Many Fortnite players keep asking: ‘Why is my Fortnite lagging?’
Playing PS4 Games On a Mac Is Surprisingly Easy. To up the brightness and get really close to my screen to make out the bad guys. Also enjoy the wonders of remote play as well. So, you know.
Are you one of them?
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Lag is related to your internet connection, however, your old computer can cause low FPS which gives you the same bad experience.
Old gear isn’t your problem? Dive deeper in the blogpost to see what are the other problems and solutions to fix Fortnite lag!
It will be useful for you no matter if you are a PS4 user, Mac user, and even a PC user.
In this article you will learn how to solve your issues concerning Fortnite lag:
- how to stop Fortnite lag (PS4, PC, Mac, and Xbox)
- how to check Fortnite ping
- what are the additional command line arguments in Fortnite
- how to fix Fortnite packet loss
Let’s get started!
1. Causes of Fortnite Lagging
Fortnite slow download speeds occur when you have low Internet connection speeds.
However, some people experience Fortnite lag issues even when they have great Internet connections (between 1 and 3 Mbps or higher).
That’s because excellent Internet speed isn’t all that’s required to avoid Fortnite lag spikes.
Low latency also comes into play. Latency refers to the time your computer takes to communicate with the Fortnite game server.
But that’s not all.
The consistency of your Internet connection can contribute to Fortnite random lag spikes.
This is typical of Internet connections like the satellite-based Internet, which may vary due to weather conditions and other factors.
Moreover, how you connect your gaming rig to the Internet could create latency and connection problems. Wi-Fi connections create more latency and can be affected by interference from other devices.
In other instances, your Internet connection may be fine, but your gaming rig may be the problem.
For example:
- your mouse may be problematic
- your PC may have driver errors
- your Mac could have issues with its settings
- or your PS4 may not function properly
All these are either hardware or software issues. Be sure to doublecheck that your rig meets the system requirements for Fortnite (check now).
Finally, there are instances of Fortnite lagging after update. You might have experienced Fortnite FPS drops after update of the online game. Or maybe you have experienced have experienced lag in Fortnite Mobile.
Fortunately, you can fix all of those issues.
Keep reading and you will find the answers how to solve your problems.
2. How to Fix Fortnite Lag?
Now you know the underlying causes.
Let’s explore how to make Fortnite less laggy.
The most apparent Fortnite lag fix is getting faster, consistent Internet connection.
However, the hardware and software issues regarding your gaming rig require a bit more intensive work.
To see how to reduce lag in Fortnite, let’s evaluate the various issues individually:
1. Fortnite Mouse Lag Fix
Mouse lag may occur when it randomly stutters, stopping you from panning up and down or side to side. It becomes incredibly hard to aim, making Fortnite completely unplayable!
Here are the suggestions on how to fix lag in Fortnite if your mouse is the problem:
- try inserting your mouse in a different USB port
- use another mouse (you can change from a Bluetooth mouse to one having a cable)
One of these suggestions is sure to eliminate the Fortnite mouse stuttering issue.
2. Fortnite Lag PS4 Fix
Fortnite lag on PS4 can be seriously annoying. You keep getting teleported back in the game. You may also get teleported under the bridge and die when building! When the game is ending, you may experience more lagging than usual.
All these means you’ll lose gunfights!
To counter this, here are a few suggestions on how to fix PS4 Fortnite lag:
- Start by hardwiring your PS4
a direct wired Internet connection is always better than a wireless Internet connection
- Try deleting other apps and games
This should give Fortnite maximum capacity for good performance.
- Uninstall the game and restart your Internet
This should clean out any problematic issues that may exist.
If all else fails, you can try Fortnite on PC, Mac or Xbox, to see if there’s any improvement compared to PS4.
That’s how to stop lag in Fortnite.
But there is an easier way to get rid out of all Fortnite lag issues at once. You can simply play Fortnite in the cloud. The game will be happening on the powerful servers instead of your device. Thanks to that, you will avoid the lag issues.
3. Fortnite Lag PC Fix
Are you wondering:
“Why is Fortnite so laggy on my PC?”
The first thing you should consider is your Windows device drivers.
Your display or network adapters may be outdated or even missing.
Follow these steps to update your device drivers, which should solve the problem of Fortnite running slow on PC:
- go to Device Manager
locate Display Adapters, and right-click on your GPU. Then select “Update Drivers” and search automatically for the driver software update.
- in Device Manager
locate Network Adapters and right-click on your Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter. Then select “Update Drivers” and search automatically for the driver software update.
Better still, update all the device drivers for your Windows 10 PC. Perhaps another unrelated device may be affecting the performance of your PC, which in turn causes the Fortnite stuttering PC issue.
There’s one more option on how to fix Fortnite lag PC issues. It’s setting Fortnite to high priority:
- go to Task Manager
locate Processes, and right-click Fortnite. Then go to Details, right-click Fortnite and set priority high.
