If you're having problems with lag when playing games online - other players actualization, disappearing and constantly jumping effectually - it could be that your ping is likewise loftier. Ping is a mensurate of your connexion speed or, more specifically, the latency of the connection.

Hither we'll explain ping in more depth, including how to measure it and how to lower your ping to reduce lag in online games.

What is ping?

Many people assume that a fast, responsive net connection relies solely on a good download and upload speed, only there's more to it than that. There's besides ping, which is essentially a reaction fourth dimension. If y'all take a ping of 98ms (milliseconds) that's the time it has taken for your computer (or game console) to respond to a request by another calculator.

Clearly, you desire as low a ping time as possible. Many online games prove your ping time along with the ping of other players or servers. If your ping is around 150 (or more), you will almost certainly have problems playing the game due to the delay.

Ping doesn't just affect games, but a long ping fourth dimension is very noticeable when timing is crucial. That'south why a low ping is so important in games, especially where your position and response time (call up first-person shooters or racing games) are everything.

How to measure ping speed

You can test the latency of your net connexion by using Speedtest.net, the most popular online speed exam (fun fact: Speedtest was even featured in i of the Iron Human being films). Any ping beneath 20ms is considered to be great, while anything over 150ms could result in noticeable lag.

Yous might have the fastest gaming PC, but with a boring ping, your actions will accept a lot longer to perform than that of your online peers, giving you lot a disadvantage in the online arena.

How to reduce ping

There'due south no single way to reduce your ping, but instead a number of possible solutions – it'due south a trial-and-error process. The beginning, and simplest, solution is to close all other programs and windows on your computer, making sure that there are no active downloads running in the background that might be affecting the ping.

Some other issue may be that someone else in your house is running a bandwidth-hungry service, like streaming Netflix in 4K or downloading large files. The more than devices that you have connected and actively using the internet connection, the college ping y'all'll accept.

If you're nevertheless getting a loftier ping, endeavor and move your device nearer your router or, improve still, connect your computer or panel direct to your router using an Ethernet cable like the cheap Ugreen CAT7 Ethernet cable.

If information technology's not practical to move your PC or console near the router, and then a powerline adapter will essentially bring that direct router connection to you lot by running it through your home's powerlines. We recommend the TP-Link AV1000, which is a solid remainder betwixt value and specs. This overcomes any potential issues that you may exist having with Wi-Fi and poor point strength, which may affect the latency of your internet connection.

You could also attempt a mesh Wi-Fi network, though since this keeps you on Wi-Fi information technology's unlikely to give you every bit solid a speed boost as a powerline adapter.

Information technology'due south also worth checking the wires between your router and the wall box, making certain that they're all plugged in fully – we've had a few experiences with cable connections condign loose over time, and tightening them has helped the trouble.

If that doesn't work, you lot'll have to attempt the oldest flim-flam in the book: plow your router off and plough it dorsum on once again. Specifically, unplug the power cable from your router and look around a minute before plugging it dorsum in once more. If your setup comprises of a separate router and modem, make sure yous plough both off and not only the router.

The next stride would be to consider buying a new router. If you lot're just using the default 1 supplied past your internet service provider, y'all're probably not making the almost of your connectedness. Upgrading to a better router (particularly a gaming one similar the Netgear Nighthawk AX4) might help yous go improved connectedness speeds, and potentially improve your Wi-Fi coverage as well.

If you lot've followed all the above steps and you still have bad ping, the but affair left to do is call your cyberspace service provider. Your ISP will ordinarily exist able to notice and set any potential issues remotely and should amend speeds – and if there are no faults with your connection, peradventure it's fourth dimension that you idea about switching to another provider. Or, y'know, just move house.