How To Fix Internet Ping Spikes will be explained in detail in this article. In today’s world, people expect to receive a fast and uninterrupted internet connection. It’s because the internet is a crucial part of daily life and it’s needed for many things including entertainment, work, school, home security, running a business and even for staying in touch with family members.
If you notice that the connection slows down or lags whenever you’re playing a game online or doing any other activity that requires high bandwidth, then you’re likely experiencing an internet ping spike.
Ping spikes are an annoying occurrence for internet users and can ruin your online experience. Ping spikes are caused by a number of things like network congestion, however, it can be difficult to tell if your internet connection is suffering from them or not.
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What is an internet ping spike?
Ping is basically the latency or reaction of your internet to send packet data from your device to the network and back. Normally, packets of data are sent from your internet device to the network and then back.
While it’s a process that appears to be super quick, it actually takes a bit of time to complete. If for any reason the connection is interrupted, the packets are inevitably lost and the whole process has to restart from the beginning.
Typically, your network should have a low ping because this means a fast, smooth and dependable connection. A high ping is undesirable and often the cause of internet lags and slow internet.
A ping spike occurs when there is a sudden and random uptick in the average ping for the internet connection you’re working with. For instance, if the average ping between your PC and game server is 52 ms but suddenly leaps to 380 ms intermittently, this is for sure a ping spike. The result is usually is periodic moments of network lags or delays in relaying commands.
Internet ping spikes are a menace for gamers. The random lag in the way data travels from your PC to game servers and back can lead to loss of precious gaming time while you’re right in the middle of a session.
The fact that commands aren’t processed fast enough or certain actions appear paused can really result in the death of a character, costing the gamer hours spent playing.
What causes ping spikes?
An unresponsive internet connection can be extremely dissatisfying and annoying. A major reason why this happens is due to internet ping spikes. Not only can they potentially ruin your online gaming experience but also cause a loss of productivity.
Why? When an internet connection is suffering from ping spikes and stuttering, data packets are lost and need to be re-sent. This can lead to a loss of data, causing the internet connection to be slower than usual. In fact, it can create issues with important activities like business video calls.
Pings occur due to several reasons and we have quickly listed them below:
- Network congestion
- Limited bandwidth
- Cable failure
- Firewall configurations
- An outdated router
- Software issues
How to fix internet ping spikes
Both Ethernet connections and Wifi are subject to ping spikes. As such, make sure the connection is perfect before you begin brainstorming troubleshooting ideas. There are different approaches and ideas on how to fix this issue.
We have listed several workable solutions on how to stop unwarranted ping spikes;
Check all cables
Before we delve into the advanced solutions, it’s more sensible to start with the simplest one. Examine all connections on your router and modem. The cable connection should be tight and the wires in proper condition.
The power cable, coaxial and Ethernet cables are supposed to be in good condition with no deformities that might cause signal loss.
Disconnect some devices from the network
We have talked about network congestion being a reason for ping spikes. If you are experiencing ping spikes and other network issues like slow speeds and disconnects, reduce the number of devices connected on the home Wifi.
You can try to disconnect devices such as other gaming consoles, smart TVs, and other networking devices that are not used often.
A less crowded network means a smooth and better connection.
Turn off firewall
A firewall works to protect your network from unwanted intruders and hackers. If you have a firewall enabled, it can cause network congestion. Disable the firewall on your router and modem to prevent unnecessary ping spikes.
Disable network auto-configuration
Some internet devices tend to search for an optimum connection even when they already have a solid one established. It all has to do with network auto-configuration. While this function is meant to work in your best interest, it might be the culprit behind connection delays and network unresponsiveness.
Turn off network auto-configuration for a better connection and to stop ping spikes.
Shift to Google DNS
Google DNS is typically faster and more reliable than the standard DNS provided by your ISP. If you have a good connection, try to use Google DNS servers to direct internet traffic. If you are using ISP DNS servers, you need to change the settings on your router or modem.
Stop automatic updates
You should stop automatic updates from certain applications and programs that are hogging down bandwidth. Some programs may be running in the background or trying to update at the same time you’re playing a game online. This results in insufficient bandwidth hence ping spikes.
Therefore, halt any background programs that might significantly consume the network resources.
Update network drivers
It’s crucial to have an updated network driver that’s compatible with the current version of Windows you’re using. You can easily check for the latest available Windows updates on your PC. If you don’t find any available drivers updates with Windows, check directly with OEM.
Conclusion
Sometimes ping spikes are barely a problem and you probably won’t notice any differences in your connection. However, they can be a real pain in the neck if they persist and you are experiencing frequent disconnects.
There are many things you can do to improve your network performance and to prevent ping spikes. The key is to understand the underlying issues and take action accordingly.
