> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.talview.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How network latency affects audio and video quality?

Latency is the time it takes for data to travel between your device and Talview servers, measured in milliseconds (ms). High latency can disrupt live interviews and proctored assessments by causing delays in audio, video, and real-time interactions.

In this article, you’ll learn why latency matters, how it impacts your session, and what you can do to reduce it.

## 👋 What Is Latency and Why It Matters?

* **Low latency = smooth audio, video, and interaction**
* **High latency = delays, lags, or interruptions**

This is especially important for **live interviews** and **proctored assessments**, where real-time communication is key.

### 🚨 What Causes High Latency?

High latency can happen due to several common reasons:

* **Weak Wi-Fi signal** or being far from the router
* **VPNs or proxy networks** slowing down your connection
* **Busy networks** (others streaming, gaming, or video calling)
* **Apps running in the background** that use bandwidth (e.g., Zoom, YouTube, cloud sync)
* **Mobile data or hotspot usage**, which may be unstable

### ✅ Ideal Latency for Talview Sessions

To ensure a smooth experience, here’s what your latency should look like:

| **Latency Range** | **Experience Quality**              |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| **0–50 ms**       | Excellent – Fully supported         |
| **51–100 ms**     | Acceptable – Minor delays may occur |
| **100+ ms**       | Poor – Risk of audio/video issues   |

> 👉 You can measure this using the [Network Speed Test](https://speed.talview.com/).

### ⚠️ How to Know If You Have High Latency

You might have high latency if:

* There’s a delay when someone speaks or responds
* Your video is freezing or skipping
* Conversations overlap or echo
* You get flagged during proctoring due to delayed reactions
* Internet disconnection happening in spite of having good upload and down

### 🛠 Steps to Reduce Latency

Try these quick fixes to lower your latency:

* **Use a wired (LAN) connection** for a stable network
* **Move closer to your router** if on Wi-Fi
* **Disconnect unused devices** from the same network
* **Turn off VPNs or proxies** unless required
* **Close other apps** using internet (e.g., Netflix, Zoom, OneDrive)
* **Restart your router/modem**
* **Switch to a home broadband connection** if using mobile data

After trying these steps, [Run a Network Speed Test](https://speed.talview.com/) again to check your improvement.

> **When to Retest** Once you've taken the steps above, go back and **re-run the System Readiness Check** to ensure your latency score is in the safe range.

## 📚 Related Articles

* [*Using Mobile Hotspot Without Interruption*](https://docs.talview.com/candidates/system-diagnostics/how-to-use-mobile-hotspot-without-interruption)
* [*How Background Apps Can Slow You Down*](https://docs.talview.com/candidates/system-diagnostics/network-and-connectivity/why-do-background-applications-cause-bandwidth-and-latency-issues)
* [*Troubleshooting High Latency With VPN*](https://docs.talview.com/candidates/system-diagnostics/why-does-vpn-usage-trigger-high-latency-warnings#why-does-vpn-usage-trigger-high-latency-warnings)
* [*Minimum Network Requirements for Talview*](https://docs.talview.com/candidates/system-diagnostics/why-is-my-network-not-meeting-test-requirements#minimum-network-requirements)