ByWhen the ping is high, the online gaming experience is ruined. High ping causes lag, delays, and disconnects in the game, which is frustrating for any gamer. In this article, we will explain in detail how you can permanently fix the high ping problem on your PC.
What is high ping, and how does it affect gaming
Ping is a measure of the response speed of a network connection. It is measured in milliseconds (ms).
Less than 20ms: Excellent
20-50ms: Good
50-100ms: Average
More than 100ms: Poor (high chance of lag)
When the ping is high, there is a delay in sending and receiving data from the game server, slowing down input response and spoiling the game’s fun.
1. Choose a fast and stable internet connection
The first step is to ensure a stable and fast internet connection.
Use a fibre broadband connection as it offers the lowest latency.
If you are on Wi-Fi, try to connect via an Ethernet cable as wireless networks are more prone to interference.
Test your upload and download speeds at [Speedtest.net](https://www.speedtest.net).
2. Close background apps that consume the internet
Many times, we don’t do it intentionally, but we keep a lot of background apps running, such as:
Windows Updates
Cloud Backups (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox)
Steam or Epic Games Launcher Downloads
Torrent Software
All of these increase the load on the network.
Solution:
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc)
Go to the Network tab and close the apps that consume more data.
3. Choose the right gaming server
Games often have multiple server regions. If you play on a server far from your location, ping will naturally increase.
What to do:
Go to Game Settings and prioritize servers in your nearest region, like Asia, India, or Singapore.
Many games show ping rates along with it; always choose the server with the lowest ping.
4. Update network drivers
Outdated or corrupt network drivers can also cause ping spikes.
To update drivers:
Open Device Manager
Go to Network Adapters
Right-click on your network card > Click on Update driver
Select Search automatically for updated driver software
5. Enable Quality of Service (QoS) on the router
If you activate QoS in your router’s settings, you can prioritize gaming traffic.
How to change QoS settings:
Open your router’s IP address in a browser (e.g., 192.168.1.1)
Log in to Admin
Go to Advanced Settings > QoS and give preference to gaming devices
6. Change DNS server
The speed of the DNS server can also affect ping time.
Best DNS options:
Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
How to change DNS (in Windows 10/11):
Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings
Right-click on your network > Properties
Select IPv4 > Enter the above DNS in Use the following DNS server addresses
7. Don’t use a VPN while gaming
VPN reroutes your traffic, which increases ping.
If you are using a VPN for gaming, turn it off. This can instantly improve ping.
8. Turn off Background Syncing and Auto Updates
When you are playing games, Windows or other software starts updating automatically, which increases ping.
To turn these off:
Set Active Hours in Windows Update settings
Turn off OneDrive Sync while gaming
Turn off real-time sync of cloud storage and antivirus software
9. Place the router in the right place
The strength of the Wi-Fi signal also affects ping.
Place the router at a higher level
Keep it away from metal objects and walls
If possible, use the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band, which is faster and stable
10. Keep the game client and Windows updated
Sometimes games get optimization updates that fix network issues.
Verify Game Files from Game Launcher
Always install Windows and network-related updates
11. Completely stop Background Downloads
Keep Steam, Epic Games, uTorrent, Browser Downloads, etc., completely closed during the game.
How to stop auto-update in Steam:
Steam > Settings > Downloads > Untick “Allow downloads during gameplay”
12. Refresh Network from Command Prompt
You can clear the network status using the following command:
“`bash
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh int ip reset
netsh winsock reset
“`
Run these commands one by one in Command Prompt (Admin) and restart the PC.
Conclusion
To fix high ping permanently, you have to take collective care of the network, hardware, and system settings. By adopting the above 12 solutions, you can improve your gaming experience and enjoy lag-free gameplay.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – How to fix high ping in online games
Q1: What are the main causes of high ping?
Answer: The main causes of high ping can be a slow or unstable internet connection, apps running in the background, choosing the wrong server, outdated network drivers, or weak signal strength of Wi-Fi.
Q2: Does ping decrease when connected to a LAN cable instead of Wi-Fi?
Answer: Yes, the connection over a LAN (Ethernet) cable is more stable, and ping is lower. This is the most suitable method for online gaming.
Q3: Is a VPN good for gaming?
Answer: Usually not. VPN can increase ping because it routes traffic through other countries. Although some gaming VPNs offer low-latency servers, it is generally better to keep VPNs off.
Q4: Does changing DNS decrease ping?
Answer: Yes, sometimes a bad DNS server affects ping. Using Google DNS (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1) may give better results.
Question 5: Is it safe to play games using a mobile hotspot?
Answer: No, mobile hotspots have very high ping, and the network is not stable. It is only suitable for emergency use.
Question 6: What is the difference between ping and lag?
Answer:
Ping refers to the response time of the network (in ms).
Lag is the delay in games that can be a result of high ping.
Lower ping means less lag.
Question 7: How do I pause Windows Update while gaming?
Answer:
Go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced Options
Set Active Hours or choose Pause Updates
Temporarily disable update services while gaming
Question 8: Does restarting the router frequently lower the ping?
Answer: Yes, sometimes restarting the router clears the network cache and refreshes the connection, which can reduce ping.
Question 9: How can I check my ping?
Answer:
You can check by visiting Speedtest.net
You can also check by typing ping google.com in the Command Prompt
Many games automatically show in-game ping
Question 10: Which internet plan is good for good ping in games?
Answer: A fibre broadband plan with a speed of at least 50 Mbps is suitable for gaming, with both fast upload and download speeds and low latency.