With that, your Fortnite lag spikes PC-related problems should be solved entirely.
4. Fortnite Mac Lag Fix
You’re sure to feel frustrated when you get almost a minute of Fortnite freezing at the start of the game.
And it can get even worse, with crashes when opening the backpack, due swapping items and opening settings.
To the point that you get killed.
So, why is Fortnite laggy on Mac?
The causes could range from something as simple as your Fortnite display window to the METAL API (a hardware-accelerated 3D graphics application programming interface) developed by Apple.
To fix the problem, try these solutions:
- Set Fortnite to full-screen mode, instead of windowed mode.
- Use Windows 10 Bootcamp on your Mac to play Fortnite (this will help deal with Apple’s METAL API problem).
Do you want to learn more about the good Fortnite gameplay on Mac OSX? Check the useful tips on how to get the most out of Fortnite on Mac.
This video shows how to use Windows 10 Bootcamp on your Mac:
5. Fortnite Xbox Lag Fix
You know you have a Fortnite lag Xbox one issue when you’re running then suddenly get zapped back and forward again.
Or, in Save the World, you try harvesting something but have to swing multiple times to hit it. If you’re shooting at a monster, your blasts do no damage either.
If you have such problems, the solutions below can help:
- Check if other games are working fine on Xbox, like Elder Scrolls, Overwatch, and Titanfall. If they are, then the issue is probably related explicitly to Fortnite – not your Xbox.
- Instead of using Wi-Fi, use a cable Internet connection for your Xbox.
In situations where the problem persists, it could probably be how Xbox handles packets from and to Fortnite servers. In this case, you can opt to play Fortnite on PC.
6. Fixing Fortnite Lag after Update
You may assume that you can’t do much when you experience lag due to a Fortnite update, but you still have several options.
Such an update may make Fortnite choppy, causing a Fortnite screen glitch.
In such a situation, the FPS (frames per second) may drop from a high 60 FPS to as low as 5 FPS.
Try the below-mentioned solutions to deal with this Fortnite stutter caused by the update.
- Check and adjust your game settings (Perhaps, the update reconfigured your settings or maybe the graphics settings are too high?)
- Change to lower graphics settings.
- Select low or medium quality and a view distance of medium or far.
- Turn off shadows and anti-aliasing.
- Finally, select low textures and effects.
That’s a great Fortnite FPS fix.
But, what if your Fortnite still keeps stuttering?
The next strategy is switching to better Fortnite servers, especially if you have a Fortnite server lag.
Do this through the settings page where you can pick the matchmaking region (best to select a server in a region closest to you).
Doing that will likely solve a troublesome Fortnite graphics glitch; as well as dealing with Fortnite servers laggy problems.
Remember to keep checking the Epic Games website for the latest game patch. The company regularly releases more updates for better game performance and to fix bugs.
If you play Fortnite in the cloud (play now), you don’t have to check any Epic Games updates.
Your Fortnite FPS stutter will soon end once you apply these solutions or switch to the cloud gaming.
3. How to check Fortnite Ping?
Once you’ve sorted your Fortnite lag issue, you can take a Fortnite ping test to verify that the problem is indeed solved.
You can easily check your ping using Vortex.
Ping is a valuable Internet program that tests connectivity to determine response time. It’s measured in milliseconds (ms). The lower your ping, the better your connectivity. A range below 30 is good, but ranges in the 100s, 200s or 300s are terrible.
You can also check your ping directly in Fortnite.
Here’s how to make Fortnite show ping reports while you play:
- go to Fortnite’s settings menu, and then scroll to the Game tab.
- locate the Matchmaking Region, and you’ll see your ping near the server location.
- go to the Game tab and locate HUD to get a constant feed of your ping while playing
- Turn on Net Debug Status. This will show ping Fortnite status continually.
Having a real-time view of your ping is excellent in identifying Fortnite ping spikes, so you’re not caught off-guard. As soon as you note a ping slump, you can pause until things get back to normal.
4. What are The Additional Command Line Arguments in Fortnite?
If all else fails, you can go further to apply Fortnite Command-Line Arguments.
This involves a bit of technical knowledge, though.
So, what are Command-Line Arguments?
Command-Line Arguments are merely strings of keywords.
These keywords customize how the Unreal Engine runs, based on what you want to achieve. Ultimately, it modifies how Fortnite operates, since Fortnite is built on the Unreal Engine.
Why Is So Bad Playing Games On Mac Download
How do you apply the Command-Line Arguments?
Follow this process:
Step 1: Open the Epic Games Launcher, and click Settings. Then check Additional Command Line Arguments.
