You open Discord and try to join a voice channel, but the status shows “RTC Connecting” and never changes. You cannot hear anyone, and no one can hear you. This problem typically occurs because Discord cannot establish a stable Real-Time Communication connection with its servers due to network restrictions, firewall blocks, or corrupted local settings. This article explains why the RTC Connecting error happens and provides step-by-step fixes to get your voice chat working again.
Key Takeaways: Fixing Discord RTC Connecting Error
- User Settings > Voice & Video > Reset Voice Settings: Restores default voice settings that fix most RTC connection issues.
- Windows Firewall > Allow an app through firewall: Ensures Discord is not blocked by your system firewall.
- Disable VPN or Proxy in Windows Network Settings: VPNs and proxies often interfere with Discord’s UDP voice protocol.
Why Discord Gets Stuck on “RTC Connecting”
Discord uses a protocol called Real-Time Communication to transmit voice data. This protocol relies on UDP packets to keep voice chat low-latency. When Discord shows “RTC Connecting,” it means the client cannot establish a UDP handshake with Discord’s voice servers. The most common root causes are:
Network Firewall Blocks
Windows Firewall or third-party antivirus software may block Discord’s voice ports. Discord uses UDP ports 50000 to 65535 for voice traffic. If these ports are closed or filtered, the connection fails.
VPN or Proxy Interference
VPNs and proxies reroute your internet traffic through an intermediary server. This often breaks the direct UDP path needed for voice chat. Many corporate or school networks also use proxies that block UDP entirely.
Corrupted Discord Voice Settings
Discord stores voice settings locally. If these files become corrupted due to a crash or improper update, the voice subsystem fails to initialize correctly.
ISP Throttling or Regional Server Issues
Some internet service providers throttle UDP traffic during peak hours. Discord also routes voice through regional servers. If the nearest server is overloaded or down, the connection may hang.
Steps to Fix Discord RTC Connecting Error
- Reset Discord Voice Settings
Open Discord and click the gear icon next to your username to open User Settings. Go to Voice & Video. Scroll down and click the Reset Voice Settings button. Confirm the reset. This clears all custom voice configurations and resets the audio subsystem. - Allow Discord Through Windows Firewall
Press the Windows key, type “Firewall,” and open Windows Defender Firewall. Click Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall. Click Change Settings, then Allow another app. Browse to the Discord executable (usually C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Discord\app-[version]\Discord.exe). Make sure both Private and Public boxes are checked. Click OK. - Disable VPN or Proxy
If you use a VPN, disconnect from it completely. For proxy settings: press Windows key, type “Proxy settings,” and open it. Under Manual proxy setup, turn off Use a proxy server. Close Discord and reopen it to test. - Change Discord Voice Server Region
In a voice channel, click the channel name and select Edit Channel. Go to Overview and change the Region to a different location, such as US East or Europe West. Click Save Changes. This forces Discord to use a different voice server. - Flush DNS and Reset Network Stack
Press Windows key, type “cmd,” right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator. Run these commands one by one:ipconfig /flushdns,ipconfig /release,ipconfig /renew,netsh winsock reset,netsh int ip reset. Restart your computer after running all commands. - Switch to Discord Canary or Public Test Build
Download Discord Canary from the official Discord website. Install it separately. Canary often includes experimental fixes for voice issues. Test if the RTC Connecting error persists in Canary. - Reinstall Discord Completely
Press Windows key, type “Add or remove programs,” and open it. Find Discord in the list and uninstall it. After uninstalling, delete the remaining folders: press Windows key + R, type%appdata%and delete the Discord folder. Also go to%localappdata%and delete the Discord folder. Restart your computer, then download and install Discord from the official website.
If Discord Still Shows RTC Connecting After the Main Fix
Discord RTC Connecting on a School or Work Network
Corporate and educational networks often block UDP ports entirely. In this case, you cannot bypass the restriction without administrative permission. You can try using a different network, such as a mobile hotspot, to confirm the issue is network-related.
RTC Connecting Only in Certain Voice Channels
If the error occurs only in one specific voice channel but not others, the channel’s region may be misconfigured. Ask the server owner to change the voice channel region. Right-click the voice channel, select Edit Channel, go to Overview, and pick a different Region.
Discord RTC Connecting After a Windows Update
Windows updates can reset firewall rules or network adapter settings. After a major update, repeat the steps to allow Discord through the firewall and flush your DNS. Also update your network adapter driver: press Windows key + X, select Device Manager, expand Network adapters, right-click your adapter, and choose Update driver.
Discord Voice Connection Methods: UDP vs TCP vs Relay
| Item | UDP (Direct) | TCP (Fallback) | Relay (REST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Direct peer-to-peer voice data transfer using User Datagram Protocol | Voice data sent over Transmission Control Protocol through Discord servers | Voice routed through a REST relay server as a last resort |
| Latency | Lowest latency, ideal for real-time chat | Higher latency due to error checking | Highest latency, noticeable delay |
| When Used | Default connection when firewall allows UDP | Automatic fallback when UDP is blocked | Used when both UDP and TCP fail |
| Common Issues | Blocked by firewalls, VPNs, and proxies | May cause packet loss and jitter | Frequent RTC Connecting errors |
Discord attempts to use UDP first for the best performance. If the RTC Connecting error persists, the client may fall back to TCP or relay mode. You can force a fallback by enabling the Quality of Service High Packet Priority setting in Voice & Video settings, but this does not guarantee a stable connection.
After applying the steps above, you should be able to join voice channels without the RTC Connecting error. If the problem continues, test your internet connection by running a ping test to Discord’s servers. Open Command Prompt and type ping 8.8.8.8 -t to check for packet loss. Consistent packet loss indicates an underlying network issue that requires ISP support. For persistent problems, try the Discord Canary build, which includes newer voice protocol fixes before they reach the stable release.