1. Cable first
Wi-Fi shares the air with every device and neighbour around you: spikes are normal. An Ethernet cable (or at least 5 GHz Wi-Fi close to the router) fixes more lag than any setting.
2. Bufferbloat: when someone else uses the connection
If your ping jumps when someone streams, uploads or downloads, your router is queueing too much. Run a “bufferbloat test” in your browser. The fix is on the router: turn on SQM / Smart Queue / QoS and set it slightly under your real speeds.
3. Background downloads on your own PC
- Windows Update Delivery Optimization uploads updates to other PCs on the internet — switch “Allow downloads from other PCs” off.
- Pause Steam / Epic / Battle.net downloads and cloud sync (OneDrive, Google Drive) while you play.
4. Network card settings
Power-saving features like Energy-Efficient Ethernet (EEE / Green Ethernet) can add tiny delays when traffic resumes. Up-to-date drivers from your motherboard or network-card maker matter more than any tweak.
5. DNS doesn't lower your in-game ping
A faster DNS speeds up looking up names (websites, launchers, matchmaking login) — not the packets of the match itself. Use a fast and reliable one, but don't expect it to change the number in game.
6. Pick the right server
Most games let you choose a region or show the ping per server. The closest one wins.
How HKTweaks helps
HKTweaks Platinum includes the network tools: a before / after measurement on your own connection, network-card and TCP/IP settings for games, the fastest DNS for you — plus tweaks like Delivery Optimization off (already in the free Standard rank). Restore puts everything back in one click. It never promises a ping number: it can't move the server closer.
Still stuck? A real staff member answers in a ticket on our Discord.