What "RTC Connecting" means
RTC Connecting is Discord's way of saying it is trying to set up a voice or video call with you, but the connection has not finished yet. RTC stands for Real-Time Communication — the technology that lets you talk to people through Discord instead of just typing. When you see this message, Discord is actively working to connect your microphone, speakers, or camera to the other person's device.
The message usually disappears within a few seconds once the connection is ready. If it stays on your screen for more than 10 to 15 seconds, something is blocking the connection, and you will need to troubleshoot.
Key Takeaways
- RTC Connecting means Discord is setting up your voice or video call but has not finished yet — this is normal and usually resolves in a few seconds.
- If RTC Connecting stays on screen longer than 15 seconds, your internet connection, firewall, or Discord permissions are likely the cause.
- Restarting Discord, checking your internet speed, and allowing Discord through your firewall fix most RTC Connecting problems.
- If the other person can hear you but you cannot hear them, the issue is usually on their end, not yours.
Why the connection takes time to establish
Discord does not just open a direct line between two computers the way a phone call does. Instead, it has to find the fastest route between your device and the other person's device, negotiate what quality of audio or video to use, and make sure both sides are ready to send and receive at the same time. This handshake — the back-and-forth agreement between devices — is what RTC Connecting is doing.
Your internet connection, your firewall settings, and Discord's servers all have to agree before the call can start. If any of those three things are slow or misconfigured, you see RTC Connecting for longer than usual.
Internet speed and network problems
A weak or unstable internet connection is the most common reason RTC Connecting hangs. Discord needs at least 2.5 Mbps upload speed for a voice call and 4 Mbps for video. If you are on WiFi far from your router, or if someone else in your home is downloading large files or streaming video, Discord may not have enough bandwidth to complete the handshake.
Test your connection by moving closer to your WiFi router or plugging in an ethernet cable if you have one. If you are on a shared network (school, workplace, public WiFi), the network itself may be throttling Discord traffic, which can cause RTC Connecting to fail entirely.
Firewall and security software blocking Discord
Your computer's firewall or antivirus software may be blocking Discord from sending the data it needs to set up the call. Windows Defender, third-party antivirus programs, and corporate firewalls all do this sometimes. Discord needs to send traffic on specific ports — think of ports as numbered doors that data travels through — and if those doors are closed, the RTC handshake cannot complete.
To fix this, you need to allow Discord through your firewall. On Windows, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Firewall & Network Protection > Allow an app through firewall, then find Discord in the list and check both the Private and Public boxes. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall Options and add Discord to the allowed list. If you are on a work or school network, you may need to contact IT support to unblock Discord.
Discord permissions and microphone access
Discord cannot start a voice call if it does not have permission to use your microphone or camera. On Windows, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone, scroll down to App Permissions, and make sure Discord is turned on. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Microphone and check that Discord is in the list.
If you recently updated your operating system or reinstalled Discord, these permissions may have been reset. Restarting Discord after you grant permission usually fixes the problem when ready.
Outdated Discord version or corrupted cache
Discord updates frequently, and an old version can have bugs that prevent RTC from connecting. Check that you are running the latest version by opening Discord and looking at the bottom left corner — if there is a blue circle with a number, an update is waiting. Close Discord completely and let it update, then restart it.
Discord also stores temporary files called cache that help it run faster. If that cache gets corrupted, RTC Connecting can fail. To clear it, close Discord, then delete the folder at %appdata%\Discord\Cache on Windows or ~/Library/process Support/Discord/Cache on Mac. Restart Discord and try the call again.
The other person's connection or settings
If you can see RTC Connecting but the call never goes through, the problem might be on the other person's end. Ask them to check their internet speed, restart Discord, and make sure their microphone is not muted in Discord's settings. If they can hear you but you cannot hear them, their microphone is working but yours is not — the issue is on your side.
If both of you have tried restarting Discord and checking your internet, and RTC Connecting still does not resolve, try calling someone else. If the call works with a different person, the issue is specific to that user's network or device, not Discord itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should RTC Connecting take?
Usually 2 to 5 seconds. If it takes longer than 15 seconds, something is wrong. Try restarting Discord or moving closer to your WiFi router. If it still does not connect after 30 seconds, disconnect and try again.
Does RTC Connecting mean Discord is broken?
No. RTC Connecting is a normal part of every call — it just means the connection is being set up. The problem only exists if it stays on screen too long or the call fails to connect at all.
Can I use Discord while RTC is connecting?
You can type and use text channels normally. You cannot use voice or video until RTC Connecting finishes and the call starts. If you try to speak during RTC Connecting, the other person will not hear you until the connection is ready.
What if restarting Discord does not fix RTC Connecting?
Check your internet speed, allow Discord through your firewall, and make sure Discord has microphone permission. If none of that works, try clearing Discord's cache folder and restarting your computer. If the problem persists, contact Discord support with details about your internet speed and operating system.
Is RTC Connecting a security risk?
No. RTC Connecting is just Discord doing its job — setting up an encrypted connection between two devices. The encryption protects your call from being intercepted, so the longer handshake is actually a sign that security checks are happening.