Step 2: Now paste the following content:
-USEALLAVAILABLECORES
-NOSPLASH
-PREFERREDPROCESSOR 6
-NOTEXTURESTREAMING
Note: you’ll need to change the number ‘6’ in -PREFERREDPROCESSOR 6 to the actual number of CPU cores in your gamer rig.
But what do those keywords mean?
Here’s what those keywords mean and what they do to your Fortnite settings:
- USEALLAVAILABLECORES: forces all available cores to be used on the target platform, which increased performance.
- NOSPLASH: disables use of splash image; hence, enhances efficiency when the game is. loading.
- PREFERREDPROCESSOR 6: sets the thread affinity for a specific processor.
- NOTEXTURESTREAMING: disables texture streaming; hence, you’ll always get the highest quality textures.
Once you apply these settings, your Fortnite FPS should increase. You’ll have an excellent gaming experience.
5. How to Fix Fortnite Packet Loss?
Did you think that there is nothing worse which can happen to you than Fortnite lag?
You were wrong.
There is sth which can bother you more than a lag.
You may experience Fortnite packet loss.
What is the packet loss?
Packet loss means packets of data sent from your computer to Fortnite’s servers or coming from Fortnite’s servers to your computer don’t reach.
Clearly, it’s a data transmission problem that gets worse during network congestions. Meaning, you’ll likely experience it most during the peak hours: late evening throughout the night.
You may experience as much as 30-40% packet loss, which makes your playing experience horrendous.
To deal with this, you need to identify what is causing the data transmission problem. It could be:
- psychical factors like lousy weather affecting a poorly shielded line from your building,
- pests interfering with old wires in your building,
- obstructions between your gaming rig and the router,
- or just an old, deteriorating router.
It may also be software issues, like:
- your Windows/ anti-virus Firewall blocking certain types of traffic
- driver issues in your PC
- virus/ malware,
- or even your Fortnite settings
Ultimately, it may even be your ISP (Internet Service Provider) or an issue with the Fortnite servers.
In this case, you’ll have to contact the ISP and Fortnite concerning your issue. That’s beside checking to see if a different Fortnite server will work. Some players have gone around it by using an effective VPN (Virtual Private Network), but Fortnite may ban your IP for that.
But before you do that, first check where the packet loss is happening. You can do this using ‘tracert’ on the Windows Command Prompt.
Start by checking if packet loss is occurring:
- Open Command Prompt
- Type ping -n 20 9.9.9.9. This sends a series of 20 pings to 9.9.9.9 (replace 9.9.9.9 with the address you’re testing).
- You’ll get a summary showing whether loss occurred. If none, gradually increase –n 20 to higher values: –n 50, –n 100, –n 150…
When you find packet loss, now check where it occurs:
- In Command Prompt, type tracert -d 8.8.8.8. This command traces the route to 8.8.8.8, presenting an IP address for each hop (replace 8.8.8.8 with the address you’re checking).
- If you get multiple lines ending with ‘Request timed out,’ press CTRL + C.
- You’ll see an asterisk (*) representing no response. This potentially indicates packet loss or a device configured not to respond.
- Repeat the test multiple times to be sure where loss occurs. If a particular hop frequently shows the asterisk, then the issue lies between that point and the points before and after it.
Now you know where to start rectifying the problem.
However, you can completely avoid ever experiencing Fortnite packet loss by playing Fortnite in the cloud.
Since packet loss occurs when transmitting data from your computer to Fortnite severs, gaming on the cloud eliminates the need for heavy data transmission to and from your computer. This means consistent, uninterrupted gaming.
Summary
And that’s the complete guide on how to not lag in Fortnite.
You now understand:
- The causes of Fortnite lag such as Internet connection, latency, among others.
- How to fix Fortnite lag by using cable Internet on PS4, updating drivers on PC, among others.
- How to check Fortnite ping through the settings menu.
- Using additional Command-Line Arguments to fix Fortnite lag.
- How to fix packet loss by eliminating Internet obstructions or playing your game in the cloud.
Conclusion
Using this comprehensive guide, you’ll no longer need to ask, “Why is Fortnite so laggy?”.
You have all the answers you need.
Have you found a different solution on how to speed up Fortnite? Share in the comments below.
Once the only big-time developer to consistently support Mac gaming, Blizzard disappointed us when it didn’t release Overwatch on Mac.
Every other game from Blizzard is available on Mac, so why not Overwatch? And to make matters worst, Overwatch went on to become one of the most popular and critically-acclaimed shooters in years.
And in the meantime, Mac support (or lack thereof) was never even acknowledged, until last year…
Is Overwatch ever coming to Mac?
Overwatch wouldn’t just instantly become one of the best FPS games for Mac, it would be the hottest games the platform has received in a long time. That explains why the entire Mac community went insane when a Reddit user found a way to install it on MacOS:
And even though the game was unplayable, many believed it was proof Blizzard was secretly working on it. Apple Insider went ahead and performed more tests to confirm the installer was properly signed by Blizzard and recognized by Battle.net.
