Knowing why does my ping spike randomly will help you have a significantly better gaming experience.
Let me share with you how I got rid of it!
Are you playing games and suddenly get severe lag issues that go away after a few seconds?
This is the most common symptom of ping spikes, and we’ve found the most effective methods to fix it in minutes.
We’ve got you covered here, so let’s get to it!
To get rid of random ping spikes while you’re playing, you need to look at your DNS. Flushing your DNS or using a better DNS server certainly helps. Configuring your router’s QoS by prioritizing your computer will also eliminate ping spikes.
Let’s look at some of the top reasons that can cause your ping to spike and ruin your game.
We can then move on to the solutions that will help you eliminate this particular problem.
Top Reasons Why Does My Ping Randomly Spike
If you’re experiencing a lot of random ping spikes as you’re playing your favorite game.
There are several factors that can cause it. The main one is the quality of your connection from your WiFi to your DNS configuration.
Let’s explore the different reasons that can cause ping spikes that will ruin your gaming experience:
1. Congested Network
If many users are on the network and using up bandwidth, it can cause slowdowns and lag issues.
2. Bad WiFi Signal Quality
Not connecting to 5G WiFi will also hurt your gaming experience. It’s faster and more stable at short distances, and the connection quality is comparable to a wired connection.
3. Outdated Software
Whether it’s your router, network adapter, or operating system, you want to use the latest software for the best performance.
4. Not Optimal DNS Settings
A corrupt DNS cache or using a slow DNS service can slow down your connection and cause ping spikes.
5. High Bandwidth Usage
If someone in your network is downloading or streaming HD movies while you’re playing, this can cause lag and ping problems.
We can now proceed to the proven solutions that you can use to fix the random ping spike issues you’re experiencing while gaming.
How to Get Rid of Random Ping Spike Completely
Why does my ping spike randomly? One of the easiest fixes you can try is to restart your modem and router.
This will reset the connection of all devices on your network and allows your computer to use a fresh set of settings that are not sluggish or laggy.
You also want to run a ping test by typing in ping 8.8.8.8 -t in Command Prompt. You want to ensure the time result is below 150ms for the best performance.
Getting a lot of ping times, that’s more than 150ms, means that you need to perform the proven solutions below.
Solution #1: Flush Your Computer’s DNS Cache
After determining that you need to work on more advanced solutions, the first one you should attempt is to flush your computer’s DNS cache.
It’s prone to corrupt entries, which can ruin your connection and affect your ping.
Flushing your DNS cache essentially resets it and clears out any corrupt entries, so your computer does not use it to connect.
It’s an easy and effective way to resolve any connection-related issues, including ping spikes.
Here’s how to clear your computer’s DNS cache:
- Right-click on your computer’s Start button.
- Click on Command Prompt (Admin).
- On the terminal console, type ipconfig /flushdns.
- Press Enter.
- You will get a message that says it’s successfully cleared.
Note: If your internet connection gets disconnected, we recommend restarting your computer.
Solution #2: Change Your DNS Server
Clearing the DNS cache is one thing. You can also change the DNS server that your computer connects to.
Using a proven public DNS is a quick way to improve your internet connection and reduce ping spikes.
If you have not changed the DNS server your computer connects to, it’s likely to use your ISPs.
There’s nothing wrong with it, but services like Cloudflare and Google DNS are faster and much more reliable.
Here’s how to change the DNS server on your computer:
- Go to your computer’s Settings.
- Select Network and Internet, then Change Adapter Options.
- Right-click on the network you’re connecting to, then Properties.
- Go to IP version 4, then Use the following DNS server.
- Type in 1.1.1.1 as the Primary and 1.0.0.1 as the Secondary.
Note: You can also use Google’s DNS servers by typing in 8.8.8.8 as the Primary and 8.8.4.4 as the Secondary.
Solution #3: Disable Automatic Updates on Your Computer
Another cause of lag problems and ping spikes is your computer’s resource usage.
If it’s using bandwidth to download large files, it can cause slowdowns and random ping spikes while you’re playing.
One cause of high bandwidth use is your computer’s automatic update feature. You will be unaware that this is even running since it will be in the background.
Here’s how to disable automatic updates on your computer:
- Go to your computer’s Settings.
- Select Update and Security.
- Choose Windows Update.
- Select the Pause updates for 7 days option.
Note: You will need to select this again when the 7 days run out, but it will reduce hidden bandwidth usage on your computer and will improve your ping.
Solution #4: Connect to a VPN Server Nearest Your Game Server
Ping spikes can also be caused by your game servers. If they’re experiencing issues, you will have a hard time connecting to their servers.
One way to resolve this would be to use a VPN service. Doing this will ensure that your connection with your game server is optimized.
Before you go ahead connecting to any random server on your VPN, you want to check where your game’s servers are located.
A quick Google search should help you find out, and this will serve as a guide on where you will connect.
Here’s how to use a VPN to connect to your game server:
- Open the VPN app on your computer.
- Choose a server nearest to your game’s servers.
- Click on Connect.
- After your VPN connects, perform a ping test.
- You want to see ping times of 150ms or lower.
Pro Tip: You can experiment with different servers as it’s not always the nearest that will provide you with the best experience,
VPN: If you’re looking for a fast and reliable VPN service that will eliminate random ping spikes during your gaming sessions, check out Atlas VPN.
Solution #5: Prioritize Your Computer in Your Router’s QoS
Your router has a feature that can prioritize devices in terms of bandwidth allocation.
It’s Quality of Service or QoS, and it’s basically just letting it know which device it needs to make the bandwidth available.
This way, your internet speed will not be affected even if someone in your network downloads an HD movie.
Here’s how to turn on your router’s QoS:
- Log into your router using your browser.
- Go to the Wireless menu.
- Navigate to the QoS option.
- Set up a new QoS rule.
- Select your computer and set it to High Priority.
Note: Some routers may require you to reboot your router for the settings to take effect.
Solution #6: Whitelist Your Games on Your Firewall
If you’re playing online games, your computer must communicate with the servers to work properly.
There are instances when your firewall can get in between this and slow down the connection.
The best way to resolve this issue is to whitelist your game in your firewall.
This tells your computer’s software to allow all incoming and outgoing traffic for a more seamless experience.
Here’s how to whitelist your games on your computer’s firewall:
- Select Windows Defender Firewall from your computer’s Control Panel.
- Find the Allow an app option and click on it.
- Select Change Settings.
- Choose your game from the list and check the Private and Public boxes.
- Click OK to confirm your settings.
Pro Tip: You can also whitelist your games on your computer’s anti-virus program for better results.
These solutions will help you stop random ping spikes happening while you’re gaming.
If you’re connected via WiFi, one of the best things you can do is hardwire your computer to your router using an ethernet cable.
Updating your router’s firmware to the latest version also helps in improving your connection quality.
Bottom Line
Now that you know the causes and fixes to why does my ping spike randomly, all you need to do is follow these proven steps carefully.
However, the best way to fix this issue is to use a reliable VPN provider. In this regard, you can use Atlas VPN.
You will happily trade these few minutes with the frustrations if you suddenly get a ping spike that will ruin your game.
Read Next: Does Download Speed Affect Ping?
Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites.