How to Lower Your Ping in Online Games

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: October 21, 2021

This wikiHow teaches you how to lower your online gaming latency--also known as "ping"--and potentially reduce lag by making improvements to your Internet connection. Ping refers to the number of milliseconds it takes for a real-life action (e.g., pressing a button or moving the mouse) to register in the game server you're using. Keep in mind that there is no guaranteed way to lower your ping.

Steps

1
Move closer to the router. If you are using a Wi-Fi connection, decreasing the space between your gaming device and your router will increase your Internet connection strength, which will in turn decrease your ping.
- While this step isn't likely to fix your ping issues entirely, it's a good rule of thumb.
- Items such as walls, floors, and other physical obstacles will impede your wireless signal.
2
Close any background programs and websites. Having bandwidth-heavy programs like Netflix, YouTube, torrenting services, and even other games running will severely affect your ping. This applies to background programs and websites on all devices, not just the one on which you're gaming.
- If you have any background downloads, pause or cancel them.
- Non-Internet-based programs won't affect your ping, though they may affect your game's performance.
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3
Reduce the number of devices using Wi-Fi. Routers and Internet connections can only support so many devices, and each in-use device will detract from the available connection speed and increase your ping.
- If you live with multiple people, this might be impossible. The next-best thing is using an Ethernet connection.
- Consider putting your mobile devices in Airplane Mode while you game, since doing so will pull them off of the Wi-Fi network without forcing you to use cellular data.
4
Use local servers. Playing on a server in your country (or, more specifically, on your side of the country) will dramatically decrease your ping if you're used to playing on other countries' servers. While you may have to sit in a lobby for a few minutes before you can join a game, the higher performance is worth the wait.
- Many games allow you to sort game servers by location or country. This can help you connect to the closest server possible.
- Most games display your ping or a series of bars representing your ping next to specific servers.
5
Connect your device to your router via Ethernet cable. As long as the router isn't the problem, your ping will almost always be lower on a wired connection than on a wireless one.
- If this doesn't lower your ping, your router is most likely causing your low ping or the internet connection coming directly from your ISP could be to blame.
6
Restart your router and modem. If your network equipment has been running non-stop, it may not be functioning properly. Removing the power cables from both the modem and the router, waiting thirty seconds or so, and then re-attaching them will refresh your Internet connection and potentially lower your ping.
- It may take a few moments for your network to come back online after plugging the router in.
7
Call your Internet Service Provider's customer service line. Before taking action toward replacing your router, call your ISP to make them aware of your latency issues. They may have a less expensive answer for you.
- This is easier and cheaper than replacing your router, which is the logical next step.
8
Replace your router. Especially if your router and/or modem is more than a few years old, replacing your unit will have a noticeable effect on your Internet connection strength, speed, and consistency. Similarly, your ping will also likely go down when you install a new router.
- Be sure to research your router thoroughly before purchasing it.
- You may want to invest a little extra in a gaming-specific router, especially if you game with multiple people on the same network at once.
9
Upgrade your Internet package. Unfortunately, if nothing else has helped decrease your ping, you'll have to select an Internet package with higher upload and download speeds from your ISP.
- ISPs often have year-long deals on specific plans. If your current ISP isn't working for you, you might consider switching ISPs entirely.
- Many Internet providers have a "Gamer" package with increased upload and download speeds.

Community Q&A

Question

What do I do if my latency is very high in online games?

Community Answer

You can port forward the specific device. You will have to do some research online, as the instructions will be game and console specific.
Question

My download speed is 24 Mbps and upload speed 5 Mbps. Is it good enough to play any first-person games in mobile? My phone has good specifications for gaming, but the game always lags.

Community Answer

Try another game and see if it does the same thing. It could be the game's servers acting up. 24 Mbps is plenty for mobile gaming. Keep in mind that if other devices are connected, they make be using bandwidth in the background and tying up the network speed.
Question

What could be the reason that the internet is faster on my phone than my PC?

Community Answer

Your phone is less demanding than your PC. Loading an Instagram feed on your phone is a lot simpler than loading a CS:GO match. It might also be because your phone has a better WiFi chip than your computer.

Warnings

Unfortunately, there is no universally "correct" way to lower ping. Addressing and fixing your ping is often more of a trial-and-error process than an exact science.

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