World Of Warcraft Server Lag
World of Warcraft Latency Problems – Blizzard Support
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World of Warcraft Lag: How to Fix Latency Issues – Bandwidth …
World of Warcraft (WoW) is king of MMORPG (Massively multiplayer online role-playing game).
Roughing around 4. 5 million active users, Blizzard touts the most impressive server hosting in the world.
Accessing isn’t without it’s hiccups though. Supporting over 4 million players is a feat unto itself. Supporting 4 million users all with difference upload and download speeds, and latency differentials – crazy!
While you’ll never fix a laggy “LEROOOOOY JENKIIIIIIIIIIINS! ” You can do your best to make your own connection as flawless as possible. Be the best guild member you can be, cause as few problems inside your quest group as possible, and fix your latency issues, “for the horde. ”
Lag vs Latency
Let’s get the big one out of the way. There IS a difference between Lag and Latency. Latency is considered, “the restricted movement of data from the transmitter to the receiver. ”
So in lay terms, the number of milliseconds (ms) it takes from the moment you click, for the action to reflect that on the screen. Naturally, a lower latency is better. The fewer the milliseconds it takes between user input and character reaction–the more seamless the gameplay.
Lag then is essentially the repercussions of latency. It’s the amount of time it takes the computer, server, or host to catch up with the delay of received information. The higher your latency, the worse the lag.
There are exceptions to this. Lag could be the result of an overcrowded server, minimized bandwidth from the host to your computer, or other company faults like bugs, maintenance, or faulty patches (nerfs).
Altogether, there really is no cure for latency, but you can take steps to maximize data flow and bandwidth on your end. If you do experience lag, you’ll at least be able to rule out user error.
How Do I Reduce Lag in WoW
Many Blizzard Forums are written by developers or tech agents. They target right off the bat user errors. These things can range from dumping your DNS and renewing your IP, to resetting your user interface.
Before delving into any online play, double check with the developers latest patch notes and minimum operating system requirements. Some latency issues could be the result of outdated graphics cards, incompatible network adapters, or even just low RAM.
Check Yourself
Gaming performance is wildly dependent on a solid internet connection. Blizzard’s a smart company and understands that all 4. 5 million of their users aren’t going to have access to the best tech on the market.
It’s this reason their bandwidth caps at about 64kbps on it’s upload–meaning almost any broadband internet will do. So if you’re playing WoW and you experience network latency, it’s more likely an overloaded graphics card, than it is your internet (unless you’re still using dial-up).
Cool Down
If it’s not your internet service, your computer is probably trying to do too much. To reduce latency, try to close out of other applications or other services on your device that are rending large pieces of information (web browsers, streaming services, downloads, etc. ).
Packet loss is something that happens when pieces of information don’t reach the network–often it’s what causes the jumpy, glitchy lag vs the freeze up kind of lag. When your computer is rendering information, it prioritizes based on network connection and host size.
So if you’re streaming Netflix, Google or Safari might prioritize that servers host over playing online. The delay in reception of “packet” reception is called packet loss, and that information just gets dumped altogether. Limiting the number of devices connected, reducing the number of tasks each device is working on, and even hardwiring to your router or modem with an ethernet cable can all help your computer process a little easier.
Lag and Latency Reduction
Okay, you’ve checked and double checked your hardware. You’re up to date, and you’re sure it’s not a you problem. Players can still do a few latency lag fixes, and find out where it’s coming from and then hopefully minimize its effects.
Check the Realm Status:
This may seem obvious, but it’s the first step. If the realm status is showing overcrowding, then the data might be having problems at the server level.
Hover the mouse over the Game Menu icon to see the world and home latency connections. If the world’s latency is high, then it’s a server problem. You can hop to a different server or realm if you’d like.
World of Warcraft lag spikes usually happen anytime there’s a new patch or release.
If you can’t find the latency status, a quick “why is WoW lagging so bad” search in a Blizzard forum should give you any live outages or delays. There’s typically a surge in searches for things like, “WoW Legion lag fix, ” or “World of Warcraft lagging bfa” after big updates and releases–follow the crowd that’s experiencing your same problems and the community will typically find solid fixes faster than techs and developers.
Connection Type:
This was mentioned briefly before, but a wireless connection will always add latency to bandwidth. One of the simplest fixes is simply a wired connection.
Disconnect from the router and use an ethernet cable to connect directly to your server. Also, if others are using the router at the same time, it is possible that there are too many people splitting bandwidth.
Internet Connection Speed:
Chances are your internet is fast enough, but the render from the server to your computer, and then the optimization from your computer back to the server might be contributing to that packet loss we talked about. It’s truly trying its best, but to help it out follow these steps:
While the game is open, press the “Esc” key
Select “System”
Click “Network”.
Players with high-speed Internet: click the “Optimize Network for Speed” check box.
Players with low-speed internet should leave it blank.
(“Optimize Network for Speed” changes the amount of data in each packet. Leaving it blank tells the game to not send as much data in each packet–improving overall latency)
Drivers and Updates:
Verify that every piece of hardware dealing with the acceptance of data is up to date. Modems, ethernet cards, cables, and routers all require either drivers or firmware to make them run. Just like software, hardware too needs to be updated to run properly.
This is more likely to cause your World of Warcraft input lag than Blizzards server lag.
Take an Internet Speed Test:
Bandwidth Place offers HTML5 speed tests (favorable over Flash). This can help isolate connectivity problems. If the Internet connection is slower than you’re paying for, then it’s neither Blizzard nor your fault–it’s actually the cable provider.
Make sure you’re getting what you’re paying for. Test Your Internet Speed. Get the most out of your gaming, and make sure your provider isn’t slowing you down.
