High ping is one of the most frustrating things that can happen in PUBG Mobile. You move behind cover, but you still take damage. You fire at an enemy, but the shots do not register. Your character freezes for a second and then jumps forward. This is all because of high ping — and it happens to a lot of players, especially after a big update like 4.3. The good news is that there are real fixes for this, and most of them are simple enough that anyone can try them right now.
What Is Ping and Why Does It Matter?
Ping is the time it takes for your device to send information to the game server and receive a response back. It is measured in milliseconds (ms). The lower your ping, the faster the game responds to everything you do.
Here is a quick idea of what different ping values feel like in PUBG Mobile:
| Ping | What It Feels Like |
|---|---|
| Under 60ms | Smooth and responsive — ideal for ranked matches |
| 60ms – 100ms | Mostly fine, small delays in fast fights |
| 100ms – 200ms | Noticeable delays, shots can feel off |
| Above 200ms | Very hard to play — rubber banding and freezing |
A stable ping is more important than a low one. A steady 80ms feels much better than a ping that keeps jumping between 40ms and 150ms every few seconds.
Tip 1 — Always Connect to the Nearest Server
This is the most important thing you can do for your ping. The farther away the server is from your location, the longer it takes for data to travel back and forth. PUBG Mobile automatically selects the closest server when you first log in, but it is worth checking this manually before every session.
On the home screen, tap the server name at the top right corner and make sure it is set to the server closest to your country. If you are in India, choose the Asia server. If you are in Europe, choose the Europe server. Never play on a server in another region just to get into a faster match — your ping will be much worse.
Tip 2 — Switch to 5GHz Wi-Fi
If you are playing on Wi-Fi, this one tip alone can drop your ping significantly. Most home routers broadcast two networks — 2.4GHz and 5GHz. The 2.4GHz network reaches farther but is slower and more congested because almost every device in your home uses it. The 5GHz network is faster and less crowded, which makes it much better for gaming.
Look for the 5GHz version of your Wi-Fi network in your phone’s settings — it usually has “5G” or “5GHz” at the end of the name. Connect to that one instead. Also try to play in the same room as your router or at least nearby. Every wall the Wi-Fi signal passes through adds a little more delay.
Tip 3 — Enable Smart Network Optimization
The 4.3 update introduced a new feature called Smart Network Optimization that many players do not know about yet. It automatically switches between your Wi-Fi and mobile data during a match to keep your connection as stable as possible at all times.
To turn it on, go to Settings > Language & Network > Network and enable Smart Network Optimization. For this to work, your phone needs to be connected to both Wi-Fi and mobile data at the same time. If your phone supports it, this feature alone can make a big difference — especially if your Wi-Fi tends to drop signal in certain parts of your home.
Tip 4 — Change Your DNS Server
This is a tip that most players never try, but it can genuinely reduce ping by 10 to 20ms in many cases. DNS is like a directory that helps your phone find the right server. Your internet provider’s default DNS is often slow or outdated, but you can switch to a faster one for free.
The two best options are Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) and Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1). Both are free and easy to set up.
On Android, go to Wi-Fi Settings, tap your connected network, select Modify, switch the IP setting to Static, and enter the DNS numbers there. On iPhone, go to Wi-Fi Settings, tap the info icon next to your network, select Configure DNS, switch to Manual, and add the server addresses. Try both options and stick with whichever gives you a lower ping.
Tip 5 — Stop Background Apps and Downloads
Apps running in the background silently use your internet connection even when you are not actively using them. Social media apps, cloud backup services, and auto-updates are the biggest culprits. When these apps are using your bandwidth while you are in the middle of a match, your ping spikes.
Before you start a match, close all background apps completely. Also go to your phone settings and turn off auto-updates for apps — set them to update only when you manually do it, or only on Wi-Fi when you are not gaming. Even a small background download can push your ping from 60ms up to 150ms mid-match.
Tip 6 — Turn On Game Mode on Your Phone
Most Android phones have a built-in Game Mode or Game Space feature. When turned on, it dedicates more of your phone’s resources to the game, blocks incoming notifications, and in many cases also prioritizes the game’s network traffic over background apps.
Go to your phone settings and search for Game Mode, Game Space, or Gaming Hub depending on your phone brand. Enable it and make sure PUBG Mobile is added to the list of games. On top of reducing ping, this also helps with FPS stability during matches.
Tip 7 — Restart Your Network Before Playing
This one is simple but effective. Routers can get slow and congested over time, especially if they have been running non-stop for days. Before a long gaming session, turn your router off, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. This clears its memory and gives you a fresh, clean connection.
If you are on mobile data, try toggling Airplane Mode on and off. This forces your phone to reconnect to the nearest cell tower, which can sometimes drop your ping noticeably — especially if you have moved locations since you last connected.
Final Words
High ping does not have to ruin your PUBG Mobile experience. Start with the server selection and Wi-Fi band — those two changes fix the problem for most players. If you are still seeing high ping after that, the Smart Network Optimization feature, DNS change, and background app management will take care of the rest. A little setup goes a long way, and once your ping is stable, you will notice a real difference in how the game feels. Good luck out there!