All esports games require a great internet connection because it makes the difference whether you kill an enemy or it's the other way around. It is definitely raging when your internet acts up in crucial situations. Like, Imagine playing a 1v1 when suddenly you keep on teleporting to different places; that's just a sit out situation.
However, this is issue is probably caused by a packet loss. If you are currently experiencing it, here is how to fix packet loss in Fortnite.
Different Ways To Fix Packet Loss
Using A Lan Cable or Ethernet Connection
If you are currently using a wireless connection and experiencing high packet loss, then it might be time to switch to a LAN connection. It is heavily recommended to use LAN on every competitive online game because, as mentioned previously, it makes the difference in either losing or winning. If you did not know what an ethernet connection is, it is a type of connection where it uses a LAN cable to physically connect the device to the router in order to achieve faster speeds on the internet and prevent network congestion.
Currently, the fastest ethernet connection reaches up to 10 Gbps or higher, while the maximum speed of Wifi is only 6.9 Gbps. A wired connection will also reduce your packet loss in-game because the physical connection reduces the probability of dropped packets, and it sends the data to the server faster and more consistently.
Remember, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Playstation have LAN connectors, so you can try using a wired connection if ever you are using one of these consoles.
Restarting The Network
Now, if you are currently using an ethernet connection but you are still having packet loss in-game, then maybe restarting the network will fix the problem. It is different for each router, but the most common way of resetting it is by pressing the back of the router.
If resetting the whole router is not your jam, then you can try unplugging it for five minutes before turning it back on. Sometimes your internet connection can desynchronize and cause a lot of dropped data packets. Unplugging the router will make the connection stay proactive. Do not worry about doing any of these because this process won't harm the hardware. Make sure to monitor the connection afterward and check if you still have Fortnite lag.
Updating The Network Drivers
One of the most common reasons for packet loss is outdated network drivers. To fully reach the maximum potential and speeds of your network, it is recommended to update the network drivers right away. It is a straightforward process, but it may get confusing at times. Here is how you update your network drivers to prevent packet loss in Fortnite Battle Royale
- Type "Device Manager" in the Windows search bar
- Press the drop-down menu of the Network Adapters section in Device Manager
- Scroll down to find your LAN device, then press the right click
- Choose "update driver," then "Search automatically for drivers."
- Windows will now handle installing the most up-to-date network drivers available
Add Launch Parameters In Epic Games
There are several commands that you can use to improve the connection of Fortnite to its servers. You can try doing this fix and see if the connection improves on your next game. Here is how to do it:
- Open your Epic Games client and log in
- Find your profile icon on the upper right side of the Epic Games client
- Choose "Settings" and scroll down until you see Fortnite with a drop-down menu
- Click on it and tick "Additional Command Line Arguments."
- Type "-limitclientticks" then launch Fortnite.
This command will throttle future network updates, making the connection to the server more stable. Still, this method does not work 100% of the time, so try experimenting with the other ways shown in this guide.
Installing All Windows Updates
Windows updates are an essential part of a PC. It provides security patches, app updates, and bug fixes. Sometimes Fortnite Battle Royale might act up and cause high latency, ping spikes, and packet loss problems because of an outdated OS. Update your Windows in order to get the best performance possible for your PC.
- Type "Windows Update settings" on the Windows search bar
- Click "Check For Updates" on the upper side of the updates section.
- Windows will automatically download and install all the available updates.
- Wait for the process to complete, then restart your PC, and try playing a game of Fortnite to see if the problem still persists.
Using A VPN
A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, helps gamers to mask their IP address and connect to a game server or location of their choice. This will remove all the boundaries that your network is currently facing. Not only that, but it will make your network secure and safe from anyone.
There are multiple VPN service providers on the internet right now. You might see "Gaming VPNs" or "Cheap VPNs," but at the end of the day, it will fall down to your preference on what you are going to use. If you're unsure, we have in-depth reviews for some of the most popular VPN service providers, such as SurfShark, PureVPN, NordVPN, IPVanish, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost.
Port Forwarding For Fortnite
Many games support port forwarding to reduce network lag, and luckily, Fortnite Battle Royale is one of those games. This might be your last resort to fix any network problems that you are currently having in-game, but it does not hurt to try. Here is how to port forward for Fortnite:
- Before proceeding, make sure your router supports port-forwarding
- Access your router by typing your IP address in a web browser. (Note: Most routers use 192.168.1.1)
- You are going to need your local IP address before changing the forward port options. To do this, type "command prompt" in the windows search bar and open it.
- Find out your IP address by typing "ipconfig" in the command prompt. The exact line of it should be the IPv4 address.
- Find the port forwarding section of your router settings.
- Setup a new TCP port-forwarding option, then type 5222 in both the external ports and internal ports, as well as your local IP address on the internal address.
- Again, set up a new TCP port-forwarding option, but this time, type 5795-5847 in both the external ports and internal ports, as well as your local IP address on the internal address.
- Hop on into a game of Fortnite and check if your network performance is going smoothly!
That ends the guide that explains how to fix packet loss in Fortnite. Try all of the guides above to achieve 0 packet loss and a flawless connection to the Fortnite server. At the end of the day, everything relies on your internet service provider if they are giving you the best connection possible. Make sure to perform a packet loss test in-game to see if your network is working greatly!