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Troubleshooting

Why Is My Ping So High?

High ping ruins online gaming and video calls. Here's what causes it and how to get it down.

Updated 2026

  1. 1

    Switch from WiFi to Ethernet

    WiFi adds latency and drops packets. Plugging directly into the router with an Ethernet cable is the single biggest ping improvement you can make.

  2. 2

    Close background apps

    Streaming, downloads and cloud backups all eat bandwidth while you play. Close them or pause syncing services like OneDrive and Google Drive.

  3. 3

    Check who else is on the network

    Other people streaming 4K or gaming on the same connection will spike your ping. A QoS (traffic priority) rule in the router can reserve bandwidth for your device.

  4. 4

    Connect to a closer game server

    Always pick the server region nearest to you. A server in the same country typically gives 10–40ms; a server on another continent gives 100–200ms+.

  5. 5

    Reboot your router and modem

    A quick restart clears congested connections and often drops ping by 10–30ms immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a good ping for gaming?
Under 30ms is excellent. 30–60ms is good for most games. 60–100ms is playable. Over 100ms starts to feel laggy in fast-paced games like shooters.
Does a faster internet plan lower ping?
Not directly — ping is about latency (distance to the server), not download speed. A congested connection can cause high ping, but upgrading speed alone won't fix it if the route is the problem.