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How to fix Diablo 4 lag using a VPN in 2025


The long-awaited Diablo 4 launched in June 2023. Since then, it has become one of the most successful Blizzard Entertainment games, with around 10 million copies sold. But not all players got to enjoy it. Some reported bugs and server lag that deterred them from giving season 2 a chance.

Season 2 came with a batch of bug fixes, keeping player retention relatively high. However, some players still report Diablo 4 lag and rubberbanding. This article will discuss the potential causes of these issues and guide you through effective solutions. One of which is the use of a VPN.

How to fix Diablo 4 lag with a VPN – quick steps

diablo-4-vpn
  1. Get a swift gaming VPN. Currently, the fastest VPN service on the market is NordVPN
  2. Set up your VPN on your PC, gaming laptop, or console
  3. Connect to a VPN server before launching the game
  4. Enjoy Diablo 4 without lag

How can a VPN fix Diablo 4 lag?

Diablo 4 no longer restricts players to their region, but it still assigns them to random servers in that region. Some of those might be experiencing issues, leading to lagging and rubberbanding. Leaving the game, connecting to a VPN server in another nearby location, and starting your game again could solve the problem.

The reason it’s useful to select a nearby VPN server is because it would make the game assign you to a different, potentially better game server. But because of the short distance between the two, your network speed retention will remain very high.

It’s also useful to get a VPN for Diablo 4 if you intend to select different regions from the one you are in. The VPN could decrease the distance between your IP address and the game server, resulting in less laggy connectivity.

Another reason that you’re experiencing lag is DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks. Diablo 4 already suffered from a pretty severe one that left the game unplayable for hours. There’s no reason to believe it will not happen again. A VPN could protect your device during an attack and help secure your data.

Lag might also be caused by the game exceeding your bandwidth. Online ARPG games like Diablo 4 put pressure on your network. If the network can’t handle the amount of data being transmitted, your ISP will throttle the connection, leading to lag and other issues. A VPN has servers in many different locations worldwide, so by connecting to one, you would bypass the bandwidth limitations.

Solve Diablo 4 server lag with NordVPN
In an ARPG game like Diablo, lagging can really suck out all the enjoyment. Rubberbanding can also cause the game to misidentify you as a bot, resulting in a ban. NordVPN can help avoid overcrowded servers and bandwidth limitations, resulting in a far more enjoyable gaming experience.
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Why is Diablo 4 lagging?

Lagging wasn’t much of an issue upon Diablo 4’s original release. But a lot of players who didn’t experience lag upon the initial launch started having issues after Season 2 came out. With season 3 coming out soon, it’s a good chance to identify the most common reasons for Diablo 4 lag issues:

  • High latency/high ping. When it takes too long for a network to deliver data, usually due to overcrowded servers (hence, more data to transfer), your ping shoots up. High latency always results in lag. Fortunately, there are many ways to lower latency.
  • Poor server connection. Overcrowding or other kinds of technical problems might cause the whole server to lag or even crash.
  • Throttled connectivity. If you’re exceeding your bandwidth or your ISP is deliberately throttling your connectivity speed, it will take longer for any action to load. That would result in lagging and rubberbanding.
  • Old hardware. Outdated graphics card or old PC/laptop/console have lower frame rate (FPS). Even if you have superior network speed, your device could still struggle to run Diablo 4. In that case, you would experience lag without having any connectivity issues.
  • Multiple apps running in the background. If your specs and internet connection are not the issue, maybe you just have too many programs/apps running in the background. They can overwork your computer or console and cause lag.
  • Slow network. If your internet connection speed is usually up to 30Mbps, it might really struggle with a game like Diablo. The game will take longer to load; actions will take longer to complete, overall causing Diablo 4 to lag.
  • Game bugs/glitches. If you go step-by-step through our troubleshooting guide, and your device and network are in order, then it’s worth considering that something might be wrong with the game itself. Luckily, with enough player backlash, these problems tend to be addressed in the following updates.

Why is Diablo 4 lagging on different devices?

If you ruled out any other issue, it’s worth consulting with the community to determine the problem. Diablo 4 forums are a good place to find solutions to specific problems you might face. You can report your issue and get advice from other players who encountered or even resolved it, as well as tips from Blizzard Entertainment tech support. For your convenience, we selected the most common problems that people on different devices face.

Why is Diablo 4 laggy on Windows?

If you have a gaming laptop or a PC that runs on Windows, there are multiple reasons why Diablo 4 might be lagging. Here are the most common ones, as reported by other players:

  • Server issues. This is a cross-platform issue that affects the majority of Diablo 4 players. Server errors, crashes, and overcrowding seem to be the main reasons why players experience lag and rubberbanding. Selecting a different region or using a VPN to change your IP address could help you get assigned to a different, hopefully better, server.
  • Ping spikes. This can be caused by you or by the game’s systems. If you haven’t downloaded the latest version of Windows or have apps/programs running in the background, it could cause your ping to shoot up. If that’s not the case, it could be a game bug, too. Try shutting down all unnecessary programs and apps and restarting the game.
  • Cross-play. Diablo 4 cross-play allows you to play with your friends who use different gaming platforms. Unfortunately, a lot of users report that this function causes severe lag and VRAM spikes. Opting for single-player mode should decrease the chance of lagging.
  • Unsuitable settings. You may have set your graphic settings too high, which puts pressure on the hardware. Your graphics and other drivers might need updating, too. Tweaking the settings, like lowering graphic settings, and updating the drivers could help solve this issue.
windows-settings-screenshot

Why is Diablo 4 laggy on Xbox or PlayStation?

