How to lower ping and reduce lag for gaming in 2024

Ping spikes have killed more player characters than all the Elden Ring bosses combined. They can ruin your online gaming with input lag, freezes, and other performance issues. In other words, you’ll lose a lot; I’ve lost countless PVP matches and hardcore characters to high latency.

Ping measures how long data travels from your device to the game server and back. For example, when you press “Jump,” how long before your in-game char does it. Ideally, the ping rate should be 15-50 ms. With high latency (and 50+ ms ping), though, it takes much longer, impacting your gameplay and graphics. This delay can make your game unplayable, especially in competitive scenarios.

Luckily, Virtual private networks (VPNs) can improve your ping for gaming by routing your data better or preventing ISP throttling. In this guide, I’ll cover the most common reasons for high latency and the top 10 easy fixes. Keep reading to learn how to lower ping and enjoy seamless online gaming.

Top 3 lowest ping VPNs

After extensive testing, I identified the best gaming VPNs with low latency and excellent performance. Here’s my shortlist:

1. NordVPN – Overall best VPN for low ping (stayed with 1-10 ms during my tests). Stops ISP throttling. Ensures stable, fast connections with NordLynx protocol and offers ample servers in the US (2000+).
2. Surfshark – Super-fast VPN for better ping. Great budget option with 26 server locations in North America. For lower ping, opt for its Wireguard protocol and nearby servers. During my tests, the ping stayed within the 20-50 ms range, allowing for comfortable WoW gaming.
3. PrivateVPN – Affordable lower ping gaming VPN. Negates effects of ISP throttling and keeps ping at comfortable 1-50 ms levels. Solid choice if you’d rather spend extra on new PSN and Steam titles, than a VPN.

Get the lowest ping VPN

Why is my ping so high in games?

Ping is often high in games due to delays in communication between your gaming device on the one hand and the game server on the other. This causes input lag, high latency, and performance issues. There are quite a few reasons that could make your ping skyrocket, including server overload, poor router performance, and ISP throttling. Read on for the full list:

• Geographical distance: When you connect to a faraway gaming server, data packets have to cover more ground. Consequently, your ping will go up (think 200+ ms) and could cause significant delays.
• ISP throttling: Some ISPs could throttle your gaming data, which can increase your ping.
• Poor router performance: Low-quality or outdated routers generally struggle with data transmission required for online gaming.
• Wi-Fi interference: Walls, electronic signals, and other devices in your home can interfere with your wireless connection, leading to unstable connectivity and higher ping.
• Background apps: Running programs can consume your bandwidth and processing power, leaving fewer resources for gaming and increasing latency.
• Server overload: If you connect to a crowded gaming server, you’ll experience higher pings due to the sheer number of players and requests it has to handle.
• Packet loss: An unstable network can lose data packets in transit. Retransmission of those packets will increase your latency.
• Security software/firewalls: Overly strict settings on your antivirus or firewall can slow down data transmission and cause higher ping. They usually have to inspect (or block) data packets, which takes a lot of time when every frame counts.
• Network type: Your ping also depends on your internet connection type. For example, data has to travel longer with satellite connections, leading to higher latency.

How to lower ping in 2024: 10 fixes to reduce lag

Whatever the cause, high latency will make your games unplayable. Here’s what you can do to reduce ping for gaming:

1. Use a good gaming VPN

Gaming VPNs can route your traffic through optimized server paths, potentially reducing latency. They’ll also eliminate ISP throttling by hiding your gaming traffic from prying eyes. However, you’ll have to choose a service known for low pings and servers optimized for gaming. I recommend NordVPN. Its SmartPlay feature allows you to access geo-blocked game servers and optimizes your connection for the best performance.

2. Switch to a wired connection

Ethernet cables ensure stable and fast connection by reducing interference and packet loss. They bypass usual Wi-Fi issues and allow data to travel directly between your device and router.

3. Remove Wi-Fi interference

If a wired connection is not an option, pick a central location for your router away from walls and other electronic devices (especially microwaves and cordless phones). You can further improve wireless performance by switching to a 5 GHz band or using a less crowded Wi-Fi channel. A simple Wi-Fi analyzer tool can identify the least congested channels.

