How to Fix Lag in FFXIV (Final Fantasy XIV)

If you’ve been searching for ways to fix lag in FFXIV, chances are you’ve already been hit by an AoE that you swear you dodged, or you’ve watched your character moonwalk across Eorzea while your FC laughs in Discord.

Lag in Final Fantasy XIV can ruin everything from casual roulettes to high-stakes savage raids—and nothing kills the vibe like a disconnect right before the boss enrages.

The thing is, “lag” can mean a bunch of different things depending on what’s actually going wrong.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the different types of lag you might run into in FFXIV, explain what causes them, and give you practical fixes to get your game running smoother.

Types of Lag in FFXIV

Before you can fix it, you have to know what kind of lag you’re dealing with. In FFXIV, lag generally falls into these main categories:

1. Network Lag – This is the most common. It happens when your connection to the FFXIV servers is slow, unstable, or disrupted. Symptoms include delay between action and response, rubberbanding, disconnects, and enemies teleporting.
2. Input Lag – This is when you press a button and there’s a delay before the action happens on screen. Usually caused by system performance issues or display settings.
3. FPS Lag (Frame Drops) – This happens when your frame rate tanks, and everything starts looking like a slideshow. It’s usually tied to your hardware or graphical settings.
4. Server-Side Lag – Occasionally, it’s not you—it’s them. When FFXIV servers are under heavy load (like during a new expansion release), everyone suffers.
5. Loading Lag – This happens when it takes forever to load into a zone, instance, or cutscene. Usually tied to storage speed or game file issues.

Now let’s go over how to fix each one.

How to Fix Each Type of Lag

Network Lag Fixes

Network lag is probably the most rage-inducing kind, but also the one with the most tools at your disposal. Here’s how to clean it up:

1. Use NoPing – NoPing is a network optimization service that reduces your ping by rerouting your connection through faster, more stable routes. It can also reduce packet loss and jitter, which are common culprits for lag spikes.

Here’s how to use NoPing to fix network lag in FFXIV:

• Sign-up through the website and download NoPing (you can try it for free)
• Open NoPing and search for Final Fantasy XIV inside the software

• Once you find Final Fantasy XIV, 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 Final Fantasy XIV with optimized ping!

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

2. Switch from Wi-Fi to Ethernet – Wi-Fi is convenient but often unstable, especially in busy households. If you can plug directly into your router with a wired connection, do it.
3. Reset Your Router/Modem – Sometimes, a simple reboot helps clear up temporary issues. Power cycle your modem and router once in a while—it’s like a nap for your internet.
4. Use the Correct Data Center – If you’re playing on a data center far from your actual location (e.g., you’re in Europe playing on a North American DC), you’re naturally going to have higher ping. Consider transferring to a closer one.
5. Close Background Apps – Programs like Netflix, Steam downloads, or other games running in the background can eat up your bandwidth. Make sure nothing is hogging your connection while you’re raiding.

Source: MS.Codes

Input Lag Fixes

Input lag might make it feel like your character is underwater. If you press a button and the action takes forever to show up, try this:

1. Enable DirectX 11 – FFXIV runs better on DX11. If you’re still using DX9 for some reason, make the switch in your launcher settings.
2. Lower Your Display Settings – High-resolution settings or enabling V-Sync can cause delays between your inputs and what shows on screen. Try disabling V-Sync and lowering graphical settings.
3. Check for Controller Issues – If you’re using a controller, make sure the drivers are updated and that there’s no Bluetooth interference. Try a wired connection if you’re on wireless.
4. Update Your Drivers – Your GPU, keyboard, or controller might just need a driver update. Check your device manager and the manufacturer’s site for updates.

Source: IONOS

FPS Lag Fixes

If your screen is dropping frames like it’s hot, here’s how to smooth things out:

1. Lower In-Game Graphics Settings – Shadows, anti-aliasing, reflections—these are all great for screenshots but murder your FPS. Dial them back if performance matters more than pretty.

Source: Reddit

2. Update Your Graphics Drivers – Outdated drivers are a classic reason for FPS drops. Keep your NVIDIA or AMD software up to date.
3. Check for Background Apps – Apps like Discord overlays, Chrome, or streaming software can eat up CPU and GPU resources. Close them before launching the game.
4. Enable High Performance Mode (Windows) – Go into your Windows power settings and switch to “High Performance.” This prevents your system from throttling power to your CPU or GPU during gameplay.
5. Upgrade Your Hardware (if needed) – If you’re playing on a potato, there’s only so much software can do. If your GPU or RAM is super outdated, consider upgrading for a smoother ride.

Server-Side Lag Fixes

When the game’s servers are overwhelmed, there’s not much you can do personally—but there are ways to reduce the pain:

1. Play During Off-Peak Hours – If possible, avoid playing right after new content drops or during peak regional hours. Queue times and lag are worse when everyone’s online.
2. Avoid High-Traffic Zones – Limsa Lominsa on a weekend night? Lag city. Hang out in quieter zones when you’re just crafting or chatting.
3. Check Server Status – Square Enix sometimes posts updates about server maintenance or outages. Check their server status page if things seem off.
4. Report Issues – If you consistently experience server-side lag, report it to Square Enix through the support center. More reports = more pressure to fix.
5. Wait it Out – Painful, but true. Sometimes the only fix is time. SE is usually quick to address server stability issues when they become widespread.

Loading Lag Fixes

If you’re stuck watching the loading screen spin like it’s trying to hypnotize you, here’s what to try:

1. Install the Game on an SSD – This is the biggest game-changer. Moving FFXIV from a hard drive to a solid-state drive can drastically cut down loading times.
2. Clear Cache/Data Files – Use the FFXIV launcher’s file check function or reinstall the game to fix any corrupted files.
3. Check for Background Disk Usage – Some apps (like Windows Update) may be reading or writing large files in the background. Keep an eye on your disk usage in Task Manager.
4. Reduce Alt-Tabbing During Loads – Switching windows while loading can sometimes slow things down. Just sit tight for a few seconds and let the game do its thing.
5. Free Up Storage Space – If your drive is almost full, performance will drop. Try to keep at least 10-15% of your drive space free for smooth operation.

What Causes Lag in FFXIV?

Lag in FFXIV can come from a bunch of different sources—some you can control, others you can’t. Here’s a quick overview:

• Distance to the server – The farther you are from the physical server, the higher your ping. That’s physics, unfortunately.
• ISP issues – Sometimes your Internet provider is just having a bad day. Routing problems, throttling, or local outages can all affect your gameplay.
• Network congestion – If you’re sharing internet with roommates or family members who are streaming or gaming, your connection will suffer.
• Old or underpowered hardware – FFXIV is fairly optimized, but it still requires decent specs to run well—especially in busy areas or during big fights.
• Overloaded game servers – When a patch or expansion drops, everyone floods the servers. This can cause delays and rubberbanding, even if your own setup is fine.
• Background programs – Apps and services running in the background can eat up bandwidth, CPU, RAM, or storage speed—all of which can create lag.

Fixing lag in FFXIV isn’t always a one-click solution, but figuring out what kind of lag you’re dealing with is half the battle.

From network optimization tools like NoPing to just installing the game on an SSD, small tweaks can lead to major improvements in your game experience.

Download NoPing now and play FFXIV with optimized ping! Test the platform for free for 7 days!