Consoles may be designed for the sole purpose of gaming, but they’re not immune to issues. Some Xbox, PS4, and PS5 users reported lagging unrelated to connectivity issues. Here are the possible reasons for Diablo 4 lag on consoles:

  • Ping spikes. If you have any games or apps running in the background (for example, if you didn’t switch off the application when you exited it), your ping shoots up and causes a severe lag. However, it might also happen due to overcrowded servers. If you notice your device overheating, the game crashing, or a severe lag - it’s best to restart the console.
  • Incompatible settings. Some players managed to fix their lag issues by switching from a lower frequency to a 5GHz network. For PS4 users, if that doesn’t work, try factory resetting the console and manually updating the system via safe mode. That should make the game run significantly smoother. For PS5 users, the issue might be that the console offers a higher definition than the game can support. In that case, simply lowering the graphics should improve it.
  • Co-op. Playing with others, even if they also have the same console as you, seems to cause rubberbanding and lagging. Unfortunately, the only way to avoid this problem is to play solo.
  • Your game server is too far. If you live in the US but choose your region as Europe, your game server will be too far from your actual IP location, causing lag. A VPN could help solve this problem, as it would place your IP in the region of your choice. It’s a better alternative, especially when NordVPN has speed retention of around 90%.

Why is Diablo 4 laggy on Android or iOS?

Diablo 4 is available on your Android or iOS smartphones and tablets if you use Steam Link, Xbox Remote Play, or PS Remote Play. If you experience lagging or rubberbanding, here are the potential reasons why:

  • Your phone or tablet can’t handle the game. Diablo 4 cannot be downloaded to be played on your phone or tablet, but it’s still possible to play it if you have Steam Link or console Remote Play. But because it takes an extra link for you to be able to play on your phone (PC/console → Steam Link/Remote Play → Smartphone/Tablet), the game would naturally take longer to load and perform set actions.
  • Background apps or programs interfering. Android and iOS phones or tablets are always running some programs in the background, for example, social media apps. This could lead to your device hogging bandwidth which could cause lag.
  • There’s an issue with the host. To play Diablo 4 on your smartphone or tablet, you still need to have a gaming laptop, PC, or gaming console that your phone or tablet would then connect to via Steam Link or Remote Play. It also means that any issue with the main device or home network could cause the game to crash or severely lag.
  • Your device memory is full. If your smartphone’s or tablet’s internal memory is already full or mostly full, then you might have a problem launching the game or having it run smoothly.

5 ways to fix Diablo 4 lag: troubleshooting guide

We picked a mix of solutions that could solve the main issues that cause lagging:

1. Use a VPN

Many of the problems you’re encountering can be solved using a VPN. A Virtual Private Network can help you get assigned to a less buggy or crowded server. It also assists in avoiding throttling by bypassing the bandwidth limitations. A VPN also helps to protect your device from DDoS attacks. You can set up a VPN in a few simple steps and on any device.

2. Optimize your network

Rule out all problems related to your internet connection by resetting your network devices. Also, make sure to renew your IP and flush your DNS. Using a VPN can help with that, as you would be assigned a new IP address when you connect to a different server. Finally, make sure your device is directly plugged into your router, as the wireless connection is less stable.

3. Update your game and operating system

Make sure you don’t have any updates pending on your device or in the game. Even if you have a brand-new device, there might still be updates pending that you should install. In the case of Diablo 4, every update comes with a bug fix that could help resolve your problems.

4. Close all other apps and programs

The more things you have running in the background, the likelier it is to experience problems while gaming. Make sure there are no downloads happening and no other programs running. Sometimes, you might not even be aware that some other game is updating, so it’s worth checking to avoid network latency.

5. Check if your device matches the spec requirements

If your device is too old to run Diablo 4, there’s really no way to bypass this problem but to get an upgrade. If your device does not meet the hardware requirements of Diablo 4, then you will certainly experience a variety of problems.

However, most of the time, you might only need to change the rendering and power modes. Making sure your settings match the ones required by the game is the best way to prevent compatibility issues, such as lag. Additionally, changing the power mode will ensure a smoother distribution of power between different hardware components, thus allowing your device to run better while playing Diablo 4.

power-mode-screenshot

Fixing lag on Diablo 4 – final thoughts

There are many reasons why you may be experiencing lag while playing Diablo 4. But there are equally many ways to fix it. There are three main principles to follow to avoid lag (or minimize it) while playing Diablo: play it simple, keep your device up to date, and keep an eye on your GPU.

Avoid Remote Play, Crossplay, or co-op. This might make a game slightly less enjoyable, but it’s far better than having your game crash or lag, at least till the cross-play glitch is resolved. Instead of choosing a region in the game, use a VPN, such as NordVPN, to change your IP address and get a new, less crowded, or buggy server.

Also, check that your network is stable and fast, connect via LAN rather than Wi-Fi, install all of the updates, and don’t let unnecessary apps and programs run in the background. If your laptop, PC, or console starts to overheat or if it sounds like a plane about to take off – it’s likely that your VRAM is going through the roof. Ignoring it might lead to your game crashing, so it’s best if you simply restart your device.

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