Tired of laggy online gaming sessions? Here’s how to reduce ping and improve your gameplay. In this article, we’ll cover everything from the basics of ping to more advanced methods like port forwarding. We’ll also discuss the effects that each method has on your gameplay so you can make an informed decision about which steps to take to Reduce Ping. So let’s get started!
What are Ping and Lag?
In gaming, the words ping and lag have two different meanings. Ping is when you send a message to another player and wait for them to respond. Lag is when the game lags, or moves slowly, because of a problem with the internet connection.
Lag is a general term used to describe any time there’s a delay between your input and the game’s response. This can be caused by a number of factors, including internet connection issues, server problems, or even hardware limitations.
Ping, on the other hand, specifically refers to the time it takes for data to travel from your computer to the game server and back again. The lower your ping, the less lag you’ll experience. In most cases, a high ping is caused by network congestion or an overly long distance between you and the game server.
What is the latency?
With our understanding of ping, latency is the delay period from when a message is sent to when it is received. The measurement is in milliseconds, and lower numbers are better.
Latency can be caused by a number of factors, including:
Distance from the server: The further away you are from the game server, the longer it will take for your data to travel back and forth. This is why you generally get a better ping when you play on servers that are closer to you.
Network congestion: This is when there’s too much traffic on the network and your data packets have to wait in line to be sent. This can be caused by things like heavy internet usage in your area, or a problem with your ISP.
Hardware limitations: If your computer or router is old, it may not be able to process data as quickly as newer models. This can cause lag, even if you have a good internet connection.
How To Reduce Ping For Online Gaming: Things to do
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to reduce your ping and improve your gameplay. Let’s take a look at some of the most effective methods.
Method #1: Use an Ethernet Connection
The first and most obvious method to reduce your ping is to use an Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi. Ethernet has a few advantages over Wi-Fi that make it ideal for gaming:
It’s faster: Ethernet connections have lower latency and higher bandwidth than Wi-Fi, which means less lag.
It’s more reliable: Wi-Fi signals can be blocked by walls or interference from other devices, which can cause dropped connections and disconnections. Ethernet is much less likely to be affected by these problems.
It’s easier to set up: Wi-Fi requires you to connect to a router, while Ethernet plugs directly into your computer or console. This makes it much easier to get started with gaming on Ethernet.
If you’re serious about reducing your ping, we recommend using an Ethernet connection whenever possible.
Method #2: Use a Fast Internet Connection
Another obvious method for reducing your ping is to use a fast internet connection. The faster your connection, the less time it will take for data to travel back and forth to the game server. This means lower latency and less lag.
There are a few ways to improve your internet speed:
Upgrade your internet package: If you’re on a slow or limited internet package, upgrading to a faster one can make a big difference.
Use a wired connection: As we mentioned before, wired connections are generally faster than wireless ones. If your router has an Ethernet port, we recommend plugging into it for the best possible speed.
Optimize your Wi-Fi network: If you’re using Wi-Fi, there are a few things you can do to improve your connection. First, make sure you’re using the latest 802.11ac standard. You should also position your router in a central location and avoid using it near interference-causing devices like microwaves or baby monitors.
A fast internet connection is one of the most important factors in reducing your ping. If you’re not sure how fast your connection is, you can use a speed test tool like Speedtest.net to find out.
Method #3: Use a Gaming VPN
A gaming VPN can help reduce your ping by encrypting your data and routing it through a server in a location of your choice. This has a few advantages:
It can bypass internet throttling: Some ISPs throttle gaming traffic in order to reduce congestion on their network. This can cause higher ping and lag. A gaming VPN can help bypass this throttling and improve your connection speed.
It can reduce the distance to the server: If you’re playing on a server that’s far away, using a VPN can route your traffic through a server in a closer location. This can reduce latency and improve your ping.
It can protect you from DDoS attacks: DDoS attacks are a common problem for gamers, especially in competitive games. A gaming VPN can encrypt your traffic and make it harder for attackers to target your IP address.
If you’re looking for a gaming VPN, we recommend ExpressVPN. It’s fast, secure, and easy to use.
Method #4: Use a Gaming Router
A gaming router is designed to optimize gaming traffic and reduce ping. It does this by prioritizing gaming data over other types of traffic on your network, which can help reduce latency and improve speeds.
