Fortnite Lagging But Internet Is Fine: 9 Simple Fixes

Learn why Fortnite lags on a fast connection & how to fix it

Co-authored by Rain Kengly Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: March 20, 2025 Fact Checked

Is Fortnite lagging on your PC or console despite good internet? This could be an issue with certain settings on your device or a server outage on Epic Games. We'll show you what to do when your Fortnite is lagging but your internet is fine on your PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox, or Switch.

Why Is Fortnite Lagging?

If your Fortnite game is lagging or choppy even though you have a good internet connection, you may need to change your graphics settings, update drivers, or close background apps. You can check Fortnite's status at status.epicgames.com.

1

Use a wired connection.

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Consider using an ethernet cable. If you play Fortnite while using Wi-Fi, you may have lag even though your network is stable. Whether you're using a PC or console, connecting directly to your router using an ethernet cable usually gives a faster connection speed and is generally more reliable than a Wi-Fi connection.
- Some networks will still lag due to insufficient internet speed. Test your connection speed and consider upgrading your plan to a high-speed connection.

2

Change your game settings.

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Decrease the resources needed by changing your graphics. Navigate to Fortnite's settings menu and select the Video tab.
- Set the Graphics Quality to Low.
- Lower the resolution.
- Disable motion blur and shadows, and reduce the view distance.

3

Run a latency test.

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Ping Fortnite's data centers to check your average latency. If it's higher than normal, you'll need to contact your internet provider. To check, take note of your region, and then follow the directions for Windows or Mac OS.
- Regions:
  - NA-East: ping-nae.ds.on.epicgames.com
  - NA-Central: ping-nac.ds.on.epicgames.com
  - NA-West: ping-naw.ds.on.epicgames.com
  - Europe: ping-eu.ds.on.epicgames.com
  - Oceania: ping-oce.ds.on.epicgames.com
  - Brazil: ping-br.ds.on.epicgames.com
  - Asia: ping-asia.ds.on.epicgames.com
  - Middle East: ping-me.ds.on.epicgames.com
- Windows 10:
  - Open the Command Prompt.
  - Type: ping <datacenter url> -n 50
  - Press Enter.
  - View your average latency and packet loss.
- Mac:
  - Open Network Utility.
  - Click Ping.
  - Enter the data center URL in the Enter the network address to ping field.
  - Enter 50 in the Send only _ pings field.
  - Click Ping.
  - View your average latency and packet loss.

4

Update your drivers.

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Check for outdated drivers. If you're experiencing lag on your device, you may have an issue with one of your drivers.
- To check for new drivers on a PC, open Update & Security and select Check for updates. To update manually, open the Device Manager, right-click the device, and then select Update driver.^{[1]
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- If you're using a console, check for system updates in the settings.

5

Check your hardware.

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Make sure your PC meets the minimum requirements. While Epic Games has a minimum system requirement, you may need to upgrade your build to meet the recommended requirements.^{[2]
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- Minimum System Requirements:
  - Video Card: Intel HD 4000 on PC; AMD Radeon Vega 8
  - Processor: Core i3-3225 3.3 GHz
  - Memory: 8 GB RAM
  - OS: Windows 10 64-bit version 1703
- Recommended System Requirements:
  - Video Card: Nvidia GTX 960, AMD R9 280, or equivalent DX11 GPU
  - Video Memory: 2 GB VRAM
  - Processor: Core i5-7300U 3.5 GHz, AMD Ryzen 3 3300U, or equivalent
  - Memory: 16 GB RAM or higher
  - Hard Drive: NVMe Solid State Drive
  - OS: Windows 10/11 64-bit

6

Close background applications while playing.

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If you have multiple programs running in the background as you play, this can create lag. Even programs like Discord can take up valuable resources if your device isn't equipped for it.
- Use the Task Manager to make sure you only have Fortnite open.
- If you're using a console, make sure you don't have any other games suspended in the background.

7

Check your computer's temperature.

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Make sure your PC isn't running too hot. When your PC overheats, you may experience performance issues and even damage the internal components. You can monitor your CPU temperature by downloading a program such as Core Temp or NZXT's CAM.
- Your PC should generally be between 40–65°C (or 104–149°F).

8

Use a different region.

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Select a different matchmaking region. If you have latency issues in Fortnite, you can try different servers to see if you have a better connection.^{[3]
X
Research source} Do the following:
- Select your player icon.
- Select the menu icon.
- Select Settings.
- Select the Game tab.
- Select Matchmaking Region.
- Select the left or right arrow to try a new server.

9

Check Fortnite's status.

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If Fortnite is having issues, you'll experience lag even without any issues on your end. Visit the Epic Games website to check if Fortnite is operational.^{[4]
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- You can also visit the Fortnite Status X page.