Zoom: Your internet connection is unstable [Fixed]

Zoom is one of the most popular web conferencing platforms used by businesses today. At the start of 2020, the platform grew even more, with businesses seeking to find remote ways to keep in contact with team members. As with any popular software, errors are bound to occur. If you’re seeing the ‘your internet connection is unstable’ error on your Zoom screen, then you might be wondering how you can troubleshoot this problem and get back to working with your team.

In this post, we go through a number of potential solutions to help you get rid of this connection error.

What is the ‘your internet connection is unstable’ error on Zoom?

But first, what is the unstable internet connection error commonly seen on Zoom? This error appears when Zoom is unable to reliably connect to your internet service provider, preventing you from connecting to the network in a stable way.

The error looks like the following image:

In some cases you computer might lose the internet connectivity completely and display an “Unable to connect” error message instead. That message comes with the error code 5003, and looks like this:

What are the signs that my computer is experiencing a connection issue with Zoom?

Though the image above is a common error that indicates there’s an inability to connect, you might also experience any of the following symptoms of a poor Zoom connection:

• Network latency: Also known as computer lag, having multiple networks connecting through Zoom can cause delays that kick you off of the network temporarily. This is especially true if your internet is poor.
• Frozen screen: In some instances, your screen may freeze when encountering a connection issue with Zoom.
• Unable to load the app: The app might not allow you to access the meeting room due to poor signals or software issues.
• Poor video quality and video: Your video quality might be blurry, or your audio might skip or go in and out.
• Disconnected meetings: You might be disconnected from the meeting because Zoom is having trouble connecting to the meeting.

What causes the ‘your internet connection is unstable’ error?

Though it might seem like this error is caused by poor connection, this isn’t always the case. In fact, many frustrated Zoom users report being able to use their Wi-Fi or internet to connect to other websites, indicating that there is a compatibility issue with Zoom that is preventing the software from properly receiving the signal.

Here are the most common causes of connection issues on Zoom:

• Your device is too far from your router, causing it to disconnect.
• You have poor Wi-Fi.
• Your network’s hardware is out-of-date or needs to be updated.
• Your Internet Service Provider is experiencing temporary connection issues.
• Zoom is experiencing a bug or error.

Regardless of the cause, we will be looking at both internet issues and software incompatibility issues that may be preventing you from accessing this important video conference program so that you can get to the root of the problem.

How to fix the ‘your internet connection is unstable’ error?

Without delay, let’s get into the troubleshooting solutions that might finally get rid of your connection issues while using Zoom.

Test your network connection

The first thing you’ll want to check is your network connection. This can help rule out whether or not you’re out of range, you’re experiencing a network problem, or if something else is going on. It is also very easy to do, making this troubleshooting error quick.

You will want to make sure you’re near your Wi-Fi router to fix this issue. It’s a good idea to directly connect to the internet using an Ethernet cable if you have one. After you’ve done the above steps, try reconnecting with Zoom.

If, after moving closer or directly connecting your device to the internet does not result in a solution, you will want to test your connectivity by trying to access a video on your browser. If there’s any issue reaching other pages that require the internet, then you know that the Zoom app is unlikely to be the problem.

In this case, you will need to move to the next step to try to troubleshoot your computer’s connection issue.

Run your computer’s network troubleshooter

One of the easiest ways to troubleshoot your computer’s network to see if there’s a problem with the connection is by using your computer’s automatic network troubleshooter.

If you are accessing Zoom via Windows 8 or 10, all you need to do is access the Network Troubleshooter to try to fix the error.

To do this, you will need to complete the following steps:

1. Go to the Start Menu.
2. Click on Settings and search for Network & Internet.

3. Select the Status option and then Network troubleshooter.

4. Let the troubleshooting software scan your computer and attempt to fix the error.
5. Once it’s complete, try relaunching the Zoom software to see if the error has successfully disappeared.

If the error is still coming up, your computer didn’t show any connection errors, or your troubleshooter found a connection problem that it was unable to solve, you will need to go to the next steps.

Reset your modem

If your network connection is the problem, but you couldn’t resolve it using the solution above, then you can try resetting your modem to try to fix the zoom internet connection error.

1. First, you’ll want to start with the modem. Go ahead and unplug your modem from the wall.
2. Let it sit unplugged for 1-3 minutes, making sure that all of the lights are off.
3. Then, plug it back into the wall and wait for all of the lights that indicate internet connectivity to light up.
4. Now you can try logging into Zoom again to see if that resolves the problem.

Reset your router

If resetting the modem doesn’t work, you can also try resetting the router.

1. Go to your router and locate the small ‘reset’ hole that is likely in the back of the router.
2. Use a narrow pin to press the hole down for 3-5 seconds.

Once your router has been reset, you’ll need to complete the process by using an Ethernet cord to gain access to the internet again.

1. Find the router address that is most often located on the back of the router and enter your internet connection details into your device to regain internet access.
2. Lastly, attempt to launch Zoom on your device.

You can also try restarting your computer if launching Zoom doesn’t work, as this can sometimes reset your computer.

Refresh your IP Address

If you are still having a difficult time being able to connect to Zoom and your network, another option you can try is refreshing or renewing your IP Address. This is because your IP Address could be invalid. By renewing it, you are giving your computer a chance to request a new IP Address from the router. Keep in mind that in order to refresh your IP Address, you will need to release the one you currently have.

1. Start by right-clicking on your Windows icon at the bottom left of your computer.
2. Choose the Command Prompt, and then enter each of the following commands, pressing Enter in between:
   1. ipconfig /release
   2. ipconfig /renew
   3. ipconfig /flushdns
3. Once complete, restart your computer and try loading Zoom.

Change the DNS settings

Still not working? Sometimes, the Domain Name System (DNS) settings used by your Internet Service Provider is not correctly converting the names of Internet Addresses into identifiable IP Addresses. In this case, you’ll want to manually change the router’s DNS settings.

1. First, you will want to navigate to the Windows Settings screen after opening the Start Menu.
2. Then, select Network & Internet and then select your network connection.
3. From here, you’ll want to select Status, followed by clicking on the Properties button.
4. Scroll down until you see IP settings, and then click the Edit button.

5. From there, you will be able to choose the Manual option for these settings and then save it.

6. Now you will be able to toggle between a few different options: IPv4 or IPv6. Enable the IP setting you’re already using.

7. Next, you will want to manually enter the DNS of your choosing. There are 2 common DNS options that you can try:
   • Google Public DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
   • OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220
8. Simply try inputting one of these options, then click on save.
9. Reset your computer to see if you are finally able to access Zoom without experiencing connection errors.

What if my computer is still showing the ‘your internet connection is unstable’ error?

We hope one of the above troubleshooting solutions works for you. However, if you’ve tried all of these potential solutions only to still be dealing with Zoom connectivity issues, you might be feeling like you’re at wit’s end.

In this case, we recommend contacting a professional computer technician who can get to the bottom of your connection problems so that you can finally get back to your Zoom meetings.