Improving Video Call Quality: Audio, Video, and Connection

Knowing how to improve video call quality is increasingly important as video meetings have become a primary channel for professional communication, client relationships, and remote teamwork. A video call where you look like a pixelated ghost, sound like you are speaking through a pillow, or keep freezing at critical moments creates a negative impression that undermines the conversation regardless of the quality of what you have to say. The good news is that most poor video call experiences are caused by a small number of fixable issues — network bandwidth, microphone quality, lighting, and background noise — and addressing them does not require expensive equipment or technical expertise. This guide covers how to improve video call quality across every dimension, from the immediate no-cost fixes to the hardware upgrades that make the most difference. If you want the full context, see our Best Software and Apps.

Before working through the specific improvements below, identify which dimension of your video call quality is the weakest — video, audio, or connection stability — because the most impactful improvements differ significantly depending on the answer. A quick self-assessment: join a Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet test call (each platform provides a test meeting link) and watch the recording or ask a colleague for honest feedback on which element of your video call quality is most noticeably poor.

How to Improve Video Call Quality: Internet Connection

A stable, sufficiently fast internet connection is the foundation of good video call quality. Most video call platforms require a minimum of 1–2 Mbps upload and download for HD video, but the more important factor than raw speed is stability — a connection that averages 10 Mbps but drops to 0.5 Mbps for two seconds every few minutes will produce significantly worse video call quality than a steady 5 Mbps connection.

Steps to improve video call quality through better internet connection:

1. Use a wired Ethernet connection — This single change eliminates most Wi-Fi-related video call quality problems. A wired connection to your router provides consistent bandwidth without the interference and signal variation that affects Wi-Fi, particularly in buildings with many competing networks. If running a cable is not practical, powerline adapters (devices that send network signal through your electrical wiring) provide a wired-equivalent connection without new cabling.
2. Move closer to the Wi-Fi router — If wired connection is not possible, position yourself as close to the router as practical. Signal strength drops with distance and through walls; a clear line-of-sight connection at 2–3 metres from the router produces significantly better video call quality than a full house away through three walls.
3. Use the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band rather than 2.4 GHz — Most modern routers broadcast two networks. The 5 GHz band provides faster, less congested connection with shorter range; 2.4 GHz provides longer range but is shared with many devices including microwaves and baby monitors. Connect your call device to the 5 GHz network for better video call quality.
4. Pause other bandwidth-consuming activities during calls — Video streaming on other devices, large downloads, and cloud backups can saturate the connection and degrade video call quality. Pause them during important calls.
5. Check for network congestion times — If video call quality is consistently poor at specific times of day but fine at others, ISP congestion during peak hours may be the cause — a problem the ISP must address rather than anything you can fix locally.

How to Improve Video Call Quality: Audio

Poor audio — echoing, background noise, tinny sound, or low volume — is more damaging to video call quality than poor video. Humans tolerate video issues better than audio because we rely primarily on voice for communication. The most impactful audio improvements to video call quality:

Use a dedicated microphone or headset. The built-in microphone on a laptop sits close to the keyboard, fan vents, and trackpad — all of which create noise that degrades video call quality. A USB headset (even a basic £20–30 model) positions the microphone near your mouth, eliminates background pickup, and prevents echo by ensuring the speaker audio does not re-enter the microphone. For professional video call quality, a USB condenser microphone (Blue Snowball, Rode NT-USB Mini) on a desk stand with a pop filter produces broadcast-quality audio that noticeably improves your video call quality from participants’ perspective.

Use headphones or earphones. Speakers produce audio that the microphone picks up and transmits back to other participants as echo — degrading everyone’s video call quality. Any headphones or earphones eliminate this acoustic feedback loop. If you prefer not to wear headphones, use a dedicated speakerphone (Jabra Speak series) designed to manage echo electronically.

Enable noise suppression in your video call platform. Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet all include background noise suppression that significantly reduces keyboard clicking, air conditioning hum, traffic noise, and other ambient sounds:

• Zoom: Settings → Audio → Suppress background noise → High or Aggressive
• Microsoft Teams: Settings → Devices → Noise suppression → High
• Google Meet: Settings → Audio → Noise cancellation toggle

How to Improve Video Call Quality: Video and Lighting

Video call quality on the visual side is determined by two factors in roughly equal measure: the quality of the camera and, more importantly, the quality of the lighting. A good external webcam in poor lighting produces worse video call quality than a mediocre built-in camera in good lighting. Fix lighting before spending money on a camera.

Lighting improvements for better video call quality:

• Face a window or light source — Position yourself so the primary light source (a window or lamp) faces you rather than being behind you. Backlit subjects appear as silhouettes regardless of camera quality — this is the single most common cause of poor-looking video call quality.
• Add a ring light or desk lamp — A simple LED ring light (£15–30) placed behind the monitor at face level dramatically improves video call quality by providing consistent, even frontal illumination regardless of ambient conditions or time of day.
• Avoid mixed colour temperatures — Warm desk lamps and cool daylight create unflattering colour casts. Consistent lighting temperature (all cool white or all warm) produces better skin tones in video call quality.

Camera improvements for better video call quality: If lighting is optimised and video call quality is still poor, a dedicated external webcam is the appropriate upgrade. The Logitech C920 and C922 are the most widely recommended webcams for video call quality at approximately £60–80, producing significantly sharper 1080p video than most laptop built-ins. For the most professional video call quality, a mirrorless camera or DSLR used as a webcam (via USB or capture card) produces the highest image quality of any setup.

How to Improve Video Call Quality: Background and Environment

The visible background behind you and the acoustic properties of your space both affect video call quality perception:

1. Clear visual clutter — A tidy, professional background improves the perceived quality of your video call without any technical change. A bookshelf, a plain wall, or a simple plant create a neutral professional environment. Most video call platforms also provide virtual backgrounds and background blur as alternatives if a physical tidy-up is not practical.
2. Reduce room echo — Hard-surfaced rooms (wooden floors, bare walls, glass) create echo that degrades audio quality even with noise suppression enabled. Soft furnishings — curtains, rugs, upholstered furniture, bookshelves filled with books — absorb sound reflections and improve audio video call quality significantly. This is the most underappreciated acoustic improvement in home office setups.
3. Position your camera at eye level — A camera looking up at the subject from laptop height is the most unflattering and least professional camera position. Raise the laptop with a stand or position an external webcam at forehead height looking slightly down — this matches the natural eyeline of a face-to-face conversation and significantly improves video call quality perception.

For persistent technical issues beyond these physical improvements, our guides on Zoom audio not working, Microsoft Teams not working, and our guide on the best video calling app for PC cover platform-specific troubleshooting. For related hardware that improves video call quality beyond the software settings, the Zoom Support website covers bandwidth requirements and recommended hardware configurations for specific video call quality targets.