The “Blizzard is working on it” theory also made sense because Jeff Kaplan, VP at Blizzard, once said:
We are open minded to it, we just need the priorities of our development process to line up with the capabilities of the platform in order for it to become a reality.
So could Blizzard be preparing for a surprise launch?
Don’t get your hopes up
Gadget 360 eventually interviewed Tim Ford, lead engineer for Overwatch, who unfortunately said:
We have no plans of giving this game on the Mac.
There are several technology decisions that Apple has made that has made it a little difficult for us to release Overwatch in the way we want it to be consumed, and that is why we haven’t pursued it.
So there you have it, Overwatch on Mac isn’t happening anytime soon. That said, there are still ways to play it on a Mac (or worthy alternatives should you refuse to use Windows).
How to play Overwatch on Mac
While we prefer to run our games natively, some games are so good, we are willing to boot Windows to play them. Overwatch is definitely one of those games.
But what is the best way to run Overwatch on Mac using Windows?
There are several methods at your disposal, each with its advantages and drawbacks:
| Method | Cost | Requires Windows license? | Requires Reboot? | Pros and Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bootcamp | Free | Yes | Yes | ✔ Great performance ❌ Constant rebooting |
| Parallels | $79.99 | Yes | No | ✔ Easy to use ❌ Limited performance |
| NVIDIA GeForce Now | $25 for 20 hours | No | No | ✔ Excellent performance ❌ Expensive |
| Wine | Free | No | No | ✔ Absolutely free to use ❌Complicated to set up |
As Bootcamp and Parallels are the most popular choices, we went ahead and tested Overwatch on both for you. We used our in-house 2014 27-inch iMac with a 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 16 GB RAM and a 2 GB Radeon R9 M290X:
All our tests were performed on Low Graphics Quality and 720p resolution (we know, these are surprisingly low settings but we wanted to give Parallels a shot):
As expected, Parallels struggled, even on Low settings, while Bootcamp, on the other hand, performed great:
Parallels: What went wrong?
Parallels is the easiest way to run Windows on Mac. There’s no need to reboot your computer and it gives you access to both MacOS and Windows at the same time. I use it all the time as it covers all of my basic Windows needs.
Parallels is often fast enough to properly run games with low requirements and the team over at Parallels went as far as to work directly with Blizzard to ensure compatibility with Overwatch.
But running two OSes simultaneously is too taxing to run a game like Overwatch. In our tests, Overwatch runs at barely 17 FPS, which is much too low to be playable.
We even configured Parallels to prioritize gaming performance, but the results were not any better.
Bootcamp: The safe bet
Unlike Parallels, Bootcamp allows you to run Windows on your Mac in the same way any other computer runs Windows: natively. If you’re looking for performance, Bootcamp is the way to go.
With Bootcamp, our 27-inch iMac runs Overwatch at a whopping 177 FPS, meaning you’d be able to easily run the game on Medium settings and 1080p or more.
What about the other methods?
There are other methods out there, such as Wine or Streaming. Both methods can work but I find Wine to be unnecessarily complicated and Streaming too expensive. In any case, whatever the method you chose, make sure your Mac meets Overwatch’s system requirements:
- Processor: Intel Core i3
- Video: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460, ATI Radeon HD 4850, or Intel HD Graphics 4400
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Storage: 30 GB available hard drive space
But what if you’re not willing to deal with Windows? Are there worthy alternatives to Overwatch on Mac?
Top Overwatch Mac alternatives
We’ve covered the best FPS games for Mac before, but if I had to recommend a few, these are our favorites:
| Game | ★ Best Overall | Best for MacBook | Best Value |
| Genre | Co-op | Competitive | Battle Royale |
| Release date | 2012 | 2012 | 2017 |
| Metascore | |||
| Our rating | ★★★★★ Full Review | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ Full review |
| Requirements | ✅ Not Demanding | ✅ Not Demanding | ⚠️ Fairly Demanding |
| Check Price |
But what if you’re looking for a hero shooter? In that case, you have two excellent options:
Paladins
While many discarded it as a free-to-play Overwatch clone, Paladins has proven to be much more than that. Most of the playable characters may be locked behind a paywall, but the game is still a lot of fun, with refined gameplay and shooting mechanics, good graphics and smooth MacOS performance.
And, did we mention it was free-to-play? Paladins is so good, it’s hard to believe it’s free. You’ll see!
Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2 basically invented the hero shooter genre. While not as fashionable as it once was, Team Fortress 2 still has one of the most active and engaging communities out there. Thousands of players still play it every day, and being another free-to-play game, you can download it and test it out for yourself.
[table “155” not found /]What’s your favorite hero shooter on Mac?
Are you a Team Fortress 2 loyal fan or are you willing to go through the trouble of using Windows to play Overwatch?