4. Pick servers closer to your location

Reducing the data travel time will lower your pings considerably. So, if you want to fix lag in games like Fortnite or Apex Legends, I recommend sticking to nearby servers. For optimal performance, I also suggest picking your actual region instead of spoofing the game with a VPN.

5. Reduce network congestion

Avoid resource-heavy activities like streaming and downloading during your gaming hours. This approach will reduce congestion on your local network and ensure that gaming data isn’t competing with torrents, Netflix, or similar bandwidth-hungry activities. You can also improve ping by disconnecting all unnecessary devices from your Wi-Fi.

6. Close background apps and programs

Background processes can consume a lot of bandwidth and processing power. You can free up these resources by closing all unnecessary programs. Doing this will grant your games maximum access to your system and network capabilities.

Here’s a quick, straightforward guide on stopping apps with high CPU usage on Windows:

1. Launch the Task Manager app.
2. Sort process by CPU consumption (in descending order)
3. Right-click the identified process and select End task to terminate the process

NOTE: Avoid ending core processes required for your OS to work smoothly.

7. Install the latest updates

Outdated OS, drivers, or router firmware can cause performance issues. Try to keep everything up to date to get optimal performance and the latest bug fixes.

8. Optimize your router settings

You can boost your gaming experience by configuring Quality of Service (QoS) settings on your router. You can prioritize gaming over other types of traffic. Even if your network gets congested, the gaming data will have priority, reducing lag. I recommend this only if you have the necessary know-how. Otherwise, you shouldn’t tinker with sensitive router settings.

9. Upgrade your internet plan

Better download and upload speeds can reduce latency if your previous plan was very slow. In my gaming experience, it’s ideal to stay within the 1-10 ms range for fast-paced MMOs. It should provide a comfortable enough experience for multiplayer titles like Call of Duty: Warzone, Apex Legends, CS: GO, and Fortnite. If you fancy slower-paced RTS or MOBA, you’ll need 1-50 ms. And MMORPGs like WoW and Final Fantasy XIV are perfectly playable within the 1-100 ms range.

Check with your ISP for plans that offer higher bandwidth, lower latency, and better routing.

10. Change your ISP

I recommend taking your business elsewhere if your current ISP throttles you or you experience frequent congestion. Research ISPs in your area and find one that can reliably support heavy gaming.

How to get 0 ping?

Your ping can never be zero for various reasons. Even if you connect to a nearby server, data still has to cover some physical distance, which takes time. Signal transmission is extremely fast but not instantaneous.

Your data must pass through various hardware components, such as routers, switches, and network interface cards (NICs). Each of them introduces a bit of latency due to processing times.

Finally, your device and the game server need time to process the data packets they send and receive (encoding, decoding, error checking, etc.). We’re not even considering environmental factors, multi-hop routing, and networking protocols.

Considering all this, pings in the 1-10 range are excellent and typically the best achievable latency for most users.

Experience fast, lag-free gaming with NordVPN

What is a good ping speed?

What would be a good ping depends on the kind of online games you play. The 10-20 ms ping range is sufficient for fast-paced FPS titles; you can comfortably play MOBAs with up to 50 ms latency. Lower ping means faster connections, which is crucial for competitive first-person play and less for strategic RTS and RPG titles. Here’s a quick overview of ping ranges and their effects on online gaming:

• 1-10 ms (very low ping): Imperceptible delay, highly responsive gaming with quick reactions and precise controls. Ideal for eSports, especially fast-paced FPS and RTS titles like PUBG or LoL.
• 10-50 ms (low ping): Minimal delay most players won’t even notice. Great for most titles, including competitive and multiplayer games.
• 50-100 ms (moderate ping): Noticeable delay but still acceptable for casual gaming. It’s good for MOBAs, MMORPGs, and turn-based games. Fast-paced FPS and RTS titles might show some lag. In a competitive scenario, this ping will put you at a slight disadvantage.
• 100-200 ms (high ping): Actions take noticeably longer to register, affecting your gameplay. You can experience debilitating lag, jitter, and packet loss. It’s still serviceable for turn-based games and some MMORPGs.
• 200-300 ms (very high ping): Significant lag with delayed movements and actions. High chances of experiencing sudden disconnects and server timeouts. Might work for very casual gaming and less timing-sensitive genres like turn-based games.
• 300+ ms (extreme ping): Severe lag, unresponsiveness, and a frustrating gaming experience. You can expect frequent disconnects and unstable gameplay. I can’t think of any online games that will remain unaffected by this latency.

