# How to lower ping: test the cause before changing settings

Separate Wi-Fi delay, busy uploads and server distance, then compare the same game or call with useful latency observations.

Website: https://zenshield.com/help/lower-ping

Canonical URL: https://zenshield.com/help/lower-ping

Page reviewed: 2026-09-12

Lowering ping starts with finding where the delay appears. A fast download does not guarantee a responsive game, and a VPN cannot remove the physical distance to a server.

## Use the application’s own measurement first

Record the game region, time and its latency or connection indicator during an ordinary session. Also note pauses, packet-loss warnings and whether the problem is constant or appears in bursts.

The [speed and latency tool](https://zenshield.com/tools/speed-test) measures HTTP requests to this website. It can help compare network conditions, but its number is not the ping to your game server.

## Change one condition at a time

| Test | What an improvement suggests |
| --- | --- |
| Move closer to the Wi-Fi access point | Local wireless conditions may matter |
| Try a wired connection, if available | Compare wireless with a direct local link |
| Pause an upload you control | Competing traffic may be adding delay |
| Select a nearer supported game region | Destination distance or routing may matter |
| Compare a permitted VPN route | That particular route may behave differently |

Do not interrupt someone else’s work on a shared connection. Keep the same game and region for each comparison unless the region itself is the variable you are testing.

## Keep typical readings

Record several observations, including bad periods. One low number immediately after reconnecting is not enough to show that a change fixed the problem. If the application reports packet loss or unstable timing, include those details alongside average latency.

When contacting support, send the game, region, network type and times affected. Avoid promising yourself that a different VPN location will be faster. Test the outcome on the route you actually need.

## Sources
- https://help.ea.com/en/articles/connection-quality/connection-quality-indicators/
- https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Performance/now