[12 Fixes] Discord Stuck on RTC Connecting

What is RTC for Discord?

Discord is a popular communication platform used by gamers, communities, and teams to chat via text, voice, and video. It works on computers, phones, and browsers, letting people join servers, channels, and direct calls easily.

RTC on Discord stands for Real-Time Communication. In simple terms, it’s the system that makes live voice and video calls work. When you join a voice channel, RTC handles sending and receiving your voice instantly so you can talk with others in real time. If RTC isn’t connecting, Discord can’t start the voice or video call properly, which is why you might see "RTC connecting" stuck on Discord browser or app.

Possible Reasons Why Discord Stuck on RTC Connecting

If you’re experiencing the RTC Connecting issue on Discord, it usually means the app is having trouble establishing a stable voice connection. This problem can be caused by several factors, ranging from network settings to app-specific glitches. Here are the most common reasons why Discord gets stuck on RTC Connecting:

❌Network or Firewall: Firewalls, VPNs, or restricted networks can block Discord’s voice connection.

❌Server Region Issues: Far or busy voice servers can prevent a stable connection.

❌Outdated App/Browser: Using old versions can cause RTC errors.

❌Cache or Browser Conflicts: Cookies, cache, or extensions may block connections.

❌VPN/Proxy Interference: VPNs or proxies can disrupt Discord’s voice traffic.

❌ISP Restrictions: Some networks block or throttle Discord voice ports.

❌Discord Server Problems: Outages or high server load can cause RTC to hang.

❌Audio Device Issues: Conflicting or misconfigured audio devices may stop RTC.

Solutions to "Discord Stuck on RTC Connecting" Issue

If Discord keeps getting stuck on RTC Connecting, there are several fixes you can try to restore your voice connection. These solutions address common causes like network problems, app settings, and system conflicts:

1: Restart Discord and Your Device

Sometimes, Discord just needs a fresh start. Close the app completely, making sure it’s not running in the background by checking the Task Manager on Windows (press "Ctrl + Shift + Esc", find Discord under Processes, and click "End Task") or background apps on mobile.

Then, reopen Discord and try connecting to a voice channel again. Restarting your device entirely can also help clear temporary glitches that may prevent RTC from connecting.

2: Check Your Internet Connection

Ensure your internet connection is stable and working properly. Try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data, or restart your router to refresh the connection. Slow, unstable, or intermittent internet can stop Discord from connecting to voice servers, causing the RTC connecting issue.

3: Disable VPN or Proxy

Discord’s RTC (voice) system requires a direct network connection. If you’re using a VPN or proxy, it can interfere with this connection and cause the "RTC Connecting"issue. Temporarily disable any VPN or proxy on your device, then restart Discord and try connecting to a voice channel again. 

4: Reinstall Discord

If the previous steps don’t resolve the "Discrod keeps getting stuck on RTC connecting" issue, reinstalling Discord can help fix corrupted files or settings that may be causing the problem. Open the "Control Panel". Click on "Programs". Find Discord in the list of installed programs, click on it, and then select "Uninstall".

5: Change Voice Server Region

If Discord is stuck on a voice channel, the issue might be due to a congested server region. Try changing the server region to another location and then switch it back to refresh the connection.

Step 1: Launch the Discord app and select your server from the left sidebar. Right-click on the voice channel you want to modify and choose "Edit Channel."

Step 2: In the channel settings, go to "Overview" and find the "Region Override" drop-down menu. Choose a nearby region (usually it is set to "Automatic") to switch to, then save your changes.

6: Disable QoS High Packet Priority

Discord’s QoS (Quality of Service) feature can sometimes interfere with RTC connections, causing the "stuck on RTC connecting" issue. You can temporarily disable QoS High Packet Priority to see if it resolves the RTC connection issue.

Step 1. Open the Discord app and click the "User Settings" icon (gear icon) at the bottom left of the window.

Step 2. In the left sidebar, scroll down and select "Voice & Video" under "App Settings".

Step 3. Scroll down tothe bottomand toggle off "Enable Quality of Service High Packet Priority".

Restart Discord and try joining the voice channel again.

7: Clear Discord Cache

Corrupted cache files can prevent Discord from connecting to voice channels (RTC). To fix this, first close Discord completely. Then, press "Windows + R", type "%appdata%", and press Enter to open the Roaming folder. Locate the Discord folder, open the Cache subfolder, and delete all its contents. Once done, restart Discord and try joining the voice channel again.

