WoW High Latency but Internet is Fine: 7 Ways to Fix Lagging

An outdated network driver can cause this issue

Gaming

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by Madalina Dinita 

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Key notes

  • If you're having World of Warcraft high latency issues while your internet is fine, verify that your drivers are up to date.
  • Ensuring that your server is working correctly can help pinpoint the problem.
  • Many reported that removing or updating specific add-ons solved latency issues.
WOW high latency

World of Warcraft is one of the world’s most popular online multiplayer games. However, it is not one without an issue with users reporting that WoW has high latency, but their internet is fine.

This saps life out of their gaming experience. Fortunately, this issue can be easily fixed with the detailed solutions in this guide.

What causes high latency in WoW?

Different factors can cause high latency in WoW, while the internet is fine for other activities. Below are some of the notable causes:

  • Outdated driver: If WoW lags for no reason, it might be outdated network drivers. You can fix this quickly by updating your drivers to the latest version.
  • Issues with the router: In some cases, this issue might occur due to minor glitches with your network device. The solution to this is to reset your network.
  • Outdated PC: Sometimes, you might experience WoW latency in home vs world because your PC is outdated. You need to update your operating system to continue enjoying your game.

What can I do if there is high latency in WoW, but the Internet is fine?

1. Update your driver

  1. Press the Windows key + X and select the Device Manager option.
    device manager wow high latency but internet is fine
  2. Double-click the Network adapters option to expand it, and right-click your adapter.
  3. Now, select the Update driver option.
    update driver wow high latency but internet is fine
  4. Finally, choose Search automatically for drivers and install any available updates.
    search auto

Alternatively, you can visit your network adapter manufacturer’s website to download the latest drivers.

If the Classic WoW high latency continues, but the internet is fine, your network driver is likely the problem, so be sure to update it automatically with a dedicated tool such as Outbyte Driver Updater.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

2. Check the server status

  1. Visit the Realm Status page.
  2. Locate your server on the list.
  3. If the status is set to anything other than a green check mark, there’s an issue with the server.

If you have high latency in WoW, but the Internet is fine, the issue is most likely server-related, so you’ll have to wait for Blizzard to fix it.

3. Clear the game cache

  1. Exit the game completely.
  2. Now, press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer and navigate to the path below: C:\Program Files (x86)\World of Warcraft > Cache
  3. Finally, right-click the Cache folder and select Delete.
    delete

Now start the game again and check if high ping in WoW still occurs. For more information, we suggest reading our guide on how to reset the World of Warcraft user interface.

In some cases, removing or updating specific add-ons can help, so we suggest you try that.

4. Reset the TCP/IP configuration

  1. Press Windows key + X and choose PowerShell (Admin) from the menu.
  2. Now run the following commands:
    ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew ipconfig /flushdns
  3. Start the game and check if the issue is still there.

5. Install the latest Windows updates

  1. Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Navigate to the Update & Security section.
  3. Now, click on the Check for updates button.
  4. Windows will now install the missing updates.

After updating your system, start the game and check if random disconnects in WoW still occur.

6. Run the Network troubleshooter

  1. Press the Windows key + I and select Update & Security.
    update and wow high latency but internet is fine
  2. Choose Troubleshoot in the left pane and click Additional troubleshooters.
    troubleshoot
  3. Finally, select Network Adapter and click Run the troubleshooter.
    run the

Sometimes, the WoW high latency with a perfectly working internet connection can be caused by minor issues with your adapter. Running the built-in troubleshooter should diagnose and fix these glitches.

7. Disable proxies

  1. Press Windows key + R, type inetcpl.cpl, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to the Connections tab and select Never dial a connection if available.
  3. Click on the LAN settings button.
  4. Uncheck Use a proxy server for your LAN option.
  5. Optional: Try toggling the Automatically detect settings checkbox if the previous option is already disabled.

You can try these solutions if you’re experiencing WoW high latency, but your internet is fine for other activities. If the game fails after applying these fixes, you might need to uninstall and reinstall it.

If your PC is the problem, ensure no applications are interfering with the game, and adjust your settings accordingly.

Since you want the best gaming experience, look at these budget laptops for World of Warcraft. They include Solid State Drives that shorten loading times and have impressive displays.

Did you find a solution to this problem on your own? If so, feel free to share it with us in the comments section below.

More about the topics: World of Warcraft errors

Madalina Dinita

Madalina Dinita Shield

Networking & Security Specialist

Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer. She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies -- AI and DNA computing in particular. Prior to joining the WindowsReport team, she worked in the corporate world for a number of years.