Guides:Connection issues
There are several remedies, to fix issues regarding maintaining a stable connection to VRChat.
Glossary
This guide contains computer terminology, and frequently mentions these abbreviations:
- DNS - Domain Name System: A protocol that locates and connects your device to a website's IP address.
- EDNS ECS - Extension Mechanisms for DNS Client Subnet: A mechanism for recursive DNS resolvers to send partial client IP address information to authoritative DNS name servers.
- IP - Internet Protocol address: An address, associated with your device's internet connection, establishing your device to a network, such as a website.
- ISP - Internet Service Provider: A company that allows your device to connect to the Internet. Examples of this are: Comcast, Virgin, and NTT Docomo.
- OS - Operating System.
- Upstream provider - A service that aids in the infrastructure of a platform, in this case, VRChat.
- VPN - Virtual Private Network: Software that can encrypt or secure your connection, through the method of 'tunneling' with different IP addresses.
Check official VRChat outlets
VRChat provides outlets for users to check if VRChat has confirmed server instabilities, or outages.
On the web:
On Discord:
Upstream providers
In addition, VRChat has multiple "upstream providers" that affect sign in, account authorization, and server stabilities.
Account Authorization
These upstream providers handle account data attached to your "platform account", as well as game data hosted from their respective application stores.
- Meta
- Steam
- PICO
- Viveport
Instance hosting
VRChat hosts instancing across four different servers via Photon, one tied to its own region. Occasionally, maintenance may be required on a server, rendering instability on a region for a brief period of time.
- Photon Engine
- U.S. West
- U.S. East
- Europe
- Japan
Creator Economy and purchases
VRChat's Creator Economy is dependent on Tilia services to render transactions, and verify purchase information between users and vendors.
- Tilia
Unstable connection (limited IPv6 support from ISP).
Option 1 - Using a VPN tunnel.
If you're having connection issues, it may be a good idea to utilize a VPN Tunnel, to stabilize your connection.
To do so, you will need an application, such as WARP by CloudFlare1, which can be downloaded here: https://1.1.1.1/.
1. WARP by CloudFlare is a VPN tunnel that aims to stabilize your connection, which uses Cloudflare's own DNS servers. This tunnel, however, does not hide your IP address.
Option 2 - Configuring DNS servers.
- Windows: https://support.surfshark.com/hc/en-us/articles/360003207373-How-to-set-custom-DNS-on-a-Windows-device
- Mac: https://support.surfshark.com/hc/en-us/articles/360022831474-How-to-configure-custom-DNS-on-a-macOS-device
- Linux: https://support.surfshark.com/hc/en-us/articles/360021037760-How-to-configure-custom-DNS-on-a-Linux-device
The guides for the DNS settings above, will by default, use IP addresses that connect to "SurfShark VPN" DNS servers. Instead, use the provided Cloudflare IP addresses.
1.1.1.1
1.0.0.1
1.1.1.1 (Server 1) should be your preferred address, while 1.0.0.1 (Server 2) should be your alternate address. However, you can use any of these other DNS options below. You may choose any DNS provider; options are not limited to only Cloudflare.
| Provider | Server | EDNS ECS |
|---|---|---|
| 8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4 |
Supported as default | |
| Control D | 76.76.2.0
76.76.10.0 |
Not supported |
| Quad9 | 9.9.9.9
149.112.112.112 |
9.9.9.11
149.112.112.11 |
| OpenDNS Home | 208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220 |
Supported as default |
| Cloudflare | 1.1.1.1
1.0.0.1 |
Not supported |
| AdGuard DNS | 94.140.14.14
94.140.15.15 |
Supported as default |
| CleanBrowsing | 185.228.168.9
185.228.169.9 |
Not supported |
| Alternate DNS | 76.76.19.19
76.223.122.150 |
Not supported |
Source: https://www.lifewire.com/free-and-public-dns-servers-2626062
EDNS ECS provides closer hosts, than traditional DNS servers, which sometimes is easier to use on cloud service providers who typically host worldwide.
Reference: https://adguard-dns.io/en/blog/privacy-friendly-edns-client-subnet.html
Option 3 - Elevate IPv4 priority over IPv6 on Windows
This will prioritize using IPv4 over IPv6, without disabling IPv6 completely.
To enable on Windows,
- Open the command prompt by pressing the "Windows Key", and typing "cmd", which opens the Command Console; then press "Run as Administrator".
- Type "netsh interface ipv6 set prefixpolicy ::ffff:0:0/96 100 4", and press the Enter key.
- This should prioritize IPv4, after restarting your PC.
To disable IPv6 prioritization,
- Open the command prompt again, by pressing the "Windows Key", and typing "cmd", and "Run as Administrator" again.
- Type "netsh interface ipv6 reset" and press the Enter key.
- This should revert the IPv4 prioritization after restarting your PC.
Option 4 - Disabling IPv6 and forcing IPv4 use (NOT RECOMMENDED)
Some ISPs have started removing IPv4 capability completely, due to worldwide shortages of IPv4 addresses. If your ISP doing this, this method may not work, and may not allow you to connect to the Internet at all. There are some available guides on how to disable IPv6 protocol:
- Windows: https://support.surfshark.com/hc/en-us/articles/360011550199-How-to-disable-IPv6-on-Windows
- Mac: https://support.surfshark.com/hc/en-us/articles/360012367560-How-to-disable-IPv6-on-macOS
- Linux: https://support.surfshark.com/hc/en-us/articles/360024470413-How-to-disable-IPv6-on-a-Linux-device
Troubleshooting
Connection instability may happen, due to packets being sent out of order, or having a slow or unstable internet connection. There may be several reasons as to why a connection can be unstable, however, here are some of the most common methods of troubleshooting the issue:
Update VRChat
VRChat may need to be updated! A message may prompt you to update your VRChat client on Steam, or the Meta store.
Reboot router
Reboot your router, by turning off the router, waiting a couple minutes, and turning it back on.
File integrity
Check the integrity of the firmware for your GPU drivers, or VRChat software. If necessary, you may need to reinstall VRChat.
Whitelisting your antivirus or firewall
Make sure your firewall or antivirus software are not blocking your connection to VRChat. If necessary, VRChat and Easy Anti Cheat should be whitelisted on your antivirus or firewall softwares.
- By using "ping/nslookup/tracert" on the Command Prompt, to find out, depending if you are using a compatible operating system and software.
Output logs
By default, VRChat's output logs are located under "%USERNAME%\AppData\LocalLow\VRChat\vrchat" and named "output_log_(date). Check the latest dated file, and seek any instabilities with your connection to VRChat. VRChat's User Support, or troubleshooting on VRChat's Discord servers may be able to find the issue, as a last resort.
System time
Double check your system clock, against the current time with your time zone, and make sure the time is set correctly.
Useful resources
Downdetector can be used as a guide to check earlier indication of ISP issues. However, this does not always confirm issues with an upstream provider. Please use at your discretion as a margin for judgement.
| Downdetector US | https://downdetector.com/ |
| Downdetector UK | https://downdetector.co.uk/ |
| Downdetector DE | https://allestörungen.de/ |
| Downdetector FR | https://downdetector.fr/ |
| Downdetector JP | https://downdetector.jp/ |
