How to get rid of high ping in Fortnite effectively?

Fortnite is easily one of the most popular games on the market today. Millions of gamers play the game and, for the most part, enjoy it and give positive feedback. However, players have been complaining about the issues of lag and high ping.

These are not problems specific to Fornite since they can affect any other game that has a very large user base. In this article, we are going to show you how to reduce lag and ping in Fortnite Battle Royale.

First, you need to understand what lag is. There are three units involved, which are your PC, router, and the Epic Games Fortnite servers. Your PC first sends data in packets to the router, the router processes the data and then sends it to the Fortnite servers. Then, the router gets a reply from the Fortnite servers in the form of another packet. The router processes it again and sends it back to your PC. In this process, the router acts as a middleman between you and the Epic Game servers. The time it takes for packets to travel between your client and the Epic Game servers is what we call latency. If the time is too long, then you get what’s known as lag or high ping.

Solution 1. Reboot your router

Routers are working 24/7, 365 days a year, so they need a break too from all the data that they process every single second. Resetting a router can sometimes fix the problem because it clears all the settings and removes any data and locks that the router keeps in its memory. Resetting a router is different for all manufacturers and models. So, it’s best to read the router manual document, which comes in the package with the router. There are usually two ways to reset a router: the first is by logging into the router admin panel and going to the Reset tab, and the second is by pressing the reset button , which is usually located on the back of the router, for 20 to 30 seconds.

• To find the Admin panel, right-click on the Start or Home button and select Command Prompt from the pop-up menu.
• In the Command Prompt window, input ‘ipconfig’ and press Enter.
• Now, copy your default gateway into your browser, and it will take you to your admin panel page.

Solution 2. Port Forwarding.

Port forwarding is a process that is different for every router manufacturer. You can find how to port forward any router on Google. First, you need to find the Port forwarding tab. You can find it by going under Forward rules and then Port mapping configuration. Set it to Enable port mapping detect, and you can write whatever you like in the Mapping box. The internal host is your local IP, which you can find by typing ipconfig in the Command Prompt. It is the IPv4 address. Leave External address empty. Under Protocol, if you have the option, select TCP / UDP. Now, enter the following ports for Fortnite:

• TCP: 5222, 5795-5847
• UDP: 5222, 5795-5847

Once you are done, click on Save to confirm the changes you have made. That’s it; you’ve successfully finished the port forwarding process for Fortnite.

Solution 3. Change your matchmaking region

Play on the closest region available on matchmaking. One of the most common mistakes we have seen gamers do is not caring about the matchmaking region. This is one of the most reliable methods to reduce ping. So, you need to choose the closest region, and you’ll see the difference right away.

The way to do this in Fortnite is by going into Settings and changing the Matchmaking region to the one closest to your location.

Solution 4. Using the Ethernet connection

If you’re playing on Wi-Fi and you have the option to switch to Ethernet, don’t hesitate. Yes, you are cable, free with Wi-Fi, but at the cost of a slower connection and much weaker signal. Using Ethernet is one of the best ways to get a faster internet connection. So, if you’re on a desktop PC, there’s really no downside to switching to Ethernet.

Solution 5. Move closer to the router if on Wi-Fi

If you’re gaming on Wi-Fi and you don’t have an option to connect your device via an Ethernet cable, you should definitely try to move  your PC as close as you can to your router/modem device. Walls and doors that are between you and the router are obstacles that get in the way of the Wi-Fi signal you’re getting on your device, which results in having a weak connection and a lot of latency. This is also known as travel time for the signals sent from your router to your PC and vice versa.

Solution 6. Reduce the number of devices that are connected to your network

Most routers work on a simple first-in-first-out method. This means that the first devices get served first. Now, new routers have even implemented a timing concept where you can get a certain amount of time to use the router, then you go at the back of the row, and you have to wait again to get first in line to use the router again. Now, imagine if there are four people connected to your router – that means four devices are waiting in line to use the router for a certain time, and then they go back to the end of the line, and the circle goes on until they get disconnected. This results in your PC waiting to send and receive signals from the network, which leads to high ping. Reducing number of devices connected to your network is a huge deal if you want to get the best connection possible.