8: Change the DNS Server

Changing your DNS server can help fix RTC connection issues if your current DNS is slow or unstable.

Step 1. On Windows, press "Windows + R", type "ncpa.cpl", and press Enter to open "Network Connections".https://www.myrecover.com/screenshots/en/windows/open-network-connections.png

Step 2. Right-click your active network, select "Properties", then double-click "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)".

Step 3. Choose Use the following DNS server addresses and enter a reliable DNS, such as 8.8.8.8 for the preferred and 8.8.4.4 for the alternate.

Click "OK" to save and reconnect Discord.

9: Turn off the Windows Firewall

Sometimes, Windows Firewall may mistakenly block Discord’s voice connection, leading to the "RTC Connecting" issue. You can temporarily disable the firewall to check if it’s the cause.

Step 1. Press "Windows + S", type "control panel", and click "Open" to enter the "Control Panel".

Step 2. Click on "System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall".

Step 3. In the left pane, select "Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off".

Step 4. Choose "Turn off Windows Defender Firewall" under both Private and Public network settings.

After turning off the firewall, restart Discord and test the voice connection. If this fixes the problem, re-enable the firewall and add Discord as an exception instead of leaving it off permanently.

10: Update Network Driver

Outdated or faulty network drivers can also cause Discord to get stuck on RTC Connecting. Updating your network driver ensures a stable and compatible connection for Discord’s voice system.

Step 1. Press "Windows + X" and select "Device Manager" from the menu.

Step 2. In the Device Manager window, expand "Network adapters" to view your network devices.

Step 3. Right-click your active network adapter (for example, Intel(R) Ethernet Connection or Realtek Wi-Fi Adapter) and choose "Update driver".

Step 4: Select "Search automatically for drivers". Windows will look for the latest version and install it if available.

Step 5: Once the update is complete, restart your computer and reopen Discord to check if the RTC connection issue is resolved.

11: Reset Network Settings

If none of the previous solutions work and your Discord browser or App still get stuck on stuck on "RTC Connecting", resetting your network settings can often fix deep network misconfigurations that prevent Discord from connecting to its RTC servers. This process will reset all network adapters and configurations back to their default state.

Step 1: Press "Windows + R", type "cmd", and press "Ctrl + Shift + Enter" to open Command Prompt as an administrator.

Step 2: In the Command Prompt window, type the command and press Enter: netsh winsock reset

Step 3: Wait until you see the message "Successfully reset the Winsock Catalog."

Restart your computer to apply the changes. After restarting, open Discord again and test if you can connect to a voice channel without getting stuck on RTC Connecting.

12: Change the Audio Subsystem in Discord

Sometimes, Discord’s default audio subsystem (Standard) may not work well with certain hardware or drivers, causing RTC connection or voice issues. Switching to the Legacy audio subsystem can help restore compatibility and fix the "RTC Connecting" problem.

Step 1: Open the Discord app and click the "User Settings" icon (gear icon) in the bottom-left corner.

Step 2: Select "Voice & Video" under "App Settings".

Step 3: Scroll down to the "Audio Subsystem" section. Click the drop-down menu and select "Legacy" instead of Standard.

Bonus Tip: Restore Discord Photos or Videos

If your Discord photos, videos, or other files are accidentally deleted or lost due to app crashes, cache clearing, or system errors, you can easily get them back using MyRecover— a reliable and beginner-friendly data recovery tool.

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer.Select the drive where your Discord data was stored.Click "Scan" to search missing Discord files.

Step 2. Preview and select the photos or videos you need. Click "Recover".

Step 3. Select a destination location to save the recovered Discord files.

With MyRecover, you can rescue your Discord photos or videos effortlessly — even after permanent deletion or formatting.

Summary

Discord getting stuck on "RTC Connecting"can be frustrating, especially when you just want to chat or stream with friends. Thankfully, most of the time, the issue comes down to simple network, app, or device conflicts that can be easily fixed using the solutions above.

And if you ever lose important Discord photos or videos during troubleshooting, MyRecover can help you restore them safely in just a few clicks. Moreover, this software even allows you to create bootable data recovery USB stick and restore what you need without accessing operating system, quite useful when you cannot boot computers as usual and lose access to all your data.