If you’re serious about reducing your ping, we recommend using a gaming router. Some of our favorites include the Netgear Nighthawk XR500 and the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000.
Method #5: Use a Wired Connection
As we mentioned before, using a wired connection is one of the best ways to reduce your ping. A wired connection has lower latency than a wireless connection and is less likely to be interrupted by things like walls or interference.
If you’re serious about reducing your ping, we recommend using an Ethernet connection whenever possible.
Method#6: Use Quality of Service (QoS)
Quality of Service (QoS) is a feature on many routers that allows you to prioritize gaming traffic over other types of traffic on your network. This can help reduce latency and improve speeds for gaming. If your router has a QoS feature, we recommend enabling it. You can usually find the QoS settings in the router’s web interface.
Method # Use a Game Booster
A game booster is a program that optimizes your PC for gaming and can help reduce ping. Game boosters typically work by closing unnecessary programs and services, freeing up resources for gaming.
There you have it. These are all the methods we recommend for reducing your ping. If you’ve tried all of these and you’re still having problems, we recommend contacting your ISP or game developer for help. Thanks for reading!
Factors That Can Cause High Ping
There are many factors that can affect your ping. Your ping can be high because of your network setup, the service provider, or even where you live. We have narrowed down the main causes of ping, and they are:
1. The Gamer Server
It’s possible that the game’s server is to blame for the high ping, and while technology has provided us a wide range of alternatives to pick from, picking the correct alternative is critical.
The best way to determine if the server is at fault for the high ping is by trying out other servers.
If you notice that your ping is lower on some servers, then it might be time to switch over and see if that makes a difference.
It’s also important to check how many players are currently logged in on the server as this can also affect your ping.
The more players on a server, the higher the chance of experiencing lag.
2. Distance between the player and the game server
If you’re trying to connect to a server that’s halfway around the world, it will undoubtedly result in a high ping. This is because of the distance the data has to travel, and the number of hops it makes before reaching its destination.
One way to get around this is by using a VPN service that will allow you to connect to a server in a different location. This can help reduce your ping, although it might not be the most ideal solution for everyone.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the further away you are from the game server, the higher your ping is going to be. So if you live in Europe and are trying to connect to a server in the US, you can expect to have higher ping than someone who lives in the US and is trying to connect to a server in Europe.
There are some games that allow you to choose which region you want to play in, so you can select a region that’s closer to you. This can help reduce your ping, although it might not be available in all games.
It’s worth mentioning that the time of day can also affect your ping. During peak hours, when more people are online and trying to connect to the same server, you can expect to have a higher ping.
So if you’re trying to play during off-peak hours, you might have a lower ping.
3. Number of players in the game
The more players in the game, the higher the ping is going to be.
This is because each player’s data has to travel through the server to reach every other player, which can cause congestion and result in a high ping.
If you’re trying to play a game with a lot of players, you can expect to have a higher ping.
So if you’re looking for a lower ping, it might be better to try a game with fewer players.
There are some games that allow you to choose the number of players in the game, so you can select a lower number to help reduce your ping.
4. Type of Internet connection being used
The type of Internet connection you’re using can also affect your ping.
A wired connection is going to be faster and have lower latency than a wireless connection and is less likely to be interrupted by things like walls or interference.
If you’re using a wireless connection, it’s important to make sure that there are no obstacles between the router and the computer. If there are, it can cause interference and result in a higher ping.
It’s also important to make sure that you’re using the right type of Internet connection for gaming.
5. Server load
The server load can also affect your ping. If the server is busy, there might be more congestion and data might have to travel through more hops, which can result in a higher ping.
You can usually check the server load by looking at the game’s server status page or by asking other players in the game. If the server is busy, it might be worth trying to connect at a different time or to a different server.
These are some of the most common causes of high ping when playing online games. By keeping these factors in mind, you can try to troubleshoot and fix your high ping issue.
Conclusion:
By following the steps we’ve outlined in this article, you should see a significant decrease in your ping while gaming. If you continue to experience high ping even after trying these tips, it may be time to invest in a new gaming router or upgrade your internet plan. Have you tried any of these methods to reduce ping? Let us know how they worked for you and whether there are any other techniques that have helped you achieve low ping times.