If you’re here, chances are you’re struggling to fix high ping in your online games.
We’ve all been there—you’re about to land the perfect headshot or score the winning goal, and suddenly, your game freezes for a split second.
Next thing you know, your character is dead, or your team is yelling at you for missing an easy play. Frustrating, right? High ping can ruin your gaming experience, making your character move sluggishly, causing severe lag, or even disconnecting you from matches.
But don’t worry! In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to fix high ping. With these tips, you’ll be on your way to smoother gameplay and better reaction times in no time.
Is High Ping Good or Bad?
In short, high ping is bad—very bad for online gaming. But let’s break it down.
Ping measures the time (in milliseconds) it takes for data to travel from your device to the game server and back. A lower ping means your actions register in the game faster, while a high ping means there’s a noticeable delay between what you do and what happens on screen. This is commonly called “lag.”
Here’s a quick look at what different ping ranges mean:
- 0-50ms: Excellent—ideal for competitive gaming.
- 50-100ms: Good—playable with minimal lag.
- 100-150ms: Acceptable—some lag, but manageable.
- 150-300ms: Bad—noticeable delays, affecting gameplay.
- 300ms+: Unplayable—you’re basically gaming in slow motion.
So, if your ping is consistently above 100ms, you’ll want to take action to lower it. Let’s dive into the solutions.
How to Fix High Ping in Games
If you’re experiencing high ping in online games, it can lead to lag, delays, and a frustrating gaming experience. Fortunately, there are multiple solutions to reduce ping and enhance your connection. In this guide, we’ll explore various strategies to help you lower your ping and improve overall performance.
1. Use a Wired Connection
Wi-Fi is convenient, but it often introduces instability and higher ping. A wired Ethernet connection provides several advantages:
- Stability: Unlike Wi-Fi, a wired connection isn’t affected by interference from walls or other devices.
- Speed: Ethernet generally offers faster speeds, ensuring your game data is transmitted more quickly.
- Reduced Latency: With a stable connection, data packets are less likely to get delayed or lost.
To set up a wired connection, all you need is an Ethernet cable and a router with available ports. Plug one end of the cable into your device and the other into the router, and you’re good to go.
2. Close Background Applications
Background apps can consume bandwidth and slow down your internet, leading to higher ping. Applications like streaming services (Netflix, YouTube) or downloads can drain your bandwidth, causing lag while gaming.
- Task Manager: On Windows, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager. Close any applications that are using the internet.
- Stop Downloads: Ensure no large downloads are happening, especially those using peer-to-peer (P2P) networks.
Source: MiniTool
Before starting a game, close unnecessary apps to ensure the best possible performance.
3. Choose the Right Server
Many online games allow you to select the server region where you want to play. Choosing the right server is crucial for minimizing ping.
- Proximity Matters: Always choose a server that is geographically closer to you. The closer the server, the faster the data packets travel, reducing latency.
- Avoid Overcrowded Servers: High traffic on a server can increase ping. Opt for less crowded servers if available.
Check the game’s server list before entering a match and select the optimal one for your location.
4. Use NoPing
Sometimes, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) might route your traffic inefficiently, causing high ping. Services like NoPing provide routing improvements specifically designed to lower ping.
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.
5. Restart Your Router and Modem
A simple restart can work wonders for improving your internet connection. Routers and modems sometimes experience issues, such as network congestion or temporary glitches, which can lead to high ping.
- How to Restart: Unplug your router and modem, wait for about 30 seconds, then plug them back in. This can help clear up any issues and refresh your connection.
- Frequency: Restart your router regularly, especially if you notice performance issues.
A fresh connection can significantly lower ping and restore optimal performance.
6. Update Network Drivers
Outdated or faulty network drivers can cause latency and connectivity issues, including high ping. Ensure that your network drivers are up-to-date:
- Device Manager: On Windows, open Device Manager, find your network adapter, right-click, and select “Update driver.”
