How to Lower Ping and Fix Lag on Your PS5 – Easy Steps

No matter how good a gaming console you have (including the latest Playstation or Xbox), you need to have a stable internet connection to avoid issues related to lower ping and fix lag on PS5. This is particularly true if you are playing racing and shooting games. If you don’t know how to fix these bugs, here’s a definitive guide to help you out. Let’s go.

Why You Need to Lower the Ping

When you think of good internet speed, if you are not a tech-savvy person, your mind usually goes to upload and download speeds. But when it comes to gaming, you need to think about something called ping, which is basically the time your PC or console has taken to respond to a request sent by another computer.

Naturally, it would be best if you had this to be as low as possible because things change in a matter of milliseconds when you’re gaming. Typically, online games tell you your ping time along with that of the other players.

If you notice that your ping time is 150 or more, you will experience delays in the game. That is, to say the least, extremely annoying. That’s probably what set you off on this journey, and here we are.

But don’t worry. Your search is over. There is more than one way to reduce the ping, and here’s how it works. You will have to try them one after the other to identify the problem and find a solution. Now, it’s not going to be very tough, so stay with us.

• The first solution is going to sound obvious. You need to close all the other programs running on your computer and pause any downloads happening in the background.
• Your second move is to see if anyone else is using the same network and hogging bandwidth (thanks to Netflix in 4Know!) or carrying out monstrous downloads of their own. The ping increases when multiple devices are using the same network.
• Once you clear out the first two issues, your third option is to move closer to your Wi-Fi router. If you can’t do that, try getting a powerline adapter like the ones from TP-Link, which are value for money and have good specs. It will help with signal strength but might lead to latency issues. So, watch out for that.
• The fourth way is to try a Wi-Fi mesh network which is not as great as a powerline adapter, but it still might solve your problem.
• Your fifth solution could be checking the wires going from the wall box to the router. Check to see if they are properly plugged in because sometimes they get loose.
• The sixth option is to reset and reboot your router, the oldest manual trick in the book. Switch it off for a few seconds and turn it back on. Make sure you unplug the cable safely and plug it back in before you switch the router on.
• If none of this works, your final solution is to buy a new gaming router like the Netgear Nighthawk AX4. This will help with connection speed and possibly coverage too.

Wired Ethernet or Powerline Adapter

Now, if you are looking to make big changes and not just a few adjustments because that is not working anymore, here’s one of the most important switches you can make no matter what platform you are using for your online gaming needs.

You get the best results for online gaming when you use a wired connection because it is more stable than Wi-Fi, more reliable with better speed, and lower ping.

Now, when it comes specifically to the PS5, the Wi-Fi tech has seen some upgrades, but it is still no match to wired technology. So, a wired ethernet cable like the Ugreen CAT7 ethernet cable is never a bad move. This is particularly true if you are far away from a router and a LAN cable is not an option.

An equally good option is to consider a powerline adapter. Now, you should know that this gives the same result as the ethernet cable and keeps the ping low.

That’s because they have adapter plugs, one of which goes into the wall socket and is connected to the router while the other goes into your PS5. The house’s electrical wiring enables the two plugs to talk to each other and gives you a stable connection.

This is a pretty cool way of circumventing the Wi-Fi system without running long cables around the house. This does not work in all houses, but if you have the right kind of wiring, it is just as good as a wired ethernet cable. And it is definitely better than just Wi-Fi.

Wired connections are also a great way to reduce lag when playing games online. Also, they help in lower ping and fix lag on PS5. Also, check out a detailed guide on Twitch for parents!

Using a VPN for Faster Gaming Guaranteed

A VPN always slows your connection down to some degree, so you might be surprised to hear that using one can actually cut game latency and improve overall performance. 

If you connect to a VPN server that is close to a gaming server, you can improve speed relative to your standard internet connection, which may take a less direct route to the server. 

You can often find out where gaming servers are located by Googling for them. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), for example, has servers in Virginia (US), London (UK), and Sydney (Australia), among other places. Fortnight has servers in Ohio (US), Osaka (Japan), and Frankfurt (Germany), plus 13 other places.

