Why Is My PS5 Lagging With Good Internet?

A PS5 can lag with good internet and WiFi if there’s not enough storage space on the HD, you have faulty hardware, outdated software or bugs. PS5 games have extremely high resolution graphics that run at fast refresh speeds. If your graphics card or ram is damaged or malfunctioning it could cause lagging issues. Why is my PS5 lagging? A few different factors can result in a lagging PS5. The first thing you can do to find and fix the issue is to restart your PS5. A restart refreshes your WiFi connection and in many cases fixes the problem.

Some common causes are listed below.

PS5 games are set to high graphics settings (Fidelity Graphics Mode) which can be hard to render when playing online
There’s not enough storage space on the PS5 Hard Drive
Faulty hardware
The PS5 system software version needs an update
The system software has bugs and needs updating or a reboot
There are issues with the PS5 database
The PS5 console is overheating
The Internet is slow or unstable
The graphics card, ram or other internal components are damaged

Restarting your PS5 console is one of the best ways to get rid of temporary hardware or software glitches and fixes many common lagging issues. When a PS5 is completely turned off and restarted, the cache and all temporary stored files are deleted. This can resolve some of the common causes of lag. To do it, unplug all the “Accessories” > hold down the “Power” button on the front of the console until it turns off > press the “Power” button until it turns on again.

A restart fixes many of the most common causes for PS5 lag, but not all of them. In this article, we’ll discuss other potential problems and how to fix them.

Restart Your PS5 Console

Restarting a PS5 console is one of the best ways to get rid of temporary hardware or software glitches that may cause lag even when the internet connection is strong. When a PS5 is completely turned off and restarted, the cache and all temporary stored files are deleted. This can resolve some of the most common causes of lag.

Here are the steps to properly restart a PS5 console:

Remove any “Accessories” you have connected to the PS5
Press and hold the “Power” button on the front of the console until it turns off
Press the “Power” button again to turn on the console.

Set The PS5 To Performance Mode

PS5 console can support resolutions up to 8K. The highest graphics setting a PS5 can do is called “Fidelity Graphics Mode”. At max graphic settings, some games may be too demanding on the system which can cause lag spikes or constant lag. This is made even worse when the game is being played online. If this is the cause of your PS5 lag, you can fix it by changing the graphics settings to “PS5 Performance Mode”.

Here’s how to set your PS5 to “Performance Mode”,

Navigate to the “Settings” menu from your PS5 “Home Screen”
Click “Saved Data and Game Settings”
Click “Game Presets” > “Performance Mode” from the options menu
Play the lagging game again to see if the problem is resolved

After switching to “Performance Mode”, you’ll most likely see a drop in visual quality. However, the performance should be better with less lag and frame drop. While in “Performance Mode”, the PS5 will prioritize performance over graphics quality which makes the games run smoother.

If the your PS5 still has lag with good internet even after you’ve changed the settings to performance mode, it means the graphics setting isn’t the problem or there are other issues in addition to the graphics setting. Keep the PS5 in “Performance Mode” while you troubleshoot other potential problems.

Delete Files From The Hard Drive

Every PS5 has a super fast SSD with 1 TB of storage space. Normally, an SSD is very fast with almost no lag. However, they can start to slow down when they get full. As games are played, they access the hard drive and store short term data. If the hard drive is full, it can cause PS5 lag even when the internet and WiFi in strong.

It’s a good idea to free up some hard drive space by removing games and data you don’t use anymore.

You can also increase storage space by upgrading to a larger hard drive or connecting an additional hard drive to the console.

To delete unwanted games or saved data from the hard drive do the following:

Navigate to to PS5 “Settings” and choose “Saved Data and Game/App Settings”
Click “Saved Data”
Select “Console Storage” > “Delete”
Tick the box next to the files that you want to delete
Click “Delete” to confirm deletion of the file

Keep in mind that once you delete a file from your PS5, there’s no way to restore it. So be careful what you delete. I’ve accidentally deleted the wrong files before and had to replay games from the beginning again.

