Why is My Ping so High in Fortnite? How to Fix it

High ping in Fortnite can completely throw off your game. You press a button, and your character reacts a second later.

You shoot first, but you somehow get eliminated. You try to build a wall and end up eating a shotgun blast instead.

We’ve all been there — it’s frustrating, confusing, and honestly, it can feel like the game’s just against you.

But here’s the good news: high ping isn’t a mystery. It’s usually fixable — and we’re going to break it all down right now.

In this article, you’ll get a clear idea of what ping is, how it works in Fortnite, what’s causing your lag spikes, and what you can actually do to lower your ping — starting today.

How is Ping Determined?

Let’s start with the basics. “Ping” is a measurement of how long it takes for data to travel from your device to the Fortnite servers and back again.

Think of it like this: when you press a button to shoot, that command is sent to the server, the server processes it, and then sends a result back to you — all in milliseconds.

Ping is measured in ms (milliseconds). Here’s a general rule of thumb:

• 0–30ms: Amazing. You’re basically psychic.
• 30–60ms: Totally playable.
• 60–100ms: A little laggy.
• 100ms+: You’re fighting the game, not the players.

Now, what determines that number? A few things:

• The physical distance between you and Fortnite’s server.
• The quality of your internet connection.
• How many hops (or checkpoints) your data takes to reach the server.
• What else is happening on your network (Netflix, downloads, video calls, etc.).

Ping isn’t about speed in the “fast internet” sense — it’s about how quickly your signal gets from Point A (you) to Point B (the game server) and back again.

How to Fix High Ping in Fortnite

Alright, let’s get to the part you actually came for — how to fix high ping and get your game running buttery smooth again. There are a few things you can try depending on what’s causing the issue. Let’s go step by step.

1. Switch to a Wired Connection

Yeah, Wi-Fi is convenient, but it’s also one of the most common reasons for high or unstable ping. Wireless signals can get disrupted by walls, other devices, and even your neighbor’s Wi-Fi. If you can, plug your console or PC directly into your router using an Ethernet cable. It’s a boring fix — but it’s one of the most effective.

2. Close Background Stuff

You’d be surprised how many apps or devices are quietly sucking up your bandwidth. Spotify? Cloud backups? Streaming on another device? All that activity adds delay. Make sure nothing else is hogging the connection while you’re gaming.

Source: MS.Codes

3. Use NoPing (Step-by-Step)

This is where things get a little more interesting — especially if you’ve already tried the basics and your ping is still awful.

NoPing is a service designed to optimize your route to Fortnite’s servers. Sometimes, the normal path your internet provider uses isn’t the fastest — NoPing reroutes your data through a better, more direct path.

Here’s how to use NoPing to fix high ping in Fortnite:

1. Sign-up through the website and download NoPing
2. Open NoPing and search for Fortnite inside the software

3. Once you find Fortnite, click on it and, on the next screen, select “Choose automatic” or “Choose manual” and click “Continue”. We recommend choosing automatic, as NoPing’s technology analyzes all routes on a global scale and automatically selects the best option for you.

4. On the next screen, click on “Optimize Game”.

5. And that’s it, you can launch Fortnite and play with optimized ping!

You can test different servers within NoPing to see which gives you the lowest latency.

People who live far from Fortnite servers — or whose ISPs take weird routes — often see huge improvements with this.

4. Restart Your Router and Modem

It sounds basic, but a reboot clears out temporary glitches or slowdowns that might’ve built up. Turn both devices off, wait 10 seconds, and turn them back on. Sometimes this alone can drop your ping by 20-30ms.

5. Choose the Right Fortnite Region

Fortnite lets you pick your matchmaking region manually. If it’s set to “Auto,” the game usually picks the best server for you — but not always. Here’s how to change it:

• Launch Fortnite
• Go to Settings
• Open the “Game” tab (it has a gear icon)
• Find “Matchmaking Region”
• Select the region with the lowest ping next to it

Quick win, low effort.

6. Talk to Your ISP (or Upgrade)

If you’ve tried everything and your ping is still sky-high, it might be time to chat with your internet provider. Ask if they offer a better plan or lower-latency routes for gaming. Not all internet connections are built for real-time responsiveness — even if the speeds look good on paper.

What Causes High Ping in Fortnite?

Let’s get into the root causes. Understanding why your ping is high is the first step toward fixing it long-term.

Here are the most common reasons:

• You’re far from the server: If you live in a country without a Fortnite data center nearby, your connection has a longer distance to cover.
• Network congestion: Peak hours (like evenings or weekends) mean everyone’s online — streaming, gaming, downloading. It slows everyone down.
• ISP routing: Sometimes your provider takes inefficient or crowded routes to the game server. Think of it like traffic — even if there’s a highway, they send your data through side streets.
• Outdated or bad equipment: Old routers, low-quality cables, or cheap Wi-Fi extenders can add unnecessary delays.
• Too many devices connected: If five people are using the same network to stream videos, join Zoom calls, and download files, your ping is going to suffer.

How to Check Your Ping to Fortnite Data Centers

Before you even boot into a match, you can check your connection to Fortnite’s servers to get an idea of what kind of ping you’ll be dealing with. Fortnite makes this pretty easy.

Option 1: Use In-Game Settings

1. Open Fortnite and go to the main menu.
2. Click the Settings icon (gear symbol).
3. Go to the Game tab.
4. Scroll down to “Matchmaking Region.” Next to each region (like NA-East, Europe, Brazil), you’ll see a ping number in ms.

Source: Epic Games

That’s your real-time ping to each server. Pick the one with the lowest number.

Option 2: Epic’s Support Page

Epic Games also explains how ping and latency work in Fortnite in more detail on this official help article.

They even mention that your region selection is key to improving gameplay, and that ping can fluctuate based on local conditions and internet usage. So if your ping spikes from time to time, it’s not necessarily a permanent issue — it might just be a bad moment on the network.

High ping in Fortnite doesn’t have to be permanent, and it definitely doesn’t have to ruin your games. Whether it’s a simple fix like switching to a wired connection, a deeper route optimization using NoPing, or just choosing the right matchmaking region, there are always steps you can take.

Download NoPing now and play Fortnite without lag!