- Manufacturer’s Website: Visit the manufacturer’s website for your network card to download the latest drivers.
Source: LSU/Grok
Updating your drivers ensures that your hardware is running as efficiently as possible, which can lead to a better connection.
7. Limit Other Devices on Your Network
If other devices are using your internet connection simultaneously, it can eat up your bandwidth and affect your gaming performance. Here’s what you can do:
- Prioritize Gaming: Use Quality of Service (QoS) settings on your router to prioritize gaming traffic over other types of usage.
- Limit Other Activities: Encourage other household members to avoid heavy internet usage (like streaming or downloading) while you’re gaming.
By managing network traffic, you ensure that your game has the bandwidth it needs for smooth performance.
8. Adjust In-Game Network Settings
Many modern games allow you to adjust network-related settings to improve your ping. Here are a few adjustments you can try:
- Lower Graphics Settings: Some games reduce network load when graphics settings are lower. This can help reduce ping spikes.
- Reduce Draw Distance: Lowering the draw distance can decrease the amount of data your game needs to process, reducing latency.
- Network Optimization Settings: Some games include network optimization features that can help stabilize ping.
Check the settings menu in your game to see if any network-related options can help improve your connection.
Valorant Network Settings
9. Contact Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
If you’ve tried everything and your ping is still high, the problem might lie with your ISP. In some cases, your ISP could be throttling your connection, or there might be an issue with your service.
- Throttling: Some ISPs intentionally slow down your connection during peak hours or when you’re gaming. Contact them to see if they can offer a plan with better performance or remove any throttling.
- Upgrade Your Plan: If your current plan doesn’t provide enough bandwidth for gaming, consider upgrading to a higher-speed plan.
Your ISP may be able to offer a solution or advice to improve your connection.
Why is My Ping So High?
Understanding why your ping is high is the first step to fixing it. Here are the main reasons why your ping might be through the roof:
- Poor Internet Connection: Your plan might not be fast enough to handle gaming, especially if others are using the network simultaneously.
- Distance from Game Servers: The farther you are from the game server, the longer it takes for data to travel, increasing ping.
- Network Congestion: Too many people using the internet at the same time can slow down your connection.
- ISP Issues: Some ISPs throttle gaming traffic or have inefficient routing.
- Old Router or Modem: If your equipment is outdated, it might not be able to handle modern gaming speeds.
- Background Applications: Streaming, downloading, or cloud backups running in the background can eat up bandwidth and cause lag.
- Malware or Viruses: If your system is infected with malware, it can use up bandwidth and slow down your connection.
- Windows Updates or Other Software Downloads: Automatic updates running in the background can significantly impact your gaming performance.
- Overloaded DNS Servers: If your DNS settings are not optimized, they could slow down your connection. Consider using faster DNS options like Google DNS or Cloudflare.
Why is Ping Important for Online Games?
In online gaming, every millisecond counts. Whether you’re playing a fast-paced shooter, a strategy game, or an MMO, high ping can make or break your experience.
Here’s why ping matters:
- Faster Reaction Time: Lower ping means your actions happen instantly in the game, giving you an edge over opponents.
- Smoother Gameplay: High ping causes rubberbanding, lag, and delays, making the game feel sluggish and unresponsive.
- Competitive Advantage: In ranked matches, milliseconds can be the difference between winning and losing.
- Better Overall Experience: No one likes being the player who lags behind or disconnects in the middle of a match.
- More Reliable Online Matches: A lower ping ensures a stable connection to game servers, reducing the chances of disconnections or sudden lag spikes.
High ping is one of the most frustrating issues in online gaming, but thankfully, it’s fixable. Whether it’s upgrading your internet plan, switching to a wired connection, closing background apps, or using a game booster, there are plenty of ways to improve your gaming performance.
By following the tips in this guide, you can reduce lag, improve your reaction times, and enjoy a smoother gaming experience.
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