League of Legends Ping Issues: Test & Fix

Whether you’re grinding your way to Diamond or just enjoying a casual ARAM, there’s one thing every League of Legends player dreads — ping issues. Latency spikes can mean the difference between a game-winning combo and a frustrating loss. But don’t uninstall the game just yet. This guide will walk you through how to test for ping problems and, more importantly, how to fix them so you can get back to climbing the ranked ladder with minimal lag.

TL;DR (Too Long, Didn’t Read)

High ping in League of Legends can be caused by various issues ranging from poor internet connections and background apps to ISP routing problems. Start by testing your ping using the in-game tool or external services like ping and traceroute. Common fixes include switching to a wired connection, updating network drivers, and disabling background processes. By taking these steps, you can significantly reduce lag and improve your gameplay experience.

Why Ping Matters in League of Legends

In a fast-paced game like League, timing is everything. From dodging that crucial skillshot to landing your game-winning ultimate, a delay of even a few milliseconds can make a huge difference. Ping refers to the latency or delay between your computer and the game server, measured in milliseconds (ms). The lower your ping, the quicker your inputs are registered by the server.

What Causes High Ping?

High ping can stem from a variety of sources. Understanding where the problem lies can help you fix it more efficiently. Some common culprits include:

• Poor internet connection: Slow or unstable Wi-Fi often causes latency spikes.
• ISP routing issues: Sometimes your Internet Service Provider takes inefficient paths to connect to Riot’s servers.
• Background applications: Streaming, downloading, or running system updates can hog your bandwidth.
• Server location: If you’re playing on a server far from your region, latency may naturally be higher.
• Outdated network drivers: Software issues can sometimes be the hidden cause behind lag.

How to Test Your Ping

Before you dive into fixing things, it’s essential to confirm that ping is, indeed, the problem. Here’s how you can test your latency efficiently:

1. In-Game Ping Indicator

League of Legends displays your current ping during matches. You can enable this by pressing Ctrl + F, which brings up the frame rate (FPS) and ping (ms) stats during gameplay. Anything under 60ms is generally playable. If you’re seeing spikes to 100ms or more, that’s a red flag.

2. Use Command Prompt (Windows)

1. Open Command Prompt by typing “cmd” in the Start menu.
2. Type ping 104.160.131.3 and press Enter. This IP is one of Riot’s North American servers.
3. Review the results to check latency and packet loss.

Note: The IP may differ based on your server region.

3. Traceroute for Network Issues

To get a breakdown of your network’s route to Riot’s servers, use:

tracert 104.160.131.3

This will show all the hops your connection takes and can highlight where delays are occurring.

How to Fix High Ping in League of Legends

Once you’ve confirmed ping is the issue, it’s time to act. Try these fixes, starting from the simplest to more advanced methods.

1. Switch to a Wired Connection

Wi-Fi connections are prone to interference and instability. Using an Ethernet cable provides a more consistent and lower-latency connection to your router.

2. Reboot Your Router

This classic troubleshooting step can actually work wonders. Unplug your router for 30 seconds and then plug it back in. This will refresh your network connection and may resolve temporary issues.

3. Close Background Applications

Ensure that apps like Steam, Discord (voice calls especially), Torrent clients, and even browser tabs aren’t eating up your bandwidth. You can also use Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to end unneeded processes.

4. Update Network Drivers

Outdated drivers might not handle data efficiently, leading to unexpected lag. Head to Device Manager › Network Adapters, right-click on your adapter, and select “Update Driver”.

5. Use Riot’s Hextech Repair Tool

Riot offers a free utility called the Hextech Repair Tool that can help diagnose and automatically apply known fixes for network issues. It’s especially handy if you suspect server connection problems.

6. Manually Set DNS

Switching to Google’s or Cloudflare’s DNS can sometimes improve latency:

• Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
• Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1

Go to Network Settings › Change Adapter Options › Properties › Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and apply one of the above DNS settings.

7. Contact Your ISP

If you’ve tried all of the above and nothing works, it might be your ISP that’s the problem. Poor routing or throttling can affect online games like League. Explain your issue to your provider, and they may change your routing pathway or adjust your plan settings.

Tips to Keep Your Ping Low Long-Term

To avoid intermittent ping issues, consider these maintenance tips:

• Regularly reboot your router – Keeps your connection fresh.
• Schedule large downloads – Don’t have Windows or game updates downloading right before a ranked session.
• Optimize game settings – Run League on “Low Spec Mode” if your system’s hardware is outdated.
• Stick to your regional server – Playing on EUW from North America? Expect higher latency.

When It Might Not Be Your Fault

Sometimes, lag isn’t coming from your end. Riot’s servers experience maintenance, outages, or regional issues. You can check the Riot Games Server Status page to see if anything is affecting your server. You can also follow @RiotSupport on Twitter for real-time updates on outages and bugs.

Final Thoughts

Lag in League of Legends is frustrating, but it’s rarely unfixable. By testing your ping using in-game tools or external commands, identifying the potential causes, and applying the right solutions, you can dramatically improve your gaming experience. Take a proactive stance — the less you worry about ping, the more you can focus on landing that game-winning ultimate.

Remember, every millisecond counts in League. Don’t let lag be your worst ally.