There’s nothing that stops an exciting heist cold like getting WASTED because you were lagging. Whether you’re up against other players, or just NPCs, that’s always an annoyance – and who likes restarting missions?
Well, before you plan your next money-making scheme, put some time into fixing any lag issues you might have. It’s actually pretty simple, if you know a few handy tricks, and if you have CyberGhost VPN around to help.
One of the most reliable ways to fix lag is with a GTA VPN. CyberGhost VPN in particular is good at this, as when you connect to one of our ultra-fast VPN servers in 100+ locations (preferably one close to the people you play with), it automatically gives you the speediest connection possible.
What Causes Lag in GTA?
Oh, lots of things. Network lag can be caused by problems with hardware, your software, your modem, and even the game itself. It can also be caused by external factors such as bad routing by your ISP, congested networks sitting between you and other players, badly configured third party servers, and everyday bad luck.
So, when it comes to lag, there are a lot of potential issues. Fortunately, with a few handy tricks and CyberGhost VPN in your toolbelt, it’s not hard to resolve the most common causes of lag. Here’s how it’s done:
7 Ways to Fix Lag in GTA
1. Wired Connection
Wi-Fi technology is getting better, but wires are still the best. When you need a connection to your modem or router that’s fast and – this is important – stable, there’s no substitute for the humble Ethernet cable. If you don’t have one, go get a long one, right now. They can be had cheap, and you really don’t have to spring for an expensive one.
Side note: Make sure nothing is clogging your network, like someone downloading a big game of their own, or multiple people watching Netflix on the same network.
2. Update Your Software
Outdated software can have bugs that slow down your internet traffic. Always keep your software up to date – both for the sake of speed, and for your own security as well. Update your OS, your console, and even the software on your router, just to be sure.
3. Try a Different Lobby
GTA V will usually try to match you with people close to you for the fastest possible connection. This doesn’t always work out as intended. If the lobby you’re in keeps lagging, join a different one, or set up a lobby of your own for maximum performance.
4. Turn It Off and On Again
Ah yes – the classic off and on again. Every computing device endures little bugs and errors over time as long as it’s operating. It’s just a reality of digital technology. That’s why restarting your computer or console and your modem or router can actually solve so many little issues.
5. Flush Your DNS Cache or Console Cache
On Windows, the servers your computer connects to are all logged for easy retrieval later. Consoles do this too, and they also cache a lot of other data that builds up over time. If any of that data gets corrupted or outdated, it can cause lag.
There are tons of tutorials that explain how to clear your DNS cache on Windows. On consoles, you can just turn them off and unplug them for a few minutes to clear everything out.
6. Upgrade Your Router or Modem
It’s not a viable plan for everyone, but depending on your budget and your ISP, upgrading your modem or router might be worth it. An outdated modem can definitely cause lag issues, so while it shouldn’t be your first option, do consider upgrading.
7. Use a VPN
Remember all those network problems I mentioned above? Congested networks, bad routing, and more? Connecting to a VPN server can help mitigate those issues. CyberGhost VPN will automatically look for the fastest possible route from your home network to the VPN server you choose.
That process can help you just skip past some of the obstacles that might otherwise slow your signal down.
GTA V doesn’t really use servers for normal online play, just peer-to-peer connections – called lobbies – with other people who are in your area or otherwise have similar connection speeds, so all you have to do is connect to a VPN server near your location, and play. If you’re playing with specific friends, or on a custom GTA V server, pick a VPN server that’s close to your friend or the custom server for maximum speed.
Mind you, I haven’t even covered the security benefits of a VPN here – you may want to check out all the other reasons you need a VPN for gaming.
Why CyberGhost Is the Best VPN for Gaming
In terms of fixing lag, and reducing your ping, CyberGhost VPN stands out by having a globe-spanning network of finely-tuned servers, so you can create a smooth connection to other GTA players pretty much anywhere in the world.
Also, surviving GTA Online’s fast-paced firefights requires a high connection speed, and that’s why CyberGhost VPN’s network is designed to handle large amounts of data quickly, with 10-Gbps servers in key locations around the world.
CyberGhost VPN also masks your IP address automatically – which can help to protect your identity and prevent DDoS attacks – and every VPN server has built in DDoS mitigation.
Combine that with the 45-day money back guarantee, the proven no-logs policy, and the 24/7 customer support, and CyberGhost VPN makes a fantastic gaming VPN.
Conclusion
Dealing with network lag in GTA V is usually just a matter of a few small tweaks, and a VPN. Go through all of the tips above, and you should be able to sort out your lag issues in a few minutes or less. If the easy fixes aren’t cutting it, though, and you’re not ready to change your internet plan or ISP, there is one more thing you can do: Call your ISP.
Sometimes a quick call is enough for them to diagnose the problem, and either sort it out on their end, or point you in the right direction to fix it on your end. It’s worth a try, in any case.
Now get out there and build your virtual criminal empire!
FAQ
This depends entirely on your hardware. The game is highly CPU-intensive, so heavy action sequences can cause frame drops on consoles and older or lighter PCs in particular. This is true even in performance mode on both Xbox and PS5. To get above 60FPS, and still have the fancy graphical effects on, you’ll need a new-ish, powerful PC.
That depends on which model of Xbox you have. If you’re on an Xbox One, for example, I’m sorry to say that GTA V has more or less outgrown the capabilities of the console. It may be time for an upgrade. Large online server instances with lots of people running around can also cause lag as the server’s processor struggles to keep up.
Stuttering, as opposed to generally poor FPS, is usually caused by something small, and probably doesn’t require a full hardware upgrade. It can usually be fixed by changing a few settings, and making sure that your computer isn’t trying to install updates or do other CPU-intensive tasks in the background.
To reduce stuttering and get GTA V to run smoothly, you can try a few things: run GTA V as Administrator, turn off fullscreen optimizations, turn off VSync, and change all of your graphics settings to “normal.” Also, make sure the game is stored on an SSD, and make sure that SSD has at least 65 GB of space for the game to use.
There are so many potential problems, to tell the truth. The best you can do is run the game on modern hardware, keep all of your software up to date, and make sure you’re not running any super-intensive apps in the background. Oh, and run a Windows debloater, just to be safe.
The methods vary, but lag switching is a “hack” that allows you to very temporarily create lag for yourself, without losing the connection entirely. In some games, this allows you to quickly eliminate your opponents before you turn your full internet speed back on. This is considered cheating in any online game, and can get you banned, so I’d avoid doing it.
VSync or “vertical sync” is a technique where games will try to render everything at a speed that matches your monitor’s refresh rate, exactly. This reduces a visual bug called screen tearing, and just makes games look better. It can slightly delay input speed from mouse movement, though.
GTA V is a big game, to put it simply. It all comes down to your hardware and OS. My advice? Make sure your Windows install is debloated, and that you’re running the game on an SSD. Note: There was a bug that caused extra long loading screens a while back, but it was patched out when a player actually found the issue, and the fix.
FXAA stands for fast approximate anti-aliasing, and it’s a technology designed to smooth out jagged edges in video games. Once upon a time, FXAA could sometimes cause in-game stuttering, but that was ages ago. If your hardware is under five years old, use any anti-aliasing method you want.
Yes, absolutely! GTA V doesn’t block people for using VPNs for regular usage. If you just want to use, say, CyberGhost VPN to get all the connectivity and security benefits of a no-lag VPN while you play, then by all means go ahead. Just play fair and treat other players with respect, and you’ll be fine.
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