Elden Ring Online Lag Fix: How to Stop PvP Desync and Co-op Disconnects

Why Elden Ring’s P2P Netcode Punishes High Ping Players

Elden Ring’s peer-to-peer multiplayer architecture means every millisecond of latency directly impacts PvP combat timing and co-op stability. When your ping exceeds 80ms, phantom range becomes severe—enemies hit you from impossible distances while your attacks register 200-300ms late. The FromSoft engine’s rollback netcode can’t compensate for connections above 120ms, causing backstab fishing exploits and making parry timing unreliable.

How to Check If You Have a Lag Problem

Elden Ring doesn’t display ping in-game, but you can identify network lag versus FPS issues through specific symptoms. Network lag manifests as delayed hit registration, enemies teleporting short distances, and summon signs taking 5+ seconds to appear. FPS lag shows stuttering movement and choppy animations but attacks register immediately.

Test your baseline connection using Windows Command Prompt. Press Windows+R, type “cmd”, then run these commands:

• ping 8.8.8.8 -t — Google DNS baseline (should be under 30ms)
• ping steam-api.steampowered.com -t — Steam infrastructure test
• tracert 8.8.8.8 — Identifies routing bottlenecks

For Elden Ring specifically, your connection quality determines multiplayer performance:

• Under 50ms ping: Optimal PvP, instant summon sign detection
• 50-80ms ping: Minor phantom range, occasional desync
• 80-120ms ping: Noticeable hit delays, frequent backstab issues
• Over 120ms ping: Severe desync, connection errors every 2-3 minutes

Monitor your frame rate using MSI Afterburner or RTSS overlay. Elden Ring’s physics engine ties to framerate, so drops below 50 FPS cause input lag that mimics network issues. Enable the framerate counter through Steam overlay (Settings > In-Game > In-game FPS counter) or use NVIDIA GeForce Experience Alt+Z overlay.

Check packet loss by running ping google.com -n 100. Any packet loss above 0% indicates network instability that will cause disconnections during co-op sessions. Jitter above 10ms (visible in detailed ping results) creates unpredictable hit registration timing.

Essential Network Optimization

Configure Optimal DNS Servers

Replace your ISP’s DNS with faster alternatives to reduce initial connection establishment time. Open Network Connections (Windows+R, type “ncpa.cpl”), right-click your active connection, select Properties, highlight “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)”, click Properties.

Set these DNS addresses:

• Primary: 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare)
• Secondary: 8.8.8.8 (Google)

For gaming-optimized DNS, use:

• Primary: 208.67.222.222 (OpenDNS)
• Secondary: 208.67.220.220 (OpenDNS)

After changing DNS, flush your cache: Open Command Prompt as administrator and run ipconfig /flushdns followed by ipconfig /renew.

Port Forwarding for Elden Ring

Elden Ring requires specific ports open for optimal P2P connections. Access your router’s admin panel (typically 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and forward these ports to your PC’s IP address:

TCP Ports:

• 27015-27030
• 27036-27037

UDP Ports:

• 4380
• 27000-27031

Find your PC’s IP using ipconfig in Command Prompt—look for “IPv4 Address” under your active connection. Set static IP reservation in your router to prevent the IP from changing. Navigate to DHCP settings and bind your PC’s MAC address to a specific IP (usually 192.168.1.100-192.168.1.199 range).

Enable UPnP and DMZ Configuration

Enable UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) in your router settings under Advanced > NAT Forwarding or similar. This allows Elden Ring to automatically open required ports. If summon signs still don’t appear, place your gaming PC in DMZ temporarily to test if restrictive NAT is the issue.

For persistent NAT issues, configure these router settings:

• NAT Type: Open or Type 1
• SIP ALG: Disabled
• Gaming Mode: Enabled (if available)
• QoS Gaming Priority: Highest for your PC’s MAC address

Optimize MTU Size

Incorrect MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) size causes packet fragmentation and increased latency. Find optimal MTU by running ping tests with different packet sizes:

ping google.com -f -l 1472

Reduce the number after -l until you get replies without fragmentation. Add 28 to that number for your optimal MTU. Standard values:

• Ethernet: 1500 MTU
• PPPoE (DSL): 1492 MTU
• Some Cable ISPs: 1450-1480 MTU

Set MTU in Network Adapter Properties > Configure > Advanced > Jumbo Packet or use Command Prompt: netsh interface ipv4 set subinterface “Local Area Connection” mtu=1500 store=persistent

Quality of Service (QoS) Configuration

Configure router QoS to prioritize Elden Ring traffic. Most modern routers support gaming prioritization through these methods:

Gaming Accelerator/Adaptive QoS: Enable gaming mode and set your PC as highest priority device. Look for “Gaming Accelerator” on ASUS routers, “Smart Connect” on Netgear, or “Advanced QoS” on Linksys.

Bandwidth Allocation: Reserve minimum 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload specifically for your gaming PC. Set maximum bandwidth limits on other devices during gaming hours.

Traffic Prioritization: Set these priorities in your QoS settings:

• Gaming/Interactive: Highest priority
• Streaming: Medium priority
• File Downloads: Lowest priority

Wired Connection Requirements

Wi-Fi adds 10-40ms latency and introduces packet loss that makes PvP unplayable. Use wired Ethernet exclusively for Elden Ring multiplayer. If wireless is unavoidable, optimize these settings:

Wi-Fi Adapter Settings:

• Channel Width: 20 MHz (reduces interference)
• Preferred Band: 5 GHz only
• Roaming Aggressiveness: Lowest
• Power Management: Disabled

Position yourself within 15 feet of the router with direct line-of-sight. Use 5 GHz channels 36, 40, 44, or 48 to avoid congestion from neighboring networks.

Related: Game Lag Fix: Every Cause of In-Game Lag Solved for PC and Console

ISP Routing Optimization

Poor ISP routing can add 50-100ms to your connection. Use traceroute to identify bottlenecks: tracert 8.8.8.8. Look for hops with consistently high latency (over 100ms) or timeouts.

Contact your ISP if you see routing through distant cities. For example, East Coast players routing through West Coast servers, or traffic going international unnecessarily. Request routing table updates or ask to be moved to different infrastructure.

Consider these ISP-specific optimizations:

• Comcast/Xfinity: Disable “Advanced Security” and “xFi Advanced Security”
• Verizon FiOS: Use Ethernet to ONT, bypass router’s Wi-Fi QoS
• AT&T: Disable “Smart Home Manager” traffic monitoring
• Spectrum: Request removal from CGNAT if available

Optimal In-Game Settings Configuration

Graphics Settings for Network Performance

Elden Ring’s frame rate directly affects network timing due to physics engine integration. Configure these settings in Settings > System > Graphics:

Screen Mode: Full Screen (not Borderless)

Resolution: Your monitor’s native resolution

Frame Rate: Maximum (60 FPS cap is hardcoded)

V-Sync: Off (use RTSS for frame limiting instead)

Quality Settings for Stable 60 FPS:

• Texture Quality: High (minimal performance impact)
• Antialiasing Quality: High
• SSAO: Medium
• Depth of Field: Medium
• Motion Blur: Off (improves input clarity)
• Shadow Quality: Medium
• Lighting Quality: Medium
• Effects Quality: Low
• Volumetric Quality: Low
• Reflection Quality: Medium
• Water Surface Quality: Medium
• Shader Quality: Medium
• Global Illumination Quality: Medium
• Grass Quality: Medium

Disable Ray Tracing Completely

Ray Tracing in Elden Ring causes frame drops below 60 FPS, which disrupts network timing. Set Raytracing Quality to Off. Even RTX 4090 users should disable ray tracing for multiplayer to maintain consistent frame times.

Network-Specific Game Settings

In Settings > Network:

Launch Setting: Play Online

Cross-Region Play: Perform Matchmaking (expands player pool)

Send Summon Sign: Enable

Enable Voice Chat: Disable (reduces bandwidth usage)

The game automatically determines region matching based on your IP location. There’s no manual server selection, but enabling Cross-Region Play allows connections to players with slightly higher ping for more invasion opportunities.

Audio Configuration for Network Performance

In Settings > Sound and Display:

Device for Playing Game Audio: Use dedicated audio device, not USB headsets that share bandwidth

Master Volume: Adjust as needed

Sound Effects: Medium (reduces CPU audio processing)

Music: Low (frees CPU cycles for network processing)

Voice: Medium

Disable spatial audio and surround sound processing. Use stereo output for lowest latency audio processing.

System-Level Optimization

GPU Driver Configuration

NVIDIA Users (GeForce Experience/Control Panel):

Open NVIDIA Control Panel > Manage 3D Settings > Program Settings > Add Elden Ring executable.

