UDP and TCP are connection protocols used to send information over the Internet. You can set Shadow PC to prefer reliability (TCP) or prefer speed (UDP) in the settings.
To choose your preferred streaming mode:
- Open the Shadow PC launcher.
- Click Network, then go to Advanced Settings.
- Click to cycle through Prefer speed (UDP) and Prefer reliability (TCP) to change which protocol Shadow PC should use.
What are TCP and UDP?
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) guarantees that data will be sent and delivered in the correct order. If any data is lost or corrupted during transmission, TCP uses error checking to automatically detect issues and resend data.
UDP (User Datagram Protocol) prioritizes speed and low latency by skipping error checks, making it ideal for real-time streaming and gaming, where minor data loss is less disruptive than delays.
TCP is more reliable than UDP, but UDP is faster than TCP.
Which streaming preference is better?
The better streaming preference depends on your connection: choose Prefer stability (TCP) for less stable connections like Wi-Fi, ADSL, or using a hotspot. Prefer speed (UDP) is suitable for Ethernet connections.
You can always switch between both and see which one has better results.
💡 Lower your resolution or frame rate when using TCP to reduce data usage and improve stream quality.
If your connection is too slow for Shadow PC, changing your streaming preference may not resolve the issue. Test your connection to see if it meets our requirements.