Fix Overwatch 2 Lag and Latency Problems [Updated 2023]

Overwatch 2 Lag – Who would have thought? A new Overwatch game. Well, it is not really a sequel to the original game or anything. In fact, a lot of people are saying that it is the same game. But people are calling it Overwatch 2, due to the wide array of changes, that have arrived.

Anyway, we all know how AAA releases are these days. They never ever come out without issues. And looks like Overwatch 2 is ready to join that queue. A lot of players are reporting Lag and High Latency problems in the game. The good thing is, the game is still in beta. Which gives the developers, a lot of time and user data to work with, before they go ahead and launch the full version. This guide has some basic and easy methods that will help you troubleshoot problems like lag and high latency in Overwatch 2.

How to Fix OW2 Lag and Latency Problems

1. Check the Twitter of Blizzard first

This is the first thing you should do before you go ahead and start fixing stuff. Visit the official Twitter handle of Blizzard, and check whether there is any tweet regarding the disruption of services, or not. You should notice tweets like this if there is any issue with the servers:

[Bnet] The login issues have been resolved. Thanks for your patience and sorry for any inconvenience.

— Blizzard CS – The Americas (@BlizzardCS) April 27, 2022

This Twitter handle will also help you with the Server Status of Overwatch 2. You will get to know when the Overwatch 2 servers are down.

2. Reset your network device

There is a chance that your network device might be getting flooded with data. In that case, you might have to reset it. This is also called Power Cycling. Power cycling your modem and router allow them to reset and re-establish a connection to your ISP. Here is what you need to do:

1. Turn off all your devices and computers connected to the modem/router
2. Shut down and unplug your modem, and also the router, if you’re using one
3. Keep it like that for 3 minutes
4. Plug in and turn on the modem and router, and allow them to completely boot up
5. Start the computer and allow it to completely boot up

This is a common tactic that use whenever I get connection issues in Apex Legends, as this thing is quite common there.

3. Plug-in your PC or Laptop directly to your modem

Lag is actually a very common problem with wireless connections. I use both wired and wireless, myself. And, there is a night and day difference in performance.

If you’re experiencing high latency in Overwatch 2 while using your low-speed or wireless internet connection, try plugging your computer directly into your modem. Don’t forget to close other programs that access the internet, such as other games or download programs.

4. Flush your DNS

Flushing DNS is a common method that is used for addressing network issues. Here is what you need to do:

1. Make sure OW2 is not running, press the Windows Key on your keyboard, and type CMD
2. Right-click Command Prompt
3. Select Run as administrator
4. Type ipconfig /release in the command prompt and press Enter
5. Wait a few seconds for a reply that the IP address has been released
6. Type ipconfig /renew in the command prompt and press Enter
7. Wait a few seconds for a reply that the IP address has been re-established.
8. Finally, type ipconfig /flushdns in the command prompt and press Enter
9. Close the command prompt and attempt to make a connection

5. Close Applications that are eating your bandwidth and causing Lag

We often don’t realize it, but there are a lot of background apps that we leave unattended for months. And all they do is, keep running, and keep eating bandwidth. You need to find such applications and close them. Here is how to do it:

1. Restart your PC first
2. Once you are back, right-click on your Windows taskbar, and select Task Manager, to open it
3. If your Task Manager is not showing any details, like this:
   
4. Click on More Details
5. This will bring up the detailed version of the Task Manager
6. Click on the Startup tab
7. Right-click on each item and select Disable.
8. Now, go ahead and restart your PC
9. Try running Overwatch 2 again
10. If you notice that issue has been resolved, enable the startup application one at a time to determine which one is causing the problem
11. You will need to restart between each application you enable

Here are some applications, that usually eat a lot of bandwidth:

• Razer Synapse
• Cortana
• T0rrent apps
• Launchers like Epic, Steam, etc.,
• Logitech Hub
• Lenovo Vantage
• AV software – they are constantly sending data
• Skype
• Spotify
• Xbox PC app

6. Check if you are running a VPN

I have seen a lot of people who leave their VPN on, almost all the time. The amount of data you can send and receive is not unlimited with all VPNs. Only the premium ones offer such services.

Most of the VPNs, that are in the market, at the moment, limit data transfer. Also, if you are connected to a server to a server that is far from your location. Your latency in Overwatch 2 will go through the roof. So try to keep them off, while you are playing PvP games.

7. Disable your AV Software

may prevent Blizzard software from running, installing, or patching correctly. Disabling or temporarily uninstalling your security software can help resolve these issues.

All the Antivirus Software come with a Firewall, nowadays. And these firewalls act as a filter for your connection. They don’t allow just any application to send and receive data freely.

Also, these applications

To check whether the Antivirus or Firewall is blocking you from accessing the online features of the game.

1. Open your Windows settings
2. Select Update & Security
3. Now, select Windows Security, from the left bar
4. Click on Firewall & Network Protection
5. Click on “Allow an app through firewall”
   
6. Select “Change Settings”
7. Find Overwatch, from the list
8. Check both the small boxes and click on OK

Update – April 12, 2023

So, I found a fix that a lot of users are claiming to have been working for them. It is quite weird if you ask me. But, worth a try, I guess. Now, on the Battlenet launcher, you don’t get the option to select your Region/Server for Overwatch. But, the option is available for Overwatch 1. So, here is what you need to do:

1. Select a region, other than your usual region for Overwatch 1
2. Launch the game
3. Now quit the game
4. Switch to your main region
5. Select Overwatch 2 Tech Beta
6. Launch the game

A lot of users were complaining, that they were randomly getting thrown to different regions in Overwatch 2. As a result, their Game Latency was going through the roof. And, that was causing lag. This method has not worked for everyone, though. But, I guess there is no harm in trying.

Update – October 4, 2022

Since the Overwatch 1 server just shut down, and Overwatch 2 is out. Every single Overwatch fan is trying to get into Overwatch 2. On top of that, OW2 is free-to-play. Therefore, the traffic is most probably through the roof. Also, people who have already managed to get in are experiencing a massive amount of lag. The reason for that is also related to high server traffic. Just be patient for a few hours, and devs should get things back on track.

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Try these 7 methods for now, and let me know if any worked for you or not. Overwatch 2 got released to the public, just a few hours ago, and at the time of, me, writing this article, which is on April 28, 2022, I don’t have much data on the game. With that being said, I will try to update this article frequently, with more working fixes.

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So that is all the knowledge I have on “How to fix Lag and High Latency in Overwatch 2”. If you think this guide has helped you, then let us know in the comment section below. Also, for more guides on Overwatch 2, keep an eye on Frondtech! Happy Gaming!

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That’s all folks!

Last Updated on April 12, 2023