If you want to keep your data and free up some hard drive space, here are some options:

Move the data to the cloud
Use a USB extended storage device

To get the best performance and reduce PS5 lag when the internet is good, keep about 20% free space on your hard drive at all times.

Update The PS5 Firmware

A PS5 can lag even when the internet and WiFi signal is strong if the firmware is outdated and needs an update. Software updates often remove bugs and improve coding and security flaws which can boost the speed & performance of the console. There are two ways to update PS5 system software. Manually and over the internet.

I suggest updating your PS5 software online and setting the system to update automatically. This will keep your system up to date which may prevent lag.

You can check a PS5’s system software version by going to “Settings” > “System” > “System Software” > “Console Information”.

If you see “Up To Date”, it means you already have the latest version of system software. If you don’t see “Up To Date”, it means you need to update the firmware to the latest version.

How To Update PS5 Firmware Over The Internet

The best way to connect your PS5’s firmware is over the internet and connected to a LAN cable. Using a cable is better than updating wireless because the signal will be stronger with less possibility for drops.However, if you have a strong and stable internet and WiFi connection, you can update the firmware wireless.

Navigate to “Settings” > “System” > “System Software” > “System Software Update”
Click “Update System Software”

The console will now automatically download and install available system updates for your PS5.

If you’re connected to the PlayStation Network but can’t reach the home screen, you should update the firmware in “Safe Mode”.

Press and hold the “Power” button on the front of the console until it turns off
To enter “Safe Mode”, press and hold the “Power” button until you hear two beeps
Select option 3: “Update System Software”

Your PS5 will now download and install the latest available software update.

What To Do If The System Software Update Gets Stuck

If the system software update process becomes stuck on your PS5, you must restart the process. To do it, press the “PS” button > select “Downloads/Uploads” > highlight the system software update > select “View Error Info” > click “Try Again”.

If the update fails to work after restarting the system software update process, update your PS5 manually with a USB flash drive. I’ll detail how to do it in the next section.

How To Update PS5 Firmware With A USB Flash Drive

If you can’t update your PS5 over the internet using WiFi, it’s possible to do it manually. You can down load the update on the Sony Playstation website and install it into your PS5 using a USB.

In order to update your PS5 firmware manually, you need the following hardware:

DualSense wireless controller or DualShock 4 wireless controller
A USB cable
A Windows or Mac computer connected to the Internet
A USB flash drive in FAT32 format

Once all your hardware is ready, you can update your PS5 system software by following these steps:

Create a folder named “PS5” on your USB drive
Inside the “PS5” folder, create another folder titles “Update”
Go to the Sony Playstation system update page by clicking here
Scroll down the page and click the “PS5 Update Files” link to download the system software update files
Make sure you save the files in the “Update” folder
Insert the USB drive containing the system update file into your PS5. A PS5 has 4 USB ports, but only the two on the back and the lower one on the front can be used with a USB drive.
Turn off the console and boot it in “Safe Mode” by pressing and holding the “Power” button on the front of the console until it turns off, then press and hold the “Power” button until you hear two beeps
Select “Update System Software”
Click “Update from USB Storage Device” > “OK”

Check The Cable Connections

If your PS5 still lags after a restart, even when the internet and WiFi connections are strong, check all the wire connections. Loose or damaged wires can cause issues that lower the performance of your console. In addition to checking all the wires connected to the PS5, check your router and modem wires too.

Check for signs of damage on the controller and power cables.
Look for damage or wiring issues on the console’s power supply.
Make sure all your cables are seated and connected properly.

Wiring and power supply problems are a common issue in homes with kids or pets. If the wires are not connected properly or are damaged, it could cause connection or power issues.

Reduce Total Bandwidth Use

A common reason why your PS5 may be lagging even when the internet and WiFi signal looks good is bandwidth. If there are lots of devices in your house running at the same time, they may be using too much bandwidth for your internet service. When total bandwidth spikes, your games can lag. To fix the issue, turn off other devices which are using WiFi while you game or increase bandwidth with your ISP (Internet Service Provider).

