If you’ve suffered high ping when playing online on PS5, you’re no doubt familiar with the lag and the resulting frustrating gameplay. High ping is a game-changer, and not in a good way when it comes to fast-paced online games like Call of Duty and Rocket League. Even the slightest delay means you’ll miss a shot and potentially lose a match. Many of today’s most popular multiplayer games for PS5 depend on stable, fast connections.
This guide identifies the common causes of high ping and provides practical tips to help reduce your ping and enjoy smoother online gameplay on your PS5 console. Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC gamers needn’t feel left out either. From using a wired connection to setting up a Virtual Private Network (VPN), much of the advice provided throughout this post applies to gaming consoles, such as the Xbox Series X, and gaming PCs. Let’s get started!
What is ping, and why does it matter?
Ping is a measure of how long it takes data to travel from your PS5 to the game server and back. Measured in milliseconds (ms), the delay directly impacts just how responsive a game feels. The lower the ping, the faster your PS5 console can send and receive information, resulting in smoother and more accurate, not to mention more enjoyable, gameplay.
A high ping on your PS5 can cause a number of noticeable issues and a significant amount of frustration. Particularly common is lag, which is the delay between the moment you press a button on your PS5 controller and the response you see on your TV screen. You may also experience rubberbanding (this is when your moving character suddenly snaps back to a previous position).
The higher your ping, the harder it is to play multiplayer games on PS5, and in some cases, it could cause you to disconnect altogether. This is especially problematic if you’re a competitive gamer playing Apex Legends, Fortnite, or Street Fighter 6, all of which often require lightning-quick reactions that can usually decide the outcome. Reducing your ping can enhance your gaming experience and give you a competitive edge in online matches.
Common causes of high ping on PS5
It’s worth understanding the common causes of high ping on PS5 because doing so helps you identify and address the issue. Your high ping may be due to one or even several of the causes below:
- Weak Wi-Fi connection: Although convenient, Wi-Fi is less stable than a wired Ethernet connection. It’s more prone to interference and dips in signal, both of which can increase ping and cause lag.
- Network congestion: Multiple devices all using the internet at home can stretch your bandwidth, particularly if they’re gaming, streaming, or downloading simultaneously. This can result in higher ping, particularly in the evenings during peak usage time.
- Distance to game servers: The further your PS5 is from the game server you’re connected to, the longer it takes for data to travel back and forth. You may be automatically connected to a distant server due to matchmaking or region settings.
- ISP routing issues: It may be that your internet service provider (ISP) uses inefficient routes to connect you to game servers. This adds to the travel time for the data traveling from your PS5 to the game server, resulting in unnecessary delays.
- Background downloads or updates: Automatic updates to games or your PS5’s system, as well as downloads running in the background, can all eat up bandwidth and cause spikes in latency.
- Outdated network hardware: An old router or modem may not be equipped to handle modern internet speeds or to manage multiple devices efficiently. This can negatively impact connection stability and increase ping, especially when gaming on your PS5.
How to get better ping on PS5
If you’re currently contending with ping on your PS5, the good news is that there are straightforward steps you can take. Trying the below should help improve your connection and reduce latency.
Use a wired connection
Wifi certainly has its benefits, namely the freedom to move around without being tied down by cables. The convenience comes at a cost, however. If there are objects such as walls or furniture between your PS5 and your router, this can result in a more inconsistent connection.
It may be that you’re not reasonably able to provide your PS5 with a direct line of sight to your router. Or it could be that you’ve done this, but you’re still suffering signal interference. Connecting your PS5 directly to your router using an Ethernet cable can help prevent random ping spikes and reduce packet loss.
A Cat 6 Ethernet cable supports up to 1 Gbps connections and is more than fast enough for gaming on PS5. Cat 6 cables are also affordable and widely available.
Optimize your wifi
If Ethernet isn’t an option in your case, you may still be able to improve your wifi setup. Provided your router supports it, make sure you’re using the 5GHz band instead of 2.4GHz for faster speeds. Note that this has a shorter range than 2.4GHz, so it’s best when your router is relatively close to your PS5 console, such as in the same room or a room nearby.