• Power Management Mode: Prefer Maximum Performance
• Low Latency Mode: Ultra (requires RTX cards) or On
• Max Frame Rate: 60 (prevents engine physics issues)
• Monitor Technology: G-SYNC (if available)
• OpenGL Rendering GPU: Your gaming GPU
• Shader Cache: On
• Texture Filtering: High Performance
• Threaded Optimization: On
• Triple Buffering: Off
• Vertical Sync: Off

Install latest Game Ready drivers through GeForce Experience, not Studio drivers. Enable “Optimal Power” in GeForce Experience settings.

AMD Users (Adrenalin Software):

Open AMD Radeon Settings > Gaming > Global Settings:

• Anti-Lag: Enabled
• Radeon Chill: Disabled
• Radeon Boost: Disabled
• Image Sharpening: Disabled
• Enhanced Sync: Disabled
• Wait for Vertical Refresh: Off
• OpenGL Triple Buffering: Off
• Shader Cache: AMD Optimized

Windows Power Plan Optimization

Open Control Panel > Power Options and select “High Performance” or “Ultimate Performance” (if available). Create a custom plan with these settings:

Click “Change plan settings” > “Change advanced power settings”:

• Processor Power Management > Minimum processor state: 100%
• Processor Power Management > Maximum processor state: 100%
• PCI Express > Link State Power Management: Off
• USB Settings > USB selective suspend: Disabled
• Wireless Adapter Settings > Power Saving Mode: Maximum Performance

Disable Windows “Fast Startup” in Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do > Change settings that are currently unavailable > Uncheck “Turn on fast startup”.

Process Priority and CPU Affinity

Launch Elden Ring, then open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc). Navigate to Details tab, find “eldenring.exe”, right-click and select:

Set Priority: Above Normal (not High, which can cause system instability)

Set Affinity: Uncheck CPU 0 and CPU 1 (reserves them for system processes)

For CPUs with 8+ cores, bind Elden Ring to cores 2-7, leaving 0, 1, and the highest numbered cores for Windows and background processes.

Disable Game Mode and Xbox Features

Windows Game Mode can interfere with Elden Ring’s network timing. Press Windows+I, go to Gaming:

• Game Mode: Off
• Captures > Record in the background: Off
• Game Bar: Off
• Xbox Game Bar: Disabled completely

Uninstall Xbox app and Xbox Game Bar through Settings > Apps if not needed for other games.

Background Application Management

Close these bandwidth-consuming applications before playing:

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• Web browsers (especially Chrome with multiple tabs)
• Steam downloads (pause all downloads)
• Windows Update (pause updates for 35 days)
• OneDrive/Google Drive sync
• Spotify/music streaming (switch to offline mode)
• Discord video calls (voice only is acceptable)

Disable Windows Update delivery optimization: Settings > Update & Security > Delivery Optimization > Allow downloads from other PCs > Off.

Network Adapter Advanced Settings

Open Device Manager > Network Adapters > Your Ethernet Adapter > Properties > Advanced tab:

• Interrupt Moderation: Disabled
• Receive Buffers: 512
• Transmit Buffers: 512
• Speed & Duplex: Auto Negotiation (unless you have connection issues)
• Flow Control: Disabled
• Large Send Offload V2 (IPv4): Disabled
• Large Send Offload V2 (IPv6): Disabled
• TCP Checksum Offload (IPv4): Disabled
• TCP Checksum Offload (IPv6): Disabled
• UDP Checksum Offload (IPv4): Disabled
• UDP Checksum Offload (IPv6): Disabled

These settings reduce network adapter processing overhead and improve consistency.

Advanced Configuration Tweaks

Registry Modifications for Network Performance

Press Windows+R, type “regedit”, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Multimedia\SystemProfile:

Modify these DWORD values:

• NetworkThrottlingIndex: ffffffff (disables network throttling)
• SystemResponsiveness: 00000000 (prioritizes games over system tasks)

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Multimedia\SystemProfile\Tasks\Games:

• GPU Priority: 00000008
• Priority: 00000006
• Scheduling Category: High
• SFIO Priority: High

Reboot after making registry changes.

TCP Window Scaling and Receive Window

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run these commands:

netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=normal

netsh int tcp set global chimney=enabled

netsh int tcp set global rss=enabled

netsh int tcp set global netdma=enabled

netsh int tcp set heuristics disabled

netsh int tcp set global rsc=enabled

These commands optimize TCP stack behavior for gaming traffic patterns.

