The Nintendo Switch is one of the most innovative consoles the company has created. It is portable console that combines many elements from some of the company’s best consoles. The regular Switch has Joy-Cons that work as motion sensing devices. They are also built to work as a regular controller. They can be attacked and dethatched from the console itself.
When docked the Nintendo Switch can played on the TV. Outside the dock, it works like a handheld console. The Nintendo Switch Lite is a handheld version of the console that cannot be docked and played on the TV. The Nintendo Switch has many fun online games like ARMS, Animal Crossing New Horizons, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Pokémon Sword and Shield, Splatoon 2, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. However, many players report lag issues when using Nintendo Online. While some of this may be the server, the rest is coming from your own connection to the game; In this post we will teach you how to fix lag with a VPN.
How to Fix Lag Spikes in Nintendo Switch
Want to fix lag spikes on Nintendo Switch? If so follow these instructions.
- Sign up for ExpressVPN (includes a 30-day money back guarantee)
- Log into Expressvpn.com and go to the “DNS Settings” tab.
- Click the button to register your IP address.
- You can also set dynamic DNS (more technical users)
- Click on the “Dashboard” tab
- Look for the “Set up on all your devices” section and click on the “see all devices” link.
- Click on the set up guide for your console. ExpressVPN MediaStreamer supports PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One. They also have a YouTube video to help Nintendo Switch users get set up.
- Make note of the IP address given in the set up box to the right of the screen.
- Set the DNS on your console to the IP given on the ExpressVPN site.
Why Does Nintendo Switch Lag?
The popularity of Nintendo Switch is both a blessing and a curse. As we mentioned, you will playing with users with differing Internet connection speeds. If you have performance issues when using the Internet in general then you can expect lag spikes when playing games on The Switch. The two main considerations for lag are your Internet speed and hardware. PC gamers will want to focus on CPU, memory, and graphics card. Everyone needs a fast Internet connection.
More Tips to Fix Lag Spikes on Switch
Let’s start by looking at the best way to increase your Internet speed and lower ping times. In doing so you can expect less lag and a better gaming experience. The first step I would take towards trying to improve this is connecting your Switch through a LAN cable. It will provide you a faster and more consistent speed. If this does not work, we recommend testing a VPN to improve ping and reduce your lag. The key is to find a better route between your system and the game server. Your ISP isn’t focused on this issue as much as VPN providers. They know that it’s a competitive advantage if they can offer you a faster router to key locations. Most of the game developers host regional game servers in the same locations. This allows VPNs to offer better routes and will give you a boost in performance.
Nintendo Switch Server Locations
Nintendo’s online service is called Nintendo Online. The company has not released where they keep their servers. However, many companies use services like AWS. Based off of this and where other companies host their games, we can recommend specific VPN servers locations based on the region you wish to play in.
Here are some key VPN servers locations for ExpressVPN.
- United States – Washington DC and Los Angeles
- Europe – London, Paris, Frankfurt, Stockholm
- Asia Pacific – Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney
- South America – Sao Paulo
- China – Hong Kong
Here is a little more information on using a VPN for gaming.
How to Play Nintendo Switch games with ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our choice for fixing lag. All you will have to do is connect to a server location close to where the game is hosted. ExpressVPN has 160 server locations throughout the world for you to choose from. Gaming companies like Electronic Arts, Bethseda, Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo use similar hosts. Some of the most popular hosts are Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS). ExpressVPN has servers located close to these data centers. This will give you a closer connection to the game and improve your experience. You will be able to reduce ping and fix lag by using ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN can help improve your ping and reduce lag in online games. It will also protect your data through encryption. ExpressVPN has an exclusive discount with our readers that you can take advantage of. You can get a full year of VPN for 49% off with an extra 3 months for free. You will be able to save on your favorite games. Unblock geo-restricted content and get around firewalls at work or school to play anywhere. ExpressVPN gives you a 30 day money back guarantee. You can test out the service for one month and see all the benefits it provides.
