High ping in games but fast internet—sounds confusing, right?
Nothing is more frustrating than trying to enjoy your favorite online game, only to be hit with constant lag, stuttering, or delays in your actions.
You check your internet speed, and everything looks fine—fast download and upload rates, low latency on speed tests. So why is your ping so high in games?
This is a common problem for gamers, and the reasons behind it aren’t always obvious. A fast internet connection doesn’t guarantee low ping in games, and several factors can influence your in-game latency.
In this guide, we’ll break down how ping works, why fast internet alone isn’t enough, and how to fix high ping issues step by step.
First, How Ping Works?
Ping is a measurement of how long it takes for data to travel from your device to the game server and back. It’s measured in milliseconds (ms), and the lower the number, the better.
When you press a button in a game, your action is sent to the game server, processed, and then the server sends a response back to you.
If this process takes too long, you experience delays—bullets that don’t register, enemies that teleport, or actions that happen way after you press the button.
Ping is affected by various factors, including the physical distance between you and the server, the quality of your connection, and network congestion. Even with a high-speed internet plan, these elements can create lag in your game.
Why Just Having a Fast Internet Connection Is Not Enough for Gaming
You might think, “I have a 1 Gbps fiber-optic connection! My internet is super fast, so why is my ping so high?” The problem is that online gaming doesn’t rely on download or upload speed as much as other activities like streaming or downloading files.
Instead, it depends on how quickly data packets travel between your device and the game server.
Here’s why fast internet alone doesn’t guarantee low ping:
- Routing Issues: Your internet service provider (ISP) might not be sending your data through the most efficient route to the game server.
- Network Congestion: Even with fast speeds, if your network is crowded with other devices streaming, downloading, or making video calls, your game packets might get delayed.
- Packet Loss: If some of your data packets are getting lost or delayed, your game experience will suffer despite a high-speed connection.
The Importance of the Game’s Server Location
The closer you are to a game server, the lower your ping will usually be. If the game server is on the other side of the world, your data has to travel a much longer distance, increasing latency.
Many popular online games have multiple regional servers, but not all games allow you to choose your server manually.
If you’re playing on an automatic matchmaking system, it may assign you to a distant server, resulting in higher ping.
Some games allow you to check your connection to their servers in the settings menu. Others require you to manually test your ping using external tools. Identifying the server location can help you understand why your ping might be high.
What Might Be Causing High Ping in Your Network?
Several factors can lead to high ping in games, including:
- Wi-Fi Interference: Wireless connections are more prone to lag and packet loss compared to wired connections.
- Background Downloads and Streaming: Other devices using the network for streaming, updates, or downloads can slow down game traffic.
- ISP Throttling: Some ISPs slow down gaming traffic during peak hours.
- Outdated Network Equipment: Old routers, modems, or network cables can introduce latency issues.
- Firewall or Antivirus Interference: Security software can sometimes interfere with your game’s connection.
- Bad Game Server Selection: Some games automatically assign servers, which might not always be the best option for you.
How to Solve High Ping in Games?
Now that we’ve covered why high ping happens, let’s go through a step-by-step guide on how to fix it.
1. Use a Wired Connection
Wi-Fi connections can be unstable for gaming. A simple fix is to use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer or console directly to your router. This reduces interference and ensures a more stable connection.
2. Close Background Applications
Check if any other applications or devices are consuming bandwidth. Streaming videos, downloading large files, or even automatic updates can increase your ping. Close unnecessary apps and pause downloads while gaming.
Source: MS.Codes
3. Restart Your Modem and Router
A quick reboot can often resolve connectivity issues. Unplug your modem and router for 10-15 seconds, then plug them back in and let them reconnect. This can clear out any temporary network congestion.
4. Change Your DNS Settings
Your ISP’s default DNS servers might not be the best for gaming. You can try switching to Google’s DNS (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare’s DNS (1.1.1.1) to see if it improves your connection speed.
5. Check for ISP Throttling
Some ISPs throttle gaming traffic during peak hours. To check if this is happening, try using a VPN to see if your connection improves. If a VPN lowers your ping, your ISP may be throttling your gaming connection.
6. Choose the Right Game Server
If the game allows, manually select the server closest to your location. This reduces the travel distance for your data and improves ping.
7. Update Network Drivers
Outdated network drivers can cause latency issues. Make sure your PC’s network drivers are up to date by checking your device manager and downloading the latest version from your manufacturer’s website.
8. Use Quality of Service (QoS) Settings
Some routers have a QoS feature that prioritizes gaming traffic over other types of network traffic. Check your router’s settings to enable QoS and prioritize your game’s data packets.
9. Replace Old Networking Equipment
If you’re using an outdated router or modem, it might not handle modern gaming traffic efficiently. Upgrading to a newer model designed for gaming can make a significant difference.
10. Use NoPing to Optimize Your Connection
If you’ve tried everything and still experience high ping, NoPing can help. NoPing is a service that optimizes your internet connection for gaming by finding the fastest routes to game servers, reducing packet loss, and improving stability.
It works by rerouting your data through optimized networks and sending your data through various channels at the same time, ensuring that your connection is as fast and smooth as possible.
With NoPing, you can significantly lower your ping, reduce lag, and have a much better gaming experience without needing to change your ISP or network setup.
Here’s how to use NoPing to fix high ping in online games:
- Sign-up through the website and download NoPing (you can test it for free).
- Open NoPing and search for your game inside the software
- Once you find it, 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.
- On the next screen, click on “Optimize Game”.
- And that’s it, you can start playing with optimized ping!
You can test different servers within NoPing to see which gives you the lowest latency.
Having a fast internet plan doesn’t always mean you’ll get a smooth gaming experience. High ping in games can be caused by various factors, including routing issues, server location, and network congestion.
By following the steps outlined above—using a wired connection, optimizing your network, selecting the best game server, and using NoPing—you can reduce your ping and enjoy a much better gaming experience.
