In online gaming, nothing kills the vibe faster than high ping and lag. You’re lining up the perfect shot, about to pull off a clutch move—and suddenly, your game freezes, stutters, or jumps around. High ping not only wrecks the experience, it makes you an easy target and tanks your competitiveness.
The good news? You can fix it. Here are the top ways to how get low ping and boost your overall game performance, from quick settings changes to deeper system tweaks.
What is Ping and Why It Matters
Before jumping into solutions, let’s quickly break down what ping actually is.
Ping is the time it takes for data to travel from your device to the game server and back. It’s measured in milliseconds (ms). A low ping (under 50ms) means smooth, real-time gameplay. A high ping (over 100ms) often results in delays, rubberbanding, and inconsistent actions in-game.
Now that we’re clear, let’s get to fixing it.
Optimize Your Network Connection
Use a Wired Connection Instead of Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is convenient, but it’s not reliable for gaming. Wireless signals can be interrupted by walls, other devices, and even microwaves. A wired Ethernet connection gives you a more stable and consistent link to your router, which directly reduces ping.
Close Background Apps Using Bandwidth
If you have other programs running in the background—especially ones that use the internet like browsers, file-sharing tools, cloud backups, or streaming services—shut them down. These hog bandwidth and create traffic that competes with your game data.
Set Up Quality of Service (QoS)
Many routers have a QoS feature. It lets you prioritize traffic from your gaming device over everything else. That way, even if someone else is streaming or downloading, your game packets get first access to bandwidth.
Move Closer to the Router
If you can’t use a wired connection and must rely on Wi-Fi, get as close to your router as possible. Distance, walls, and interference weaken the signal, and that means slower, more inconsistent speeds.
Fix System-Level Bottlenecks
Keep Your System Updated
Make sure your operating system, network drivers, and firmware are fully updated. Outdated drivers can lead to poor network performance and compatibility issues with new game updates.
Disable Network-Hogging Background Services
Check for background processes or services that quietly use the internet—like Windows updates, cloud sync apps, or auto-update tools. Disable them while gaming.
Use Task Manager to Kill Unnecessary Processes
Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager. Under the “Processes” tab, close anything you don’t need running. This frees up RAM and CPU power, improving overall game performance.
Improve Game and System Settings
Lower In-Game Graphics Settings (When Needed)
High ping is network-related, but if your frame rate is also low, your system might be the bottleneck. Lower texture quality, shadows, and visual effects if your PC struggles to maintain smooth gameplay.
Ping won’t improve from graphics changes directly, but smoother rendering makes the overall experience better and keeps your game from freezing during spikes.
Limit Frame Rate to Avoid Overloading GPU
Unlimited frame rates can push your GPU too hard, causing thermal throttling and inconsistent performance. Capping your FPS to your monitor’s refresh rate (like 60 or 144) can stabilize performance.
Enable Game Mode or Performance Mode
Most operating systems now have a built-in “Game Mode” or “Performance Mode.” This feature gives priority to your game, limiting background activity and improving performance. Turn it on before gaming.
Change DNS Settings
Switch to a Faster DNS
Your default DNS server (usually from your internet provider) might not be the fastest. Switching to a faster public DNS can improve your connection to game servers, especially when loading online data or logging in.
Use trusted, fast DNS options. Look for one with a good track record of uptime and speed, and change it in your network adapter settings.
Choose the Right Game Server
Always Pick the Server Closest to You
Many multiplayer games give you server options. If you’re in Europe and you pick a North American server, your ping will be much higher. Choose the one physically closest to your region whenever possible.
If the game auto-selects a server and it’s giving you gaming ping, look for a manual override option.
Restart Network Hardware
Reboot Your Router and Modem
Sometimes, the fix is simple. If your ping suddenly spikes, try rebooting your router and modem. Over time, these devices can build up errors or get bogged down with traffic. A restart clears the memory and reestablishes clean connections.
Do this at least once a week, especially if multiple people use the same network.
Scan for Malware and Viruses
Some malware uses your system to send data across the internet or connect to outside servers. This drains your network and slows your PC down. Run a full scan with a reliable antivirus tool to make sure your system is clean.
Malware can also disguise itself as background apps that drain both system and network resources. Don’t skip this step.
Upgrade Your Internet Plan (If Needed)
If you’ve tried everything and still get consistently high ping, your internet plan might be the bottleneck. Some older or cheaper plans offer limited upload speeds or poor latency.
Look for plans that are optimized for gaming or streaming, with low ping and high upload speeds. Upload speed is just as important as download speed for online games.
Use a Gaming VPN (With Caution)
In some cases—especially if your ISP uses inefficient routing—a gaming VPN can lower ping by sending your data through a faster, more direct path. But this depends on the server and region. It’s not a fix for everyone and might even increase ping in some cases.
Test it with a free trial and see if it helps. Don’t rely on it as your first option.
Consider Hardware Upgrades
Upgrade Your Router
Older routers can’t keep up with modern gaming demands. If your router is more than 4–5 years old, consider getting one with better bandwidth handling, dual-band support, and gaming features.
Improve PC Hardware (If You’re Bottlenecking)
If you’re running games on a low-end CPU, GPU, or with limited RAM, you may not be getting the performance you need—even if your internet is fine. Upgrading hardware can reduce freezing and improve input response, even if it doesn’t directly reduce ping.
Final Tips to Keep Ping Low
- Game during off-peak hours to avoid congestion on your ISP’s network.
- Use an Ethernet surge protector to protect wired setups from instability.
- Set a static IP for your gaming device to improve connection consistency.
- Reinstall the game if the issue persists—sometimes corrupted files cause networking issues.
Wrapping It Up
High ping doesn’t have to ruin your gaming sessions. In most cases, it’s caused by a few common culprits: unstable connections, overloaded networks, outdated hardware, or incorrect settings. Start with the simple fixes—switch to wired, close background apps, reboot your router—and work your way up.
By combining these practical tips, you can dramatically reduce ping, prevent lag spikes, and finally enjoy the kind of responsive, smooth gaming experience you deserve. No more blaming lag—you’ll be playing at your best.
