In the world of online gaming, ping refers to the network latency between a player’s computer and the game server. It is basically the time it takes for a signal to travel between your computer and the game server. It is measured in milliseconds (ms), and a lower ping indicates a more responsive and smoother gaming experience, while a higher ping can result in lag and delays.
Ping is one of those things that most online gamers want to be low because high ping can lead to excessive lag, buffering, and slowdown in online gaming. Plus, a high ping can make the difference between winning the last shot for your team or missing entirely. If you are wondering how you can lower the ping on your network, you have come to the right place. We have discussed below a few ways by which you can lower your ping and have a smooth online gaming experience.
Use a Wired Connection
The first, foremost, and easiest way to improve ping on your internet connection is by ditching a wireless connection and using a wired connection. A wired connection provides a much faster connection than a wireless connection because of no interference or signal drop. Wireless connections generally have a high latency because of signal drop, obstruction, and interference from nearby devices.
Simply using an ethernet cable to connect your PC to the router or modem can lower your ping by a lot and the difference will be evident. Out of all the ways mentioned, this is the easiest and most effective way to lower your network’s ping.
Optimize the Space Around the Router
If for some reason a direct ethernet connection is not possible, then worry not. You can still lower ping on your wireless connection too and for that, you will have to optimize your network and the space around it. The first thing that you should do is place your gaming device (e.g. laptop, PC, console, etc) as close to the router as possible and ensure that there are no obstructions between the device and the router.
Avoid placing other electronic devices close to the router, as it can lead to signal interference, a decrease in internet speed, and an increase in the network’s ping. Try to decrease the space between your device and the router, and avoid placing anything in between that might obstruct the signal or cause interference.
Optimize Firewall Settings
Optimizing your firewall setting is also important when it comes to lowering ping on the network. Firewalls monitor the incoming and outgoing data packets of your network. If your firewall is slow in monitoring or checking data packets, it can delay the process and add to your latency.
To bypass this, simply visit http://tendawifi.com or your default admin IP address and add an exception for your game or application within the firewall settings. If you are not using your router’s firewall, just visit the firewall settings of your operating system and make an exception.
Remove Extra Devices from the Network
If you want to lower the ping and improve the stability of your connection, you can consider increasing the bandwidth but since that is not a viable option for most people, you can consider temporarily removing devices from the network to increase the available bandwidth and improve the stability and performance of the connection. You can remove devices yourself by visiting the admin panel and removing them from the network. For most routers, the default access is admin/admin.
Change Your Online Game Server
Changing your online gaming server can also make a difference in ping because if you are connected to a server that is far away from your geographical location then it can result in high ping. To avoid this, ensure that you are connected to the gaming server from the closest region available. Sometimes, some regions can be under heavy loads during peak times, and in such instances, it is best to avoid those servers and choose one that can provide a much stronger connection.