Check out the gaming speed if you use NordVPN

 

Play Games With NordVPN

 

Some ISPs will throttle high-bandwidth activity – such as gaming, streaming and torrenting – causing slower speeds and longer latency. If you travel with your PlayStation, hotels or other public WiFi providers might also throttle your connection in an attempt to reduce bandwidth consumption. 

Throttle is Defined as the intentional slowing or speeding of an internet service by an Internet service provider (ISP)

With a VPN, your internet traffic is encrypted, meaning your service provider cannot see what it is you’re doing. If they can’t determine your activity, they can’t throttle your connection. 

A VPN is therefore a great way to avoid ISP throttling and enjoy unrestricted speeds on PS4 and PS5. Smart DNS doesn’t encrypt your traffic, so it won’t protect you. 

You’ll need to use a full VPN service with strong encryption, like NordVPN, to hide your traffic from service providers.

1. NordVPN 

NordVPN is the best provider for fast server connection speeds and low ping for PlayStation 5. With NordVPN, you get access to server locations worldwide and excellent additional features. 

• Over 5,300 servers in 59 countries around the world 
• High speeds and low ping 
• 30-day refund policy 
• Unblocks streaming services such as Netflix 
• Strict no-logs policy 

Watch Using NORDVPN For Gaming!

 

Play Games With NordVPN

 

If you are looking for a VPN solution for your PS5 that will offer the fastest possible speeds and low ping, NordVPN is a good choice. The provider’s unrivaled speeds are thanks to its proprietary NordLynx protocol, providing excellent security and privacy protection. 

Not only does NordVPN offer lightning-fast connection speeds, but it will also protect from DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks. This type of attack occurs when a rival gamer attempts to lock you out of a game by overwhelming your server with data. 

NordVPN will prevent such threats as it will mask your real IP address with that of the VPN server. Therefore, DDoS attacks are sent to the VPN server rather than your home server, which is much more capable of resisting floods of data. 

NordVPN is also one of the best services when it comes to overcoming geo-blocks. Its extensive server count in almost 60 countries means that you will have no issue accessing new games before they reach your region, as you’ll have plenty of IP address options. 

The provider also boasts a stringent no-logs policy and military-grade AES-256 encryption meaning that none of your private internet activity will be stored or sold to third parties. Even though privacy and security is often not usually the main reason to use a VPN on a gaming console, it is worth knowing that your anonymity will be protected when using this PS5 VPN. 

If you want a VPN for your PS5 gaming console that will provide low ping, high-speed connections, and access to next-gen video games as soon as they release, Nord is the obvious choice; it’s a stellar VPN provider. 

Still unsure? The provider also offers a 30-day refund policy on all of its subscription plans, allowing you to cancel the plan if you aren’t fully satisfied.

Visit The Official NORDVPN Website

 

2. ExpressVPN 

ExpressVPN is another popular VPN service for gaming on PlayStation 5 and is easy to set up thanks to its router app. ExpressVPN offers fast speeds and first-class privacy and security features for an optimal gaming experience. 

• 3,000 servers in 94 countries 
• Router applet 
• DNS MediaStreamer service 
• 30-day refund policy
• Lightning fast and reliable speeds 

If you are looking for reliably fast speeds for gaming and streaming on your PlayStation 5 console, ExpressVPN is a great choice. Its Lightway protocol is optimized for a quick yet safe VPN connection that won’t affect your gameplay and will only enhance the overall experience. ExpressVPN ensures fast connection speeds, low ping, and reduced latency. 

Watch How to Setup Express VPN on your PS5

Another reason to use ExpressVPN is that it offers a decent-sized VPN server network with excellent coverage. This means that you can access games from all over the world and choose from many IP addresses. 

ExpressVPN offers a MediaStreamer service that enables users to watch streaming content on their PlayStation with minimal setup required. ExpressVPN can also be easily set up on your router, ensuring security for all internet users while acting as a PS5 VPN. There is even a router applet, which allows easy management of the VPN connection without having to go into your router settings each time you want to switch servers. 

