If your Diablo 4 game is having issues with stutter or lag spikes, you’re not alone. Thankfully, there are a number of fixes that will get you back to smooth demon-slaying in no time.
Here’s everything you can do to reduce stutter or lag in Diablo 4:
Lower Your Graphics Settings
PC players can reduce the amount of stutter they encounter by lowering their graphics settings in-game. When lowering its settings, Diablo 4 will be less intensive to run, freeing up some resources in your computer.
Then, when gameplay gets a bit busier with lots of objects on screen (such as in combat or populated areas), the PC will still have some extra power to handle the strain.
Thankfully, even on lower graphics settings, Diablo 4 still looks great.
Several players have reported that reducing Texture Quality to Medium is the best fix for Diablo 4’s stutter problem.
We also recommend turning down Shadows to Medium or High to improve your overall performance.
Use this trick to display an FPS Counter overlay in Diablo 4 and you’ll be able to keep an eye on your frame rate and check for stutter.
Update Graphics Drivers
If you haven’t upgraded your GPU drivers in a while, this definitely could be the cause of your Diablo 4 gameplay stuttering.
You should be sure to update your graphics card’s drivers to the latest software available in order to experience optimal gameplay without the need to tweak your settings.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to updating your graphics drivers on PC!
Note: Some graphics cards, such as the NVIDIA GeForce 3080 and 3080Ti are experiencing more stuttering than others. Until a fix is officially released, players on select hardware may have to deal with unexpectedly poor performance.
Repair Diablo 4 Game Files
There’s always a possibility that your Diablo 4 install has become corrupt or a file has gone missing. In times like these, you may experience a boost in performance after repairing your game files.
Here’s how to repair your Diablo 4 game:
- Open the Battle.net application
- Find Diablo 4 in your Games list
- Click the Gear next to the blue Play button
- Choose Scan and Repair
- Then, Begin Scan
On console, the only way to repair your Diablo 4 game files will be to uninstall and reinstall the game completely.
How to Check Your Latency in Diablo 4
To check your latency in Diablo 4, press CTRL + R twice. Your latency tracker will then appear in the bottom left corner of the screen.
To remove the latency display, press CTRL + R once more.
Pressing these two buttons will initially display your FPS, but the second press will reveal your latency in milliseconds instead. Unfortunately, there’s no way to reveal your latency on console.
The higher the number displayed, the more delay you’re getting between you pressing a button and that input reaching the Diablo servers. This is what causes lag.
Around 40-60 msec is a good latency, and less than 40 is excellent. But if your game is reporting over 100 msec, you’re going to notice some lag.
If you’ve got high latency, your internet could be at fault. Here’s how to fix the issue:
Reset Your Router
Switch off your internet router by unplugging it and wait 30 seconds. Then, plug it back in.
Once your router reboots and your PC or console reconnects, you may find that your latency is reduced, along with your lag.
Use a Wired Connection
Ethernet cables are a lifesaver when it comes to improving connection and reducing lag in any video game.
By connecting the cable directly from your router to your PC or console, you’ll drastically reduce latency in Diablo 4.
The number one rule of gaming: use an ethernet cable when playing online, whenever possible.
Reduce Internet Strain
Another great way to improve your connection and lower latency in Diablo 4 is to ensure that your internet isn’t under heavy use.
Limiting the number of ongoing internet-draining processes, such as downloading, streaming, or other online gaming, will help your connection stay strong.
Many internet providers will have an app or website where you can connect to your router and assign select devices priority when it comes to internet speed.
Looks for more guidance? Here are our top 15 tips to help you dominate the Diablo 4 from the start!