5 best VPNs for WoW to fix server lag spikes & reduce ping
Experiencing lag on World of Warcraft (WoW) is perhaps the most annoying experience for avid gamers.
Many users face WoW server lag which prevents them from fully enjoying the game.
You can fix these issues by getting equipped with a fast VPN app. Discover the best ones below.
Besides high speeds, good VPN software will enable you to also protect your privacy online.
World of Warcraft (WoW) is one of the most popular MMORPGs that you can play online with your friends.
Available for Windows and macOS, WoW features PvP and PvE content, enabling you to explore Azeroth in first- or third-person view.
In WoW, you can choose from numerous character races and classes, immerse yourself in a grand fantasy world with rich lore, fight various creatures, complete quests assigned by non-player characters (NPCs), craft gear, train your skills, and level up your experience bar.
World of Warcraft runs numerous servers worldwide, including North America, Europe, and Australia.
Unfortunately, many users report WoW high ping and server lag, which prevents them from enjoying the game.
Although it’s possible to switch the game servers, your characters can’t be transferred across the realms, which means that you would have to start from scratch.
Instead, you can use a VPN to improve your ping and reduce WoW server lag.
What are the best VPNs to fix WoW server lag?
Private Internet Access
When it comes to fixing WoW lag spikes, you can’t go wrong with Private Internet Access (PIA).
It’s a VPN solution that can repair packet loss, encrypt your traffic to protect your online privacy, and increase your Internet connection speed.
Created by Kape Technologies, PIA gives you the possibility to connect to a wide range of VPN servers optimized for gaming. Plus, it supports port forwarding.
And, if you stumble upon any technical problems, you can take advantage of the 24/7 live chat support.
How can PIA help you with WoW lag issues today:
+3, 300 servers in 47 countriesStatic and dynamic IP addressUp to 10 connections at onceNo logsAn excellent VPN for WoW private servers30-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)
⇒ Get Private Internet Access
NordVPN
If your World of Warcraft account gets blocked due to suspicious activity, then NordVPN can overcome this obstacle.
It’s one of the few dependable virtual private network solutions that lets you connect to obfuscated servers and bypass VPN blocks.
Designed by Tefincom & Co, NordVPN is a safe solution for helping you circumvent blocks and reduce WoW server lag.
It has a generous network of servers, lets you configure custom DNS servers, and includes a malware blocker.
How can NordVPN resolve World of Warcraft lag issues:
+5, 400 servers in 59 countriesConnect 6 devices simultaneouslyTakes care of World of Warcraft mouse lagNo logs30-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)
⇒ Get NordVPN
CyberGhost VPN
If you’re wondering how to fix lag spikes in World of Warcraft and improve your Internet connection speed, use CyberGhost VPN.
It’s a great solution for eliminating jitter and enhancing your gameplay.
Owned by Kape Technologies, this service offers the most VPN servers on this list, which are optimized for gaming, streaming, and torrenting. It also has anti-hacker protection.
How can CyberGhost VPN reduce WoW input lag:
+6, 400 servers in 89 countriesThe only free VPN for WoW on this list (1-day free trial)Up to 7 simultaneous connectionsNo logsGreat for running World of Warcraft via VPN45-day money-back guarantee
⇒ Get CyberGhost VPN
BullGuard VPN
BullGuard VPN is a WoW-friendly VPN that can fix network congestion and enhance your gaming experience, whether you play the game on Windows or Mac.
Developed by BullGuard, this VPN service has a built-in kill switch ready to shield your online privacy in case of network interruptions.
In addition to reducing high ping, it encrypts your network traffic using the OpenVPN protocol, which is perfect for gaming.
How can BullGuard VPN fix WoW server lag:
+2, 000 servers in 16 countriesUp to 6 connections at onceSuccessfully deals with lag tolerance in WoWNo logs30-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)
⇒ Get BullGuard
Surfshark
If you’re looking for a fast and easy way to fix World of Warcraft server lag, you don’t have to look any further than Surfshark.
It’s an intuitive VPN app that fixes WoW packet loss and lowers your ping time. It has obfuscated servers, too.
Made by Surfshark LTD, the virtual private network service doesn’t have an impressive network of servers as other apps on this list.
But it runs exclusive DNS on each VPN server to speed up your Internet connection, no matter where you connect.
How can Surfshark fix WoW BFA lag:
+1, 700 servers in 63 countriesUnlimited device connectionsA workaround if World of Warcraft stutters with other VPN appsNo logs30-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)
⇒ Get Surfshark
World of Warcraft is an awesome MMORPG you can play solo but it’s better with friends. It can become really frustrating to face WoW high ping whenever you log in and connect to a realm.
You might even be tempted to exit the game and come back later.
However, if you download and install a fast and secure VPN like the solutions we presented above, you should be able to fix WoW server lag and enjoy the game without connection errors.
If you’re looking for the absolute best VPN for World of Warcraft, go with Private Internet Access.
Frequently Asked Questions about world of warcraft server lag
Why are WoW servers laggy?
The higher your latency, the worse the lag. There are exceptions to this. Lag could be the result of an overcrowded server, minimized bandwidth from the host to your computer, or other company faults like bugs, maintenance, or faulty patches (nerfs).Jun 15, 2021
Are WoW servers laggy?
Unfortunately, many users report WoW high ping and server lag, which prevents them from enjoying the game. Although it’s possible to switch the game servers, your characters can’t be transferred across the realms, which means that you would have to start from scratch.May 24, 2021
Why is World latency so high in WoW?
Third-party antivirus, antimalware and firewall applications can sometimes interfere with World of Warcraft’s connection to the internet, leading to problems such as high latency or frequent disconnections from the game’s servers.Jul 15, 2021