Steam Launch Options

Right-click Elden Ring in Steam Library > Properties > Launch Options. Add these parameters:

-high -USEALLAVAILABLECORES -malloc=system

• -high: Sets high CPU priority automatically
• -USEALLAVAILABLECORES: Utilizes all CPU cores
• -malloc=system: Uses Windows memory allocator instead of game’s allocator

Easy Anti-Cheat Optimization

EAC can interfere with network performance. Navigate to Elden Ring installation folder > EasyAntiCheat > EasyAntiCheat_Setup.exe. Run as administrator and select “Repair Service”.

Add EAC processes to Windows Defender exclusions:

• EasyAntiCheat.exe
• EACService.exe
• eldenring.exe
• start_protected_game.exe

Navigate to Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Exclusions > Add or remove exclusions.

Frame Rate Cap Implementation

Elden Ring’s 60 FPS cap is inconsistent. Use RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) for precise frame limiting:

Download RTSS with MSI Afterburner. Set these RTSS settings:

• Framerate Limit: 60.000
• Detection Level: Medium
• Show Own Statistics: Off (reduces overlay overhead)
• Scanline Sync: Disabled

This prevents frame time inconsistencies that affect network timing.

Console-Specific Optimizations

PlayStation 5 Network Settings

Navigate to Settings > Network > Settings > Set Up Internet Connection:

Primary DNS: 1.1.1.1

Secondary DNS: 8.8.8.8

MTU Setting: Manual – 1450

Proxy Server: Do Not Use

Go to Settings > Network > Connection Status > Test Internet Connection. Look for these target values:

• Download Speed: 25+ Mbps
• Upload Speed: 5+ Mbps
• NAT Type: Type 1 or 2

Enable UPnP on your router if NAT Type shows Type 3. Forward these ports specifically for PS5:

• TCP: 80, 443, 3478-3480
• UDP: 3478-3479

Xbox Series X/S Network Optimization

Go to Settings > Network > Network Settings > Advanced Settings:

IP Settings: Manual

DNS Settings: Manual

Primary DNS: 208.67.222.222

Secondary DNS: 208.67.220.220

MTU: 1450

Test network connection and ensure NAT Type shows “Open”. If showing “Moderate” or “Strict”, forward these Xbox Live ports:

• TCP: 3074
• UDP: 53, 88, 3074, 53, 500, 3544, 4500

Enable “Instant-On” power mode for background updates, but disable “Allow wake timers” to prevent interruptions during gaming.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I keep getting “Connection Error” messages during co-op?

Connection errors occur when packet loss exceeds 1% or when your NAT type is restrictive. Test packet loss using ping google.com -n 100 in Command Prompt. Enable UPnP on your router and forward TCP ports 27015-27030, 27036-27037 and UDP ports 4380, 27000-27031 to your PC’s IP address. If errors persist, temporarily enable DMZ for your gaming device to test if firewall rules are blocking connections.

My summon signs aren’t appearing even with password matchmaking. How do I fix this?

Invisible summon signs indicate NAT traversal issues between players. Ensure your router has UPnP enabled and consider switching to a wired connection if using Wi-Fi. Change your DNS to 1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8, then flush DNS cache with ipconfig /flushdns. Enable Cross-Region Play in Network settings and make sure both players are within 20 soul levels of each other for co-op compatibility.

Why does PvP feel laggy even though my internet speed is fast?

Internet speed doesn’t determine gaming performance—latency and packet consistency do. Run ping 8.8.8.8 -t and look for ping values under 50ms with minimal variation. High jitter (ping jumping between 30ms and 80ms) causes inconsistent hit registration. Contact your ISP if you’re routing through distant servers, disable Wi-Fi if possible, and set your network adapter’s interrupt moderation to disabled in Device Manager.

How do I reduce phantom range and backstab fishing in PvP?

Phantom range worsens with ping differences between players. Ensure stable 60 FPS using RTSS frame limiting, disable V-Sync, and use a wired connection. Set Elden Ring’s process priority to “Above Normal” in Task Manager and bind it to CPU cores 2-7 (avoiding cores 0-1). Lower graphics settings like Effects Quality and Volumetric Quality to “Low” to maintain consistent frame times, which directly affects network prediction accuracy.

Should I use a VPN to improve Elden Ring’s connection?

Most VPNs add 20-50ms latency and should be avoided for gaming. However, if your ISP routes traffic inefficiently (check with tracert 8.8.8.8), a gaming VPN with servers near your location might reduce ping by 10-15ms. Only use VPNs with dedicated gaming servers and WireGuard protocol. Test without VPN first—if your ping to game servers is already under 50ms, VPN will only make performance worse.