Express is a great VPN for PlayStation 5 since it can effectively prevent DDoS attacks on your console. ExpressVPN also utilizes RAM-only servers. This means data will be wiped after every gaming session, ensuring users’ gaming activity remains completely private. 

No matter how many features a VPN service may have, it must fit your budget; although ExpressVPN is one of the pricier VPN services on our list, it does offer a 30-day refund policy to give you time to try it out without risk.

Visit The Official EXPRESSVPN Website

 

Watch how to setup a VPN on your PS5

Changing DNS Settings for Faster Internet: The Quick Way

Changing your DNS settings is one way to improve your internet connection speed drastically. This is also a quick and easy method. If you have already tried this and want the advanced method, that is right under this one. The latter is for those who can handle a setup that is slightly more complicated. It is also more effective.

The simple method starts with testing the network connection.

Step 1: Go to Settings. Click on Network and then on ‘Test Network Connection.’

Step 2: Go back to Network and click on ‘Setup Internet Connection.’ Click on Wi-Fi or LAN and then go to your router option by clicking on ‘Options.’ Check if your router is on 5 GHz, which is perfect when your PS5 and the router are in the same room. It could also be on 2.4 GHz, which does not give the same speed, but your Wi-Fi range will certainly be better.

Step 3: Get on your Wi-Fi network and click on ‘Wi-Fi Frequency Bands.’ Then select ‘5 GHz Only,’ and that will be set up.

Step 4: Then, you change the IP settings from automatic to manual. Click on ‘Automatic’ and then select ‘DHCP hostname.’ Then select ‘Do Not Specify’ and go to ‘DNS Settings’ and select ‘Manual.’

Changing DNS Settings for Faster Internet: The Advanced Way

This one is a bit complicated so stay with us. Get your computer and your PS5 on the same network, preferable over a wired connection.

Step 1: Go to the website DNS Benchmark tool and download and extract a program called Namebench.

Step 2: Change the health check performance setting to fast and keep the number of queries at 250, which will give you stable results. The process might take 20-30 minutes.

Step 3: A tab should open up on your browser and give you information about the data average of pings (in milliseconds) along with the maximum-minimum difference and then some.

Step 4: If you want a stable ping, you should make sure that the difference between the minimum and maximum is as little as possible. That should be the one for your primary DNS. The next best one should be assigned to your secondary DNS setting.

Step 5: Meanwhile, you should go to your DNS settings and enter those values you saw on the browser tab.

Step 6: Restart your PS5 and double-check the DNS settings.

Step 7: Test the connection and see if there is an improvement compared to the older settings.

Do this once every month or three months because these settings change over time. You’ll be able to deal with lower ping and fix lag on PS5.

Get a New Gaming Router

If you’re not feeling like doing all the work of checking out the house’s wiring or picking a cable off the internet (which is actually nothing, so you should do it), there is another way.

When you get an internet connection, your service provider might give you a router too. But if you want to improve your connection speed and make the best of what you are paying for, you might want to get some help in the way of a new gaming router.

You can start by checking out the Quality of Service (QoS) feature, which allows you to prioritize your router traffic and puts gaming above all else. When using the same router as the others in the house, this is a handy feature to enable. Even if you don’t want to get a fancy new router, this is a feature you want to look for.

You will find a range of good gaming routers anywhere in the price range of $130 to over $350. Some go even up to $500, which seems like a lot to reduce the ping, right? Well, some of the more expensive ones come with next-gen Wi-Fi tech. They allow for faster high speeds and a few other features you will appreciate.

So, it might be a good investment in the long run, but you must always look into your existing hardware and see what you can do to reduce needless expenses.

Watch this Video on PS5 DNS Servers

You might find this video helpful if you don’t feel like reading too much text, and in general for a bit more information and a different perspective.

Wrapping Up

When PS5 came out, every gamer was filled with expectations that it would be the next generation of gaming consoles. But the thing about gaming is that much like a rollercoaster ride, it is all about the experience.

And nothing dampens the spirit like a bad internet connection. Hopefully, the tips above will help you preserve that experience and pack a punch in your games.