Lag is the most frustrating thing that can occur during a gaming session. There can be numerous reasons behind lag, especially in online games like Apex Legends. It’s a game that boasts a 150,000+ concurrent player base, so it can be difficult to keep up with demand.
Apex Legends is a very fast-paced FPS game where any form of lag could result in defeat. However, you don’t need to worry. In this guide, we will talk about why you might be facing lag in Apex Legends, and how you can fix it.
Diving Deep: Reasons for Lag in Apex Legends
If you have been experiencing symptoms like game stutter and abysmally high pings, there could be a few reasons behind it. Let’s dive deep and look at why your frame rates may be dropping in Apex Legends:
Network Issues
Mostly network issues refer to a slow or poor internet connection. However, there are cases when ISPs intentionally lower a user’s bandwidth. This is known as network throttling and can result in poor data transfer rates. It also results in lag since network-intensive tasks like gaming and streaming cannot be performed as usual.
Software Issues
When it comes to software issues there can be two points of failure. Something could be wrong with the game files themselves causing unpredictable behavior. There could also be problems with graphic drivers. Since the GPU and CPU are not able to communicate properly, it could demonstrate itself in the form of lag.
Hardware Issues
It could be that your PC is not capable of running Apex Legends smoothly. A game may run on your machine, however, that does not mean that it will run without any hitches.
One of your PC components might be nearing the end of its lifespan. Or there could be cooling issues causing the computer to overheat and thermal throttle.
The Root Cause: A Guide to Diagnose Underlying Issues
We have already made you aware of the issues that might be taking place. So, it’s time to conduct a diagnosis and find out the underlying issues causing lag in Apex Legends:
Troubleshooting The Network
Your priority should be checking your internet connection. Try running an internet speed check to get an idea of the bandwidth. Additionally, you may want to confirm whether your ISP is network throttling you or not.
Conduct several internet speed tests at peak hours and check how much the result varies. If you notice extra slow internet during specific tasks like gaming, then it might be a case of network throttling.
Software Servicing
Whichever game engine you use, you can run a file integrity test on your game files. This will allow you to locate any missing or corrupted files and replace them. You should also check whether your drivers are up to date. AMD is especially notorious for its poor drivers, so a quick check wouldn’t hurt.
Unwiring Hardware
Firstly, check if your PC is even capable of running Apex Legends at playable framerates without lag. You can use software like MSI Afterburner to observe trends in GPU and CPU clock speeds over time under an intensive workload. You could also try replacing components temporarily to check if any are failing.
Let’s Fix It: Optimizing Your Apex Legends Gameplay
It becomes easier to solve a problem once the root cause is identified. It is time to fix your lag issues in Apex Legends, so you can go around grappling and hunting once more:
What is VPN?
Other than moving from a wireless connection to a wired one, using a VPN is the easiest solution to your network worries. If you use something like VPN, you can upgrade your gaming experience by a significant margin.
VPN provides great benefits to its users like ultra-fast and stable connection speeds. It works wonders if you want low ping since it shortens connection routes between your computer and the game servers. You will also be able to avoid your ISP’s network throttling, so it’s a win-win.
Keeping It Updated
In case you identified something to be wrong on the software side, you should try updating or reinstalling everything. Running file integrity tests will likely be enough for game files, however, problems with drivers are different.
The best course of action would be to download the latest iteration of drivers for your GPU. Uninstall the previous drivers using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) and install the one that you downloaded.
Clearing Clutter
Games like Apex Legends will experience lag if they are not provided with enough computing resources. Windows has heaps of bloatware, so several unnecessary tasks may be running in the background. Open Task Manager and close all unneeded applications.
Adjusting Settings
There are a few settings that you can adjust in-game to enhance your experience. However, this will come at the cost of lower visual quality. Go to your game settings, and then to the Graphics tab. You can reduce the graphics in exchange for performance.
You should also turn off setting like V-Sync, and Motion Blur. Try lowering the overall resolution, and setting a maximum fps to some low value that your computer can handle. Making these changes will greatly improve performance and reduce lag in Apex Legends.
Conclusion
Gaming is starting to become more of a luxury with time. This is why we want everyone to be able to freely play the games that they want. By following the simple steps presented in this guide, we hope that you will be able to fix your lag issues in Apex Legends and play to your heart’s content. Go forth and become the champion of the Outlands.
FAQs
What to do if my Apex Legends keeps lagging?
This issue can be recurring if your server latency is too high. Try using a VPN like VPN that provides a fast and reliable connection. It will allow you to connect to servers with low latency.
How can I check my ping and FPS in Apex Legends?
You can simply do that by opening the settings menu. Navigate to the Gameplay tab and scroll down to the Performance Display option. Turn it on, and voila! You can now see your ping and FPs.
Can a VPN help reduce lag in Apex Legends?
Yes, a VPN will help reduce lag in Apex Legends by providing a stable connection. It also prevents your ISP from intentionally throttling your connection.
Which VPN to use to fix Apex Legends’ lag issue?
We recommend using a trusted VPN like VPN. It ranked first on the CNET Editors’ Choice Award and has been available since 2009. They have high-speed servers across 94 countries worldwide, all of that for an affordable price.
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