How to Fix Lag in Valorant: Complete Guide

Some players don't always have the luxury of playing Valorant without getting any problems or error codes. One issue that lots of them suffer from is high ping and lag.

Fortunately, there are solutions you can try out to decrease the high lag you're receiving in the game. So let's go ahead and see how you can fix lag in Valorant!

How to Fix Lag Valorant: Solutions

Check Internet Provider Speed

The first thing before you want to fix your lag spikes is to test your Internet speed. To play Valorant, you'll need at least 20 Mbps Download speed and 5-10 Mbps Upload speed for decent gameplay. Anything below that could result in high Valorant lag and ping. 

So first you'll want to check out what speeds your Internet provider gives you for the plan you've purchased. If it's anything below the speeds above, consider changing your deal with the network provider for higher Internet speeds. Though if you don't have the luxury of that option, then you can follow the solutions below and see if you'll get at least a decent experience of the Valorant game without any lag spikes.

Restart Your Router

The easiest solution you can try out is to restart your router. Over time, the router collects unneeded cache data which can make your Internet connection really slow. So when you restart your router, you'll be restarting its cache data as well. In the worst-case scenario, this will decrease your Valorant input lag, but only by a little.

Another thing you can do before starting practice with decreased lag from this solution is to restart your PC as well. The same thing happens with your PC, saving up lots of cache unneeded data, which can increase lag and input delay in gameplay.

Get a Wired Connection With Cable

Having a wireless connection with your router can often be slow because the speed depends on your device's WiFi module. Getting an ethernet cable and connecting your PC or laptop directly with the router can provide a much more stable connection and fix your lag and ping. First, make sure your device supports an ethernet cable, if it does, set it up closer to your router. Get a good cable, and connect your router to your device.

If you have an older device that has a bad WiFi module within it, the cabled connection may fix your input lag in an instant. Then you can enjoy the animations of the best skins without any interruptions! Though if you're still suffering from the lag spikes, there are still some solutions left you can try to clear the clutter slowing your Internet connection and causing Valorant lag.

Change The DNS Server Your Device is Using

Now we'll jump into the waters of DNS servers, which in some devices can slow down the Internet connection exponentially. Your DNS server is how the device accesses lots of points on the Internet. Changing it entirely can often fix Valorant's input lag, so here's how you can exactly do that:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Click on the "Network & Internet" option and select the "Change adapter options" setting
3. Right-click the "Wi-Fi" option and select Properties
4. Locate the "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" option, click it, and select Properties
5. Check the "Use the following DNS server addresses:" option
6. Type in the following number for the Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
7. Type in the following number for the Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4
8. Click on OK and close the tabs

Both of the above settings for DNS addresses are for Google's Public DNS server. They usually have fast servers, so you can expect that input lag to decrease to start your grind toward Radiant! Though this is a good solution, there's another thing you can try doing with the DNS.

Flush The PC DNS Cache

So basically, DNS is how your device accesses websites. For easier use, your device automatically saves all those websites accessed through a DNS server to instantly get to them. After long periods of time, this cache data can start slowing your Internet speed. What you can do is clear and flush that cache collected over time. So here's how to flush the device's DNS resolver cache:

1. In the search tab below, search for "Command Prompt"
2. Right-click the Command Prompt app and select "Run as administrator"
3. Type in the following command in the Command Prompt: "ipconfig /flushdns"

With this, you're done with doing everything you can cleaning and changing up your device's DNS settings. Not only can this lower the input lag in Valorant, but it can also fasten your Internet overall when you watch videos on the TheGlobalGaming YouTube channel! Though if this didn't help you fix your high lag issue, then there's one more solution you can try out:

Try to Use a Decent VPN

The last solution we'll recommend you try is to try out a decent VPN connection that's close to the region in which you're playing. This solution rarely works, as sometimes it can even make the connection much slower. But in some cases, it can do the opposite and fix the input lag in Valorant. Though you'll want to try this out with the best VPN for Valorant!

And that's it for how you can fix your lag in Valorant. High lag can ruin your gameplay experience of Valorant, and hopefully, you've managed to decrease it with these solutions. Players that have high lag often have low-end PCs, so if you're also experiencing low FPS, then you should definitely see how you can increase your FPS in Valorant!