Having a bad connection when playing online is a real bummer, especially when you’re a participant of the Fortnite World Cup Finals. That’s why we’re giving you these tips on how to fix Fortnite lag issue, which might be handy if you decide to watch the World Cup and play at the same time using Epic Games picture-in-picture mode.
How to watch Fortnite World Cup Finals
The Fortnite World Cup Finals are set for this weekend, starting on Friday and ending on Sunday. Epic Games are streaming all the events live on YouTube and Twitch. You can watch Fortnite World Cup not only on your computer, but also on your smartphone, Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, and Apple TV.
There will be plenty of Fortnite players who will want to watch the Finals while playing. This is possible with Epic Games picture-in-picture mode. All you have to do is enter the game lobby to see a window straight from the Fortnite World Cup Finals action. The live stream can be turned off by closing the window or stopping it in the game’s menu.
About Fortnite
Released back in July 2017, Fortnite is an online multiplayer videogame that was created and developed by Epic Games. The first-ever Fortnite World Cup runs this weekend, 26-28 July. This massive multi-part tournament will gather the best Fortnite players in Arthur Ashe stadium in New York.
Fortnite is available in three different game modes, which can each be purchased as separate software bundles. Although the game modes are all different from each other, they share the same game engine and general gameplay theme.
Fortnite’s three separate game modes include:
- Fortnite: Save the World – a shooter-survival game, where up to four players work together to defend objects, build defensive fortifications and fight off hordes of zombie-like creatures.
- Fortnite: Creative – an open concept game where players can create their own custom worlds and arenas to fight to the death in.
- Fortnite: Battle Royale – this mode is a freestyle battle game, where up to 100 players fight against each other to be the last man standing.
While the first two game modes were extremely successful after being released, Fortnite: Battle Royale was a resounding success within the gaming community. So much so, that it managed to draw in just over 125 million players in its first year.
Since then, the game has continued to rake in millions of dollars per month and has since become a cultural phenomenon in the world of online multiplayer games.
The game’s success is largely due to its online multiplayer capabilities, which is great for being able to play alongside your friends from around the world, but because the game relies on an internet connection, players often face latency issues and stuttering.
Fortnite lag
Lag is one of the most commonly reported issues by Fortnite players around the world. But the problem isn’t only brought on by a single cause, which means that there are quite a few different reasons as to why you could be experiencing the issue.
Below, we’re going to go over some of the most common reasons for Fortnite lag spikes, as well as explaining a few different approaches to solving the issue.
What causes Fortnite lag spikes?
Before we get to the actual details about how you can fix your latency issue, it’s important to understand why it’s happening.
Like any other online video game, Fortnite lag on PC could be caused by a number of different issues. This could include problems with either your system, its settings, or your connection to the internet.
Therefore, before you attempt to fix the issue, it’s important to figure out what’s causing the lag you’ve been experiencing while playing Fortnite.
So, the first thing you’re going to want to do is to make sure that your system meets the minimum requirements to be running the game on your PC.
System requirements for Fortnite
The first step in figuring out how to fix Fortnite lag is to ensure that the issue isn’t being caused by inadequate PC hardware. Below, are the recommended system requirements to be playing Fortnite without any lag.
Keep in mind that even if you don’t meet these requirements, you might still be able to get away with running the game. But your computer will have trouble keeping up with the game, and you’re almost guaranteed to run into latency issues.
Minimum system requirements
- Processor: Core i3 2.4Ghz
- RAM: 4 GB
- Graphics Card: Intel HD 4000
- Storage: 16 GB
- Operating System: Windows 7
Recommended system requirements
- Processor: Core i5 2.8Ghz
- RAM: 8 GB
- Graphics Card: Nvidia GTX 970 or AMD R9 390 or above
- Storage: 20GB
Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit
If you meet the above requirements and you’re still experiencing lag, you might want to try the following methods to fix the issue.
Fortnite FPS lag
Poor FPS performance, or low frame rate, is another common issue that could be causing stuttering and lag while playing Fortnite. This usually appears as if the game is simply behaving slowly, but in actuality, the issue is being caused by your computer not being able to keep up with the game.
This type of lag becomes a problem when your system is not meeting the minimum requirements to run the game. To solve this issue, you’ll need to either upgrade your graphics card (GPU), increase your computer’s RAM, or install a faster processor (CPU).
If you’re experiencing lag caused by low frame rates, upgrading your computer’s hardware is really the only way to go.
