5 Reasons Your Stream is Lagging (And How to Fix Them)

There’s nothing more frustrating for a streamer than pouring your energy into a great broadcast, only to have your viewers complain about lag, stuttering, or dropped frames. A choppy stream can ruin the viewer experience and stop your channel’s growth in its tracks.

The good news is that most stream lag issues come down to a few common problems that can be fixed. As a technical production specialist, I’ve helped countless creators solve these exact issues. Let’s dive into the five most common reasons your stream is lagging and how you can fix them.

1. Your Bitrate is Too High for Your Internet

This is, without a doubt, the #1 cause of stream lag. You might have a fast download speed, but streaming depends entirely on your upload speed. If you try to send more data than your connection can handle, your stream will drop frames and lag for your viewers.

• The Fix:
  1. Run a Speed Test: Go to a site like speedtest.net and find your upload speed in Mbps.
  2. Set a Safe Bitrate: As a rule of thumb, your bitrate in OBS should not exceed 50% – 75% of your total upload speed. For example, if your upload speed is 8 Mbps (8000 Kbps), a safe bitrate would be 4000 Kbps – 6000 Kbps. Note that other processes such as Gaming online also require upload speed!
  3. Adjust in OBS: Go to File > Settings > Output. Under the “Streaming” tab, set your Bitrate to your new, safe number.

2. Your Computer is Overloaded (CPU/GPU Overload)

OBS requires significant computer resources to capture, compose, and encode your video in real-time. If your game or other applications are using 100% of your CPU or GPU, OBS won’t have enough power left to do its job properly. This causes “encoding lag,” which results in a stuttering stream.

• The Fix:
  1. Use Your GPU Encoder: In Settings > Output, make sure your Encoder is set to NVIDIA NVENC H.264 (for NVIDIA cards) or AMD VCE/VCN H.264 (for AMD cards). This uses a dedicated chip on your graphics card and has a much lower performance impact than using your CPU (the x264 encoder).
  2. Run OBS as Administrator: On Windows, always right-click the OBS icon and select “Run as administrator.” This tells your computer to prioritize OBS and ensure it gets the resources it needs.
  3. Lower In-Game Graphics Settings: Reducing your in-game settings can free up a lot of GPU power for OBS to use.

3. Network Instability (Wi-Fi is the Enemy)

Even with a fast internet plan, a Wi-Fi connection can be unstable. It’s susceptible to interference from other devices, walls, or even your microwave. These small, constant dips in connection speed are enough to cause dropped frames and make your stream buffer for viewers.

• The Fix:
  • Use a Wired Ethernet Connection: This is non-negotiable for serious streaming. A physical ethernet cable provides a stable, consistent connection that Wi-Fi simply cannot match. Plug your computer directly into your router.

4. Outdated Software and Drivers

Sometimes, the issue isn’t with your settings, but with outdated software. Graphics card drivers are frequently updated to improve performance, and OBS itself releases updates that fix bugs and improve stability.

• The Fix:
  1. Update OBS: In OBS, go to Help > Check for Updates to ensure you are on the latest version.
  2. Update Your Graphics Drivers: Go to the NVIDIA or AMD website and download the latest drivers for your specific graphics card model.

5. Resource-Heavy Sources and Overlays

That cool animated background or browser source you added might be the culprit. Browser sources, unoptimized video files, and even high-resolution display captures can consume a surprising amount of CPU power.

• The Fix:
  1. Check the OBS Stats Dock: Go to View > Docks > Stats. During your stream, keep an eye on the “Rendering Lag” and “Encoding Lag” sections. If you see numbers climbing, a source is likely causing the problem.
  2. Simplify Your Scenes: Try disabling your most complex sources one by one to see if the lag improves. If you find a problematic animated overlay, consider replacing it with a static image.
  3. Hardware Acceleration: In the properties for your Browser Sources, make sure “Enable Browser Source Hardware Acceleration” is checked.

Still Struggling?

While these five fixes solve the vast majority of stream lag issues, sometimes the problem is more complex. If you’ve tried everything and are still frustrated, it might be time to call in an expert.

At DervProductions, we offer professional OBS setup services to create a perfectly optimized, stress-free streaming experience. Contact us today for a free consultation!