How to reduce input lag and ping in online games

When a game feels sluggish, two different problems are often mixed up. Input lag is the delay between your action and what appears on screen. Ping is the delay between your computer and the game server. Each has its own causes and fixes.

Input lag: the local delay

Input lag is the sum of several steps: your mouse or controller sends a signal, the game processes it, the graphics card draws the frame, and the screen shows it. You can reduce it at almost every step.

Raise your frame rate

Higher FPS means each frame takes less time, so new information reaches the screen sooner. At 60 FPS a frame takes 16.7 ms, at 144 FPS about 6.9 ms. Use the FPS to frame time calculator to see the numbers. For ways to raise FPS, read our guide on speeding up any PC game.

Use the right display settings

• Set the monitor to its highest refresh rate in Windows. See monitor refresh rate explained.
• If you have variable refresh rate, turn it on and cap the frame rate slightly under the maximum.
• Turn on the monitor's game mode if it has one, and in a TV, enable its game or low latency mode.
• Avoid heavy image processing options on TVs, such as motion smoothing.

V-Sync and frame queues

Classic V-Sync can add noticeable delay because frames wait for the screen. If you see tearing and want to avoid it, variable refresh rate is a better answer. Many drivers also have a low latency mode that limits how many frames the processor prepares in advance. Try it, and compare in your own game.

Input devices

A wired mouse or controller, or a wireless one with a good low latency connection, helps. Use a polling rate of 1000 Hz or higher on the mouse if your system handles it. Plug devices directly into the computer instead of into a crowded hub.

Ping: the network delay

Ping is shown in milliseconds. Lower is better, and stability matters as much as the number. Spikes and lost packets cause more trouble than a steady 40 ms.

Use a cable

A wired Ethernet connection is more stable than Wi-Fi. If you cannot run a cable, use the 5 GHz or 6 GHz band, sit close to the router and avoid walls in between. Powerline adapters can work as a middle option.

Reduce traffic on the network

Downloads, streams and cloud backups on the same network cause lag. Pause them while you play. Some routers have quality of service settings that give priority to your gaming device.

Choose the right server

Pick the server region nearest to you. A far away server adds delay you cannot remove with any setting. In games that allow it, test two or three regions and keep the most stable.

Check your router and provider

• Restart the router from time to time.
• Update its firmware.
• If the problem is constant, run a test to the first hop outside your home. If that hop is slow, the cause is probably your provider and worth a call to them.

How to measure both

1. Many games show ping in a corner of the screen or in the scoreboard. Turn it on.
2. For a network test, open a command window and run a ping to a reliable server for a minute. Look at the average, the maximum and any lost packets.
3. For input lag, record your screen and controller with a phone camera at high frame rate, and count the frames between press and reaction. It is a rough but useful test.

What does not help

Programs that promise to "boost" your connection or "clean" your memory usually do little. Real improvements come from a cable, fewer background transfers, better settings and enough FPS.

A quick routine

1. Connect with Ethernet.
2. Close downloads and streaming.
3. Set the highest refresh rate and enable variable refresh rate.
4. Cap FPS slightly below the refresh rate.
5. Enable low latency mode in the game or the driver.
6. Pick the nearest server.

Small changes add up. If the mouse feels wrong rather than late, see our sensitivity guide.