On the other hand, if your system does meet the recommended system requirements, and you’re still experiencing latency issues, your problem is most likely being caused by an issue with your network connection.
Fortnite server or network lag
Fortnite lag on PC can also start because of a slow internet connection or improper network settings. To solve this issue, the best thing to do is to change your matchmaking region in the game’s settings.
To do this, load Fortnite and navigate to the game’s settings menu. Click on Advanced Settings and then look for Matchmaking Region.
Here, you’ll be able to limit your network to using only certain servers that are closest to your actual geographic location.
You’ll have the choice to select from either North American, Europe, Asia, or Oceania. So, you’re going to want to choose a region the one closest to you, which should help you find the lowest ping rate and hopefully, reduce the network lag.
Update graphics card and network drivers
Absent or outdated drivers could also be the reason that you’re experiencing Fortnite lag. This is because missing or bad graphics card drivers could be causing the FPS drops that cause stuttering, while bad network card drivers could be causing an internet lag issue.
Therefore, it’s essential to make sure that all your drivers are updated and to update the ones that aren’t.
You can do this manually, by downloading the most reason version of the drivers from your manufacturer and installing them to your PC. However, this method requires a bit more time and know-how.
Your other option is to update your drivers automatically by using a driver update tool, such as Driver Easy, which will automatically scan your computer and update any missing or outdated drivers.
Use a VPN to fix Fortnite lag on PC
VPNs, or Virtual Private Networks, are privately owned networks, which allow you to connect to the internet using a fast and secure connection. A VPN works by encrypting any data that leaves your computer, essentially masking your IP address and hiding your online activity from any other users on the same network as you.
As mentioned, using a VPN ensures a fast connection to the internet. Therefore, VPNs can be used to try and fix any lag issues that you’ve been experiencing in Fortnite.
For this, you’ll first need to choose a VPN provider for gaming that meets all your needs and download and install their VPN software. We recommend NordVPN for gaming as it’s both fast and secure.
- Excellent security
- Great server list
- Awesome for Netflix
- Good for torrenting
- Very easy to use
- Affordable prices
After installation, open the VPN application and select a high-speed connection from the options given.
Use a dedicated gaming server
Fortnite players can also try using a dedicated game server, such as Kill Ping, which should help reduce any latency or glitching issues.
Much like a VPN, services such as this provide you with a more direct route for your data packets to travel between your device and the game’s server. They help your data find the shortest possible way for your connection and ensure that you won’t face any congestion while connected through its servers.
People often confuse dedicated gaming servers with using a VPN. But while both a dedicated gaming server and a VPN will provide you with a faster connection, Kill Ping won’t keep you safe by encrypting your data in the same way that a VPN will.
Other fixes for Fortnite lag on PC
If you’ve tried everything we’ve mentioned so far and are still experiencing latency issues, there are a few more things that you can try. For one, your issue could be caused if other programs are running on your computer that are using up its RAM.
To solve this, open your system’s Task Manager, then click on the Performance tab to see how much RAM is currently in use. If you notice your RAM is high, you can free up a bit of space by closing any unnecessary programs that are running in the background.
You can also try to solve your issue by limiting the number of people that are accessing the internet on the same network as you.
Lastly, if you’re playing Fortnite via a wireless connection, you might want to try switching to a direct connection, which should provide you with a faster and more secure connection.
Make sure you’re using the latest game patch
Installing the most recent game patch is another potential solution to solve the Fortnite lag issue.
Fortnite’s developers routinely release updates to help fix some of the game’s bugs and improve its performance. Therefore, be sure to check the game’s official website to see if there are any recent updates available.
I used to get 140 fps now i get 190-200 fps thank you!
Haha I’m totally sending this article to my brother, he plays Fortnite for hours a day! And he sometimes complains about lagging so this will be really helpful for him 🙂
When I’m playing Fortnite Mobile on my iPhone sometimes the game is really slow and often stops for a few seconds between frames. I’ve tried restarting my phone and that seems to help for a while. Also, the phone is getting hot after I play it for a while, is this normal? Thanks for your help.
I have been looking all over to find something to Fortnite for my son. He loves playing it, and to be honest I get a kick out of watching him (when he’s not looking, of course – looking would be “uncool”). For some reason he’s just been having so much problem with the game. We’re gonna try out a few of the things you said here, and I think we could use a VPN anyway…
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