right-click your active connection, select Properties, find IPv4 Properties, and change the DNS servers to 8.8.8.8 (Google) and 8.8.4.4. On Mac, go to System Settings, Network, then Advanced, then DNS, and add the same addresses.

If you are using a VPN or proxy, disable it temporarily and try the call again. VPNs route your traffic through another server, which can add latency or block Discord's RTC ports. Some corporate firewalls also block VoIP traffic entirely — if you are on a work network, contact your IT department to ask if Discord voice is allowed.

Discord app and device settings

Sometimes the problem is not your network but Discord itself. The app may have a bug, be out of date, or have incorrect audio settings. Start by closing Discord completely — not just minimizing it — and opening it again. On Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, find Discord, and click End Task. On Mac, press Command+Q to quit Discord.

Check that Discord is up to date. On Windows, Discord usually updates automatically, but you can force a check by closing the app and opening it again. On Mac, open Discord, click Discord in the menu bar, and select About Discord to see if an update is available.

Go into Discord's Voice & Video settings and check that the correct input and output devices are selected. Click the User Settings icon (gear) in the bottom left, go to Voice & Video, and make sure your microphone and speakers are not set to a disconnected or disabled device. If you see a device you do not recognize, select a different one. Also check that Voice Activity is enabled — if it is set to Push to Talk and you have not bound a key, the call will not transmit your voice.

Discord server status and temporary outages

Discord's servers occasionally experience outages or degraded performance, which can cause RTC Connecting to hang on many users at once. If the problem started suddenly and affects multiple people you are trying to call, check Discord's status page at status.discord.com. This page shows real-time information about whether Discord's voice, video, and API services are working.

If Discord reports an incident, there is nothing you can do except wait. These outages usually last from a few minutes to an hour. If the status page shows everything is normal but you are still stuck, the problem is on your end — your network, device, or settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does RTC Connecting happen only with certain people?

If the problem is one-way — you can call some people but not others — the issue is usually on the other person's network, not yours. Ask them to restart Discord and their router. If it happens with everyone in a specific server but not others, that server may have regional connectivity issues or the server owner may have misconfigured voice settings.

Does restarting Discord actually help?

Yes, frequently. Restarting clears temporary connection states and forces Discord to re-establish its connection to the servers. Close Discord completely (not just the window) and reopen it. This fixes the problem in about 40 percent of cases.

What if I see RTC Connecting but then the call works anyway?

This usually means your connection is slow but stable enough to eventually complete the handshake. If it happens every time, your network is borderline — consider moving closer to your router or upgrading your internet plan if the problem is frequent.

Can I fix RTC Connecting without restarting my router?

Try these first: restart Discord, disable any VPN or proxy, check your firewall settings, and switch from WiFi to Ethernet if possible. Restarting your router is a last resort and works in about 30 percent of cases where other steps do not.

Is RTC Connecting a sign that Discord is hacking me or stealing data?

No. RTC Connecting is a normal connection error that happens when Discord cannot establish a voice or video stream. It is not a security issue — it is a network connectivity issue, the same kind that can happen with any video call app.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.