How to fix packet burst error in Modern Warfare 3

A new Call of Duty means some new errors, especially at launch time. Sometimes they just mean the servers are down, but other times there are specific ways to fix the issue. Here is how to fix packet burst error in Modern Warfare 3.

What does the packet burst error in MW3 mean?

Unfortunately, the packet burst error in MW3 means there is some sort of connection problem affecting the sending or receiving of packets. Packets are how online games communicate information between the game server and the your client. It can be extremely annoying when you get this error, as the little Packet Burst orange indicator pops up in the top-left screen.

Until it is fixed, you may encounter lagging, stuttering, frame rate issues, rubber-banding, and more. It can be extremely frustrating because in most cases MW3 is unplayable at that point, especially Multiplayer.

How to fix the packet burst error

In some cases, you’ll just have a bad connection to the server in which case this cannot be fixed. Usually joining another lobby will fix the issue. However, if you notice you are still getting the packet burst error in different lobbies, there are a few things you can try:

• Restart Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 — Sometimes you can be on a different version or even be missing a hotfix that can cause some connection issues due to file mismatches.
• Verify Game Files — If you are on Steam, right-click Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and go to Properties then Installed Files then Verify integrity of game files. If you are on Battle.net, go click the Cog Wheel settings icon next to Play for Call of Duty then select Scan and Repair. Console players can only uninstall and reinstall the game to completely verify game files.
• Ensure stable internet connection — Packet loss is extremely common when playing over WiFi. For a game like MW3 which is constantly sending and receiving packets, you should definitely be playing with a wired connection.

After trying all of these fixes, if you are still having issues, it’s possible it’s just a networking issue on the side of Activision. Check to make sure the Activision Assist Twitter has not posted about any sort of server maintenance or downtime.

Knowing how to fix packet burst error in Modern Warfare 3 can certainly save you from the headache of dealing with constant connection issues. If the issues continue, you may have to reach out directly to support to see if it’s a problem that requires more troubleshooting.