Here’s how to connect your PS5 to the 5GHz band:
- On your PS5, go to Settings > Network > Settings > Set Up Internet Connection.
- Look for your 5GHz network. It should be something like”YourNetworkName_5G”.
- Select the network and enter the password if prompted.
- Once connected, test the connection to verify its stability and speed.
Reduce the distance and remove obstacles between your router and PS5 to increase the signal strength. Your router is best placed in a central, elevated position for the strongest possible signal with minimal interruptions.
For larger homes or those with multiple stories, you might want to consider upgrading to a mesh wifi system. This uses multiple devices (nodes) to create a wifi network that covers your entire home, eliminating dead zones in the process. Nodes relay the wifi signal between each other, extending coverage to areas of your home that would otherwise have weak signals. Your PS5 then connects to the nearest node with the strongest signal for low ping and fast speeds.
Pause background downloads and close unused apps
When your PS5 is downloading updates or games in the background, this eats into your available bandwidth, causing your ping to spike. This issue is worsened if your connection is already suffering due to other devices using the internet in your home. Before jumping into an online gaming session, try pausing your downloads and closing background apps.
Select the closest game server or region
Some multiplayer games let you choose which region or server you connect to. If you find yourself being automatically connected to distant servers, then your ping will be higher as a result. Check the game’s matchmaking options and select the nearest server location. Doing so can significantly reduce latency.
Restart your PS5 and network hardware
It might seem too simple a solution, but sometimes restarting your PS5, router, and modem can resolve issues such as temporary congestion, cache build-up, and routing errors that are causing high ping.
A quick restart of these devices may provide you with a better or less congested route to game servers. For best results, unplug the devices for at least 30 seconds before plugging them back in.
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Using a VPN to improve ping on PS5
VPNs are primarily used to browse more securely and privately, as well as to bypass geographic restrictions on content. However, a VPN for PS5 can also lower ping in some gaming scenarios, particularly if your ISP uses poor routing or throttles your gaming traffic. It won’t work in every case, however, and it depends on your location, game server, and the overall quality of the VPN.
When a VPN can help improve ping on PS5:
- Your ISP has congested or poorly optimized routes to game servers
- You get better latency by connecting to a VPN server near the game server’s region
- Your ISP throttles game traffic
When a VPN won’t help improve ping on PS5:
- You’re already on a low-latency connection with direct routing to the game server
- You choose a distant VPN server, adding extra travel time to your data
- You’re using a slow or free VPN that only adds to congestion
Ping on PS5: FAQs
How do I check my ping on PS5?
Although your PS5 doesn’t have a feature that shows your exact ping, you have the option of estimating it using your PS5’s built-in connection test. This is available via Settings > Network > Connection Statusand then selecting Test Internet Connection. Slow speeds or a test failure can indicate potential latency issues.
However, many multiplayer games do show your ping in real time, providing an accurate way of seeing your ping on PS5. You can often enable an FPS counter in the game settings. This is visible in games including Call of Duty and Rainbow Six Siege.
What is a good ping for PS5?
A good ping for PS5 is generally below 50ms. If you’re in this range, you can generally expect smooth and responsive gameplay with minimal delay. Even if your ping is in the 50-100ms range, you can still expect little in the way of performance issues but fast-paced shooters may not feel quite as responsive. If your ping exceeds 100, you’ll start to notice more performance issues such as lag, particularly in more competitive games like Fortnite and FIFA.
Why is my ping higher at night?
Your ping is likely higher at night due to network congestion. Evenings are prime time for bandwidth-heavy tasks such as gaming, streaming, video calls, and downloads. The more people that are online, the more of a strain there is on your ISP’s infrastructure. This can then lead to slower speeds and increased latency (higher ping). In fact, some ISPs intentionally throttle certain types of traffic during peak usage hours.