Solution 7. Turn off Windows updates

Windows updates are one of the most common background services that take up your bandwidth and make you end up with insanely high ping. By default, automatic Windows updates are enabled, and you get them three to four times per week, and sometimes even more frequently. That means your Windows downloads updates from the official Microsoft servers in the background and then installs them. Don’t worry though, you are provided with the option to disable automatic Windows updates, and it’s really easy to do:

• Click on the Start or Home button and select the gear icon to open the Settings app.
• Click on Updates and Security from the options available.
• Now, select Advanced settings and then choose your preferred settings; whether it’s totally turning off Windows updates or allowing the service to run at certain times of the week or day, it doesn’t matter. This will decrease your ping significantly.

Solution 8. Close any unwanted programs and websites that are running in the background

Most people just turn on their computer and jump into gaming without considering the fact that there are so many services and programs running in the background and using their RAM, CPU, and even internet bandwidth. You can close programs that are running in the background with a very simple maneuver:

• First, open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
• Click More details and locate all the programs you think you shouldn’t be running. For example, Skype, PDF reader, OneDrive, Dropbox, etc.

Solution 9. Clean dust out of your PC.

It may seem weird to you that removing dust from your PC can boost your internet connection, but think twice. Your PC connects to the router through a network adapter, and the network adapter card is located on the motherboard of your PC.

Solution 10. Check your internet speed

Test your internet speed and see if it is the guaranteed speed you pay for. Sometimes, the problem isn’t caused by the router connectivity or your PC but by your Internet Service Provider. Maybe you’re paying for a great package, but all you’re getting from your ISP is crippling depression. Go to speedtest.net and check your internet speed. In the end, look at the results. You’ll see three tabs: Downloads, Uploads, and Ping. Compare your results with those your ISP guarantees, and if there is a huge difference, go ahead and give them a call because they are obligated to provide you the minimum guaranteed speed of the package. Note that speedtest.net usually shows you the internet speed, connecting you to a server very close to you.

Solution 11. Replace the old router with the new one

Well, if your router is old, why don’t you shop around for a new one? But before you do that, it is strongly advised to educate yourself a little bit more on routers and  see ratings and reviews. If you’re a really competitive gamer and want to get the optimal experience in every game, there are routers that will give you a massive advantage over the normal ones, but they come at a pretty high price. So, if you’re just a casual gamer who doesn’t care about having the biggest advantage possible, you probably have no need for a gaming router.

Solution 12. Change your config files

Some changes in your config files like lowering your graphics will help you get more FPS while also reducing your ping. “How?” you ask. It’s very simple. The lower the graphics, the less signal you will need to receive from the game, meaning it’s a lot less stressful on your internet connection.

Solution 13. Update your network driver.

Drivers are very important for your system devices to function properly. They mediate the communication between the device and the operating system. If they are missing, corrupt, or outdated, your device will not function properly. To fix this, you will need to update your drivers. We are going to show you how to do that:

Method 1. Download and install Auslogics Driver Updater

This is a very fast and reliable way to update your drivers. This tool will scan your system for missing, outdated, or corrupted drivers and install the manufacturer-recommend version. It is an ideal tool for the average PC user. You will be able to update all your drivers in just one click. You do not need to know any information about the driver you want to install. The tool does the job for you. It eliminates all the worries about downloading the wrong driver.

Method 2. Download the driver from the manufacturer’s site

This is also a reliable way to get your drivers. You need to visit your computer manufacturer’s website for this. You will find all the compatible drivers in the support section of the website. For this, you need to know the exact model of your computer, its architecture, and operating system.

Method 3. Update the driver, using Device Manager

• Right-click on the Start or Home button and select Device Manager.
• Navigate to Network adapters and expand it. There, you will see the network adapter that is installed on your computer.
• Right-click on it and select Update driver.
• In the next window, choose the option that prompts you to download the driver from the internet.
• Now, Windows will find and download the best driver for your device.

We hope that this article has shown you how to lower ping in Fortnite for Windows 10. Share it with others who require such information.

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