Ruduce Latency

Ping time or latency plays a major role in online gaming. If latency is high, you’re far from the server or your internet connection isn’t fast enough to keep up, you could experience lag all the time or lag spikes. To fix the problem, choose to game on servers that are closer to your location if it’s an option or increase your internet speed. You can do this by contacting your ISP or using a faster router.

Latency is the time it takes for data to go from your PS5 to the game servers and back. Even if you have a good WiFi connection, you can still have latency problems which causes lag.

To reduce latency as much as possible, use a wired Ethernet connection rather than WiFi.

Here’s how to connect your PS5 to your router using an Ethernet connection:

“Locate” the Ethernet port on the back of your PS5
“Plug” one end of the Ethernet cable into your PS5’s “Network Port” and the other end into your router’s “LAN Port”
“Navigate” to your PS5’s “Settings” > “Network”
“Select” “Set Up Internet Connection” > “Set Up Wired LAN”

Make sure to buy a high quality Ethernet cable because the signal strength will be better. It also helps a little if the wire isn’t too long.

Connect Your PS5 To 5G Internet To Reduce Lag

Connecting your PS5 to 5G internet can help reduce lag when the internet and WiFi signals are strong. 5G is faster and less crowded than a standard 2.4G connection. However you need an ISP that offers 5G home internet and not all do. But if it’s an option and you want the fastest internet connect you can give it a try.

Here’s how to connect your PS5 to 5G WiFi:

Go into your PS5’s “Settings”
“Select” Network > “Settings”
“Choose” “Set Up Internet Connection”
“Click” the “Options Button” on your controller > “Select” 5 GHz
“Select” the “Network” and “Enter” the WiFi password

The 5G network names should say 5G to distinguish them from the standard 2.4G networks.

Rebuild The PS5 Database

Playstation 5 has a “Rebuild Database” function that restructures your hard drive. It creates a brand-new database to store all your games, files, and content. However, before trying it I recommend backing up all your important save files to an external hard drive or the cloud. Rebuilding your PS5 database is a last ditch effort to find out why your console is lagging when the internet and WiFi is good.

To rebuild a PS5 database, follow the steps below:

Turn off your PS5 console by pressing and holding the “Power” button
Press and hold the “Power” button until it beeps twice to enter “Safe Mode”
Select “Rebuild Database“
Wait for the process to finish. For large hard drives it can take several hours to complete

Make sure your PS5 does not turn off while it’s rebuilding the database. If your console loses power, you’ll have to restart the entire process again.

Tips For Reducing PS5 Lag

There are a few things you can do to prevent or reduce PS5 lag while the internet & WiFi are good.

Here’s a list:

Use a wired connection rather than WiFi. The signal strength will be better with less chance for frame drops or lag
Playing against gamers closer to you geographically can reduce lag. This is a bigger issue with fighting and other competitive online games
Keep your console, router and modem software up to date
Reset the console, router and modem every so often
Use high-quality HDMI cables
Use QoS settings to prioritize the PS5 on busy networks
Apply DMZ settings for OpenNAT
Plug controllers into the console to reduce latency issues
Unplug other devices which may be taking up bandwidth

Summary: Why Is My PS5 Lagging With Good Internet?

Some common causes are listed below.

PS5 games are set to high graphics settings (Fidelity Graphics Mode) which can be hard to render when playing online
There’s not enough storage space on the PS5 Hard Drive
Faulty hardware
The PS5 system software version needs an update
The system software has bugs and needs updating or a reboot
There are issues with the PS5 database
The PS5 console is overheating
The Internet is slow or unstable
The graphics card, ram or other internal components are damaged

When a PS5 is completely turned off and restarted, the cache and all temporary stored files are deleted. This can resolve some of the common causes of lag. To do it, unplug all the “Accessories” > hold down the “Power” button on the front of the console until it turns off > press the “Power” button until it turns on again.

A restart fixes many of the most common causes for PS5 lag, but not all of them. If it doesn’t work, try one of the other fixes we’ve discussed throughout the article.

If you have any questions or comments about why your PS5 is lagging with good internet & WiFi, email any time.