How to Lower Ping in Fortnite

If there are two words that can make any gamer experience absolute anger they are probably – “high” and “ping”. Jokes aside, having high ping is the worst kind of feeling, even more so if it’s out of your control. No matter how good you are, bad ping can make any player bad. It’s especially bad in Fortnite, where you have to be extremely quick with your builds and shots. If you want to know how lower your ping in Fortnite, you’ve come to the right place.

We all have days when our internet is unstable, and most of the time it gets fixed in a few hours. However, if bad ping is a consistent issue for you then your ISP (Internet Service Provider) might not be the cause. In this case, it’s time to investigate what might be going wrong on your end, and this guide will help you with that.

Select the Correct Region in Fortnite


By default, Fortnite automatically selects the region with the lowest ping for you, but mistakes can always happen. Plus, selecting the region yourself will ensure that you are always queued into your desired region. It might sound stupid to say this but select the region with the lowest ping.

To do this, you have to enter Fortnite settings and navigate to the second tab with the cog icon. There, just switch the region from automatic to the one that gives you the lowest ping.

Restart Your Router and Modem


Another quick and easy fix is to restart your router and modem. As weird as it sounds, there is a good reason for why this works. Routers are essentially mini-computers. As they run, they store information in their cache. Restarting them clears this cache and allows for better connectivity. You can restart your router or modem easily by going to its admin panel, or you can also just turn it off and back on.

Another thing you can do with your router is factory resetting it. However, this could lead to some issues with your ISP and might stop your internet, so proceed with caution.

Use a Wired Connection


If you have been playing Fortnite on Wi-Fi, it’s most likely the reason you are getting inconsistent ping. When it comes to the internet, getting a wired connection is a lot better, especially if you want to get consistent gaming performances. Gong wired gets you a consistent connection without spikes or dips in your internet connectivity, which results in overall better ping in Fortnite. 

All you need to switch to a wired connection is an ethernet cable. There are loads of options out there and most of them will work fine. Make sure to get a cable that’s long enough so that you can easily connect your router to your PC or console. Once you have the cable, all that’s left is to plug it into both your router and your gaming device.

Close Background Applications and Downloads


It’s bad to have apps open in the background while you’re playing Fortnite (or any games) in general. Apps like Spotify and Discord are usually fine, but streaming apps, other game launchers, and even browsers can hog a lot of bandwidth. Also, make sure that you don’t have any downloads running in the background while you’re playing Fortnite. 

The fix is simple: just make sure to stop background apps and downloads when you are playing Fortnite. This ensures that your connection is not divided between different apps and that Fortnite is getting all the bandwidth it needs to give you low ping.

Update Router Firmware


Outdated firmware is also a potential cause for high ping in Fortnite or any game. Firmware is the software that runs on your router, and old firmware can cause instability in your network performance. You can easily fix this by updating your router firmware. To do this, first go to your router’s brand website and look for your router model. You can see the model on the back of your router. 

The firmware download should be in the “support” section on the website. After downloading, you need to log in to your router to install it. This is done by using the router’s IP address in your browser. Most routers are manufactured to use a default address such as 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, 192.168.2.1, or 192.168.1.100. You will also find this on the back of the router with the username and password for the login. After logging in, install the firmware and restart the router. 

Reduce the Number of Connected Devices


It’s normal to have a lot of devices connected to your internet at home. Things like your laptop, tablet, TV, all need to be connected to the world wide web at all times. If you have a ton of these devices connected, though, they can hog up your internet bandwidth, potentially causing ping issues. To avoid this, make sure to disconnect devices you are not using. For example, you can just turn off the Wi-Fi on your phone and tablet when you are gaming.

This will result in considerably better network performance in your game and it is a very simple fix to implement. 

 Pick the Optimal Router Location


If your router is far from your gaming rig, it will cause ping issues, especially if you are playing on Wi-Fi. The ideal place to have your router is in your room. You get better signals and it’s easier to connect an ethernet cable since it’s close. 

If you have to play on a wireless connection and your router is far away from your PC, consider investing in a range extender.

Switch to the 5Ghz Band


Most routers by default run on a 2.4 GHz frequency band. It is an older frequency band and might cause ping issues if there are more devices connected or the router is far from you. The better and newer band is the 5Ghz band. It has more bandwidth and a wider range. You can easily force 5GHz on your router settings by disabling the 2.4 Ghz setting.

Try a Different Router


If, after implementing all of these fixes you are still getting bad ping, it’s time to check your router. It’s a no-brainer that a faulty router will cause ping issues. You can easily check this by trying a different router. Before you run and buy a new router, you can ask a friend or relative to let you try their router. If you are getting a good ping on the other router, you have got a faulty router. In this case, you need to invest in a new router. There are tons of options out there, so find one that fits your requirements

Conclusion


Bad ping can be intolerable in Fortnite, but hopefully, these fixes will solve your problem. After this, you should have considerably better and lower ping in Fortnite. You can now start your grind again – start stealing enemy builds, edit fast, and land shots precisely. Ping is a major factor in a player’s performance, and having a lower ping can give you a pretty hefty competitive edge.

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bobs uncle

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Max The Hedgehog

what the heck is going on

bobs mom

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Bob

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Bob

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