More than 10 ways to stop lag during online gaming

If the game freezes or there is a delay between what you see on the screen and your button presses, the reason may be latency (lag). Lag usually occurs due to poor network connection, but there are several ways to solve this problem and make your computer or console run smoothly. From adjusting hardware settings to checking network connectivity, the following paragraph offers many solutions to help you get rid of lag.

Ways to Stop or Reduce Lag:

1- Closing Other Programs Running on Your Computer or Console:

Browsers and video players may consume processing power and reduce game performance.

On a computer, you can press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager and see all programs currently running, then close any background programs. On a console, close any other open applications.

If the computer continues to run slowly even after closing programs, there may be malware using processing power in the system.

2- Turning Off or Disconnecting Other Devices Connected to the Same Network While Playing:

Devices connected to the network consume bandwidth, which may lead to lag while playing online.

To improve gaming experience and avoid lag, it is recommended to disconnect other devices connected to the router while playing. If you live with other people, try timing gaming sessions when you are alone at home, or kindly ask them to disconnect their devices for a short period while playing.

3- Adjusting Wi-Fi Settings in the Router to Improve Bandwidth and Connection:

Here are some suggested steps:

1. Switching between 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz networks: 5.0GHz network provides higher speeds but may become slower if you are far from the router. 2.4GHz network is not as fast but may be more stable if you are far from the router.
2. Enabling Quality of Service (QoS): This feature allows you to adjust network settings to prioritize incoming traffic from games, which helps reduce lag. Enabling this feature varies depending on the router type and may not be available on all devices.
3. Changing Bandwidth Channels: Adjusting bandwidth channels may help reduce lag. Try making a simple adjustment and then run a speed test to see how it affects your connection.

4- Connecting Your Computer or Console to the Router Using an Ethernet Cable Instead of Relying on Wireless Connection:

Wired connection helps transfer internet signal faster and reduces lag.

To achieve this, connect the Ethernet cable to the router, then plug it into an available port on the gaming device.

• You may need to adjust the settings of the computer or console to use the wired connection if you were using wireless connection before.
• If unable to use Ethernet cable, try moving the gaming device closer to the router or placing the router in a higher position to improve Wi-Fi signal.

5- Switching to a Server Closer to Your Location:

Many games allow you to browse available or automatically matched servers in your region.

• If you can choose the server you play on, select the closest one to reduce ping, which is the time taken to transfer data between your device and the server.
• Some games automatically detect your geographical location and try to connect to the nearest available server.

Look for location filter options in the servers browsing menu or check server names or descriptions (such as US-West, EU) in the matchmaking list.

6- Lowering Graphic Settings Inside the Game:

Running the game on the highest graphic settings may consume a lot of processing power on the computer or console, leading to game freezes or stutters. Although reducing graphics may make the game look less attractive, you will notice a significant increase in frames per second (FPS).

Graphics settings that you can adjust to improve performance:

• Resolution: Start with your device’s native screen resolution, but continue to lower it to improve FPS.
• Anti-aliasing (AA): This feature smooths object edges but consumes device performance. Try turning off AA completely to see its effect on gameplay. If available, try FXAA after that.
• Texture Quality: If the game stutters, choose lower texture quality, especially when playing modern games on older graphic cards.
• Shadow Quality: Detailed shadows consume a lot of processing power. Reducing shadow quality may lead to a significant performance improvement.
• V-Sync: This feature syncs vertical display with screen refresh rate, which may reduce FPS. You can try disabling this feature to improve speed, but it may lead to screen tearing issue.

7- Updating Graphics Card Drivers:

The graphics card in the computer is responsible for displaying all visual elements on the screen, and manufacturers release software updates to improve the performance of these cards. It is recommended to check the type of graphics card installed on your device and download the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website.

• Older graphics cards may not be compatible with modern games, which may cause delay or even prevent the game from running.
• Some devices have integrated graphics cards and high-performance ones. Integrated cards have lower specifications, so you need to change system settings to use the high-performance card. You can also adjust these settings from the graphics settings menu inside the game.

8- Restarting the Modem and Router:

If you experience more delay than usual, restarting network devices may help.

Restart Steps:

1. Disconnect power cables from the modem and router and leave them unplugged for 30 seconds.
2. Reconnect the modem and wait about 5 minutes until it is fully operational.
3. Then, reconnect the router and leave it for a few minutes until it restarts.
4. After restarting the devices, try playing the game to check if ping has improved and lag has reduced.

• It is recommended to restart the modem and router at least once a month to improve internet speed.
• If the router is older than 3 years, it may be time to replace it with new devices for a more stable connection.

9- Overclocking Your Processor:

Overclocking the processor means increasing the processing speed of signals and data to handle heavier tasks.

Suggested Steps:

• Enter BIOS settings on the computer to adjust the CPU multiplier and voltage settings.
• After making the adjustments, restart the computer and check its performance during games to ensure smooth operation.

Important Notes:

• Make sure you have good cooling system in your device, as overclocking the processor may lead to increased temperature.
• Overclocking the processor may void the warranty, and may cause damage to some parts inside the computer if not done correctly.

10- Contacting Your Internet Service Provider to Upgrade Internet Speed:

Contact your internet provider to upgrade internet speed if you are experiencing continuous delays in games or general slow internet at home.

• Talk to the service provider to see if there are plans offering higher speeds or larger bandwidth.
• Faster plans are usually at higher monthly costs, so ask the representative about prices and any upgrade offers.

If the internet speed is too slow, the representative may send a technician to inspect or replace devices to improve performance.

11- Upgrading Your Hardware to Improve Performance:

If your computer is unable to handle modern games due to low processing power or having an old graphics card, you may need to upgrade your hardware to improve performance. Many games specify minimum and recommended hardware requirements to run smoothly, so it is advisable to check the recommended requirements for the games you often play.

Some parts that can be upgraded include:

• Random Access Memory (RAM): Most large games require at least 4 gigabytes of RAM, but 8 gigabytes is recommended to improve performance.
• Graphics Card: Some games may not be compatible with older or weaker graphics cards, so make sure to check the recommendations for each game to know the recommended card.
• Central Processing Unit (CPU): The CPU provides the necessary power to run games. It is preferred to use quad-core processors for games, so you may need an upgrade if you have an older processor.