There really isn’t any point in playing online games if you have a spotty internet connection.
Picture this: you’re in a game of Fortnite with your friends, and just as you’re about to win the game, your internet gives out, you’re disconnected, and you’ve lost the match.
How frustrating would that be?
However, there are always some easy fixes for your internet connection so that you can have a seamless online gaming experience. The first thing that you need to do is to make sure you have the right Internet Service Provider (ISP), along with a couple of other things that you can do.
I’ll give you a rundown of everything you need to do, so make sure that you read this article till the end.
Choose the Right Internet Service Provider for Yourself
You need the kind of internet that gives you all the flexibility you need when it comes to tweaking your router settings. Not only that, but you also require the kind of connection that gives you the internet speed that it promises and doesn’t throttle your internet too often.
In that case, I’ve found Xfinity Internet to be pretty helpful. I’ve never had any latency issues while I was connected to the service, and my gaming process was always as smooth as butter.
Plus, Xfinity offers you several internet plans that you can choose according to your budget, so be sure to take a look at Xfinity Internet plans at your earliest convenience, so that you can start gaming as soon as possible.
Consider Changing Your DNS Server
You can change your DNS server settings to improve your internet connection on your console a little bit. For instance, if you use a PS5 like I do, then all you have to do is go to your network settings and press the options button on your controller.
From there, head to Advanced Settings and press the X button. Change your DNS settings from Automatic to Manual. Then, go to the Primary DNS server setting and change it to 8.8.8.8, and then go to the Secondary DNS server setting and change that to 8.8.4.4. Doing so will set your DNS server to Google, which is considered among the best DNS servers for online gaming.
If you game on a PC or Xbox, the process should be relatively similar.
Upgrade Your Existing Router or Modem
You can always get one of those fancy, expensive routers that can give you a boost in your internet speed. For instance, the latest routers come with a 6 GHz band alongside the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band. Initially, the 5 GHz band gave the fastest internet speed, but the 6 GHz band takes it even further.
So, if you really want to make the most out of your internet speed, then you can consider getting a router that features a 6 GHz band as well. Once you do so, you’ll see a massive improvement in your internet speed as you play your favorite online games with your friends.
Keep Your Bandwidth in Check
If your existing internet has gotten slower over time, it could be because you haven’t kept your bandwidth in check. A certain internet plan can only cater to a set number of devices connected simultaneously.
This limit is commonly known as the bandwidth of your internet connection.
If there are too many unnecessary devices connected to your internet connection at the same time, then they’ll hog up all the bandwidth and make your internet slower. Therefore, it is important that you keep your bandwidth in check.
You can disconnect devices such as your smart TV, your PC, and your laptop from the internet whenever you aren’t using them and they are on standby. This can help you significantly increase your internet speed.
Aim for Low Latency on Your Internet Connection
Network latency is basically a measure of the time it takes for data to travel from the source to its destination. In this case, the source is your provider, and the destination is your router. The lower the latency is, the faster your internet connection will be.
If your latency is high, you’ll notice that you move your character, but it takes a while for the character to move forward, and this is exactly what high latency does, and is increasingly annoying. The best way to cater to this is by getting a fast internet speed that comes with low latency.
Ideally, your latency should be below 100 milliseconds, and 20 milliseconds is considered to be optimal.
Connect Through an Ethernet Cable Instead of Wi-Fi
When you connect to a wireless network, the signals are emitted from the router and they travel through the air, into your device’s Wi-Fi card. However, in the process, the signals can be dissipated into the air and can be negatively affected by obstructions such as cement walls and pieces of furniture. This, in turn, slows down your internet speed.
However, as a great alternative, you can opt to use an Ethernet cable instead, more commonly called a LAN cable. This is a direct connection between your router and your device, which leaves no room for signal dissipation as the data travels from the router to your device through a wire. This gives you the maximum speed that you can get, making it a great option for your online gaming experience.
These are some of the many foolproof ways that you can try to optimize your internet connection for online gaming. Be sure to give them all a shot and see how the situation turns out for you.