What causes high ping in games?

High ping in games is primarily caused by a slow internet connection or network congestion. When you have high ping, it means data packets take longer to travel between your device and the game server, resulting in delays and lag during gameplay. Other factors contributing to high ping include distance to the server, the quality of your ISP (Internet Service Provider), and local network setup issues.

Lower pings are always preferable, but acceptable ping ranges can vary depending on your game’s specific demands and sensitivity to latency. For example, VR games ideally need 1-30 ms to maintain immersion and prevent motion sickness.

Here’s a quick overview of ideal pings for each genre:

How to check your internet ping?

You can check your ping in several ways: through websites like speedtest.net, your command prompt, and built-in or dedicated tools. I’ll show you how to use the command prompt since this is the easiest and most accurate process.

On Windows

Here’s how to check your ping on Windows:

1. Open the Command Prompt on your computer
2. Type ping + your IP address and press Enter

You can repeat the process as many times as you like to get your average ping value. To check your ping to a certain website, just type ping + website address (for example, ping google.com).

On Mac

The process on Mac is quite similar:

1. Open Terminal
2. Type ping + your IP address and press Enter
3. Press Ctrl + C to end the test and get your average value

Conclusion

High latency can wreck your online gaming; it can cause input delay, freezes, stuttering, and complete disconnects. Lag is frustrating in casual gaming and a killer in competitive scenarios. Fortunately, you can improve your ping by following the top 10 easy fixes I provided in this guide.

You first have to identify the problem and apply the corresponding solution. So, if you have a wall between your gaming rig and router, bring them closer together. If possible, go for a wired connection. Pick a server closer to you and disconnect all unnecessary devices from your Wi-Fi.

If your ISP is the problem, you can go for a better package or replace them altogether. If you see signs of ISP throttling, I recommend cutting that at the root with a good gaming VPN. NordVPN performed best during my extensive testing, and you can learn all about it in our full NordVPN review.

---

You may also want to read:

Best Modern Warfare 3 VPN to get bot lobbies
Best VPN to play Warzone
Best VPNs for CS2
Best Fortnite VPN
Best VPNs for Discord
How to fix World of Tanks lag 

---

FAQ

Why is my ping so high but my internet is good?

High-speed internet doesn't necessarily translate to low pings. Latency is more affected by network congestion, data routing, and server distance. Focusing on those factors can help you improve your ping for gaming.

Will faster internet reduce my ping?

Yes, upgrading your internet package can reduce ping or latency if your current plan can't support heavy online gaming. Getting a package with lower latency, better routing, and less ISP throttling is also a good idea.

Is 500 ping bad?

Yes. 500 ms is an extremely high ping that will severely affect your gameplay. You'll experience anything from lag and freezes to server timeouts and disconnects. To lower it, I recommend using a good gaming VPN. It will negate the effect of ISP throttling and provide stable, faster connections.

How to get a better ping on Xbox?

You can improve your Xbox ping by using a wired Ethernet connection, picking nearby game servers, optimizing router settings, and closing unnecessary background apps. You should also ensure there's no heavy network usage (torrenting, streaming, downloading, etc.) during your gaming sessions.

How to reduce ping on Android?

Use a Wi-Fi connection instead of mobile data, connect to a closer server, close unnecessary background apps, and update your device's software. You can also use a gaming VPN optimized for low latency. I recommend NordVPN since it performed best on all my tests.

Which VPN has the lowest ping?

Based on my extensive testing, NordVPN offers the best pings for passionate gamers. It also provides excellent speeds, solid security, and unparalleled access to geo-blocked game servers.

Why is my ping so high when using Ethernet?

A wired connection can still dish out high pings due to network congestion, server distance, ISP issues, faulty router configuration, too many apps running in the background, faulty hardware, etc. Identifying and addressing the issue should restore your ping to normal.