---
title: "Compression Error"
slug: troubleshooting/compression-error
docTags: 
createdAt: 2025-04-23T21:01:38.099Z
---

### ERROR

A **"Compression error"** means the receiving side **failed to decompress a packet**. (If the compressed size of a packet is greater than or equal to the original, the sender transmits the original uncompressed packet instead.)

A common upstream cause is a **decryption/key mismatch,** if a packet can't be decrypted correctly, the following decompression step fails, but corruption, spiky traffic, or too-tight max-bitrate headroom can also trigger it.



### RESOLUTION

- If the stream is encrypted, check/troubleshoot the **encryption (key) settings** on both ends. Some known cases were resolved in **v16.0 and later** — test on a current stable version.
- **UDP source:** open advanced settings (add ?advanced=1 to the Broadcaster URL) and toggle **compression** off/on, restarting the stream after each toggle.
- **UDP/SRT input:** check the **max bitrate** on the input (in Broadcaster or ZEN Master) and increase headroom if traffic is spiky. Max bitrate should be **1.5–2× the stream bitrate** — e.g. for a 9 Mbps stream, at least 13.5 Mbps, ideally 18 Mbps.



![UDP/SRT Input Advanced Settings](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/mzxtTQEvCNIdUNgF2kuwJ/t0kEk4-yMeIEBauIuFj-V_image.png)