Troubleshooting WiFi Connectivity Issues for Online Gaming on Mobile Legends, Clash of Clans, and PUBG

Have you ever noticed that while your online games load perfectly fine over mobile data, they struggle or don't work at all over WiFi? Don't worry; you are not alone. Many gamers face this common issue. Here are a series of steps you can take to identify and troubleshoot your WiFi connectivity issues, specifically for games like Mobile Legends, Clash of Clans, and PUBG.

Checking Your WiFi Connection

The first step is to ensure that your WiFi setup is robust and reliable. Your connection can be affected by various factors, including:

Signal Strength: Ensure that you are within range of your WiFi router. Weak signals can lead to connectivity issues. Move closer to the router to improve the signal strength. Interference: Other electronic devices like microwaves or cordless phones can interfere with WiFi signals. Try to position your devices away from these sources to minimize interference.

Restarting Your Devices

Restarting both your router and gaming device can be a straightforward yet effective way to clear temporary issues. Here's how:

Router: Unplug your router for about 30 seconds and then plug it back in. This simple action can help refresh the connection and resolve any transient problems. Device: Restart your smartphone or gaming device to clear out any temporary software glitches or cached data that might be causing issues.

Updating Your Router Firmware

Keeping your router firmware up to date is crucial for optimal performance and stability. Here’s how you can check for updates:

Log into your router's settings via your web browser. Look for an option called 'firmware', 'software update', or similar. If an update is available, install it following the on-screen instructions.

Updated firmware can often resolve known issues and improve your gaming experience.

Changing WiFi Channel

Your router may be using a crowded channel, which can affect your WiFi performance. Here's what you can do:

Access your router settings. Look for an option related to 'WiFi channels' or 'client isolation'. Switch to a less crowded channel, especially if you are on the 2.4 GHz band.

Choosing a less congested channel can help reduce interference and improve your connection quality.

Enabling QoS Settings

If your router supports Quality of Service (QoS), enabling it can help prioritize gaming traffic and reduce lag. Here's how:

Access your router settings. Look for a section called 'QoS', 'traffic control', 'parental controls', etc. Enable QoS and set a high priority for gaming traffic.

QoS can help ensure that your gaming traffic receives preferential treatment over other types of internet traffic, improving your experience during gameplay.

Checking for Network Restrictions

Your router might have settings that block specific types of traffic. Here’s what you can do to check and adjust:

Log into your router's settings. Look for options related to 'parental controls', 'network control', or 'firewall'. Ensure that there are no settings that might be blocking gaming traffic.

Removing any network restrictions can help your games work properly over WiFi.

Testing with a Different Device

It can be helpful to test a different device to see if the issue is specific to your current device or the WiFi network:

Connect another device (e.g., a tablet or computer) to the same WiFi network. Attempt to load and play the games. See if the same issues persist. If the other device works fine, the issue might be with your gaming device.

This test can help you pinpoint if the problem lies with your gaming device or the WiFi network itself.

Adjusting DNS Settings

Changing your DNS settings to public DNS services like Google DNS (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1) can sometimes improve connectivity:

Check your router’s DNS settings. Modify the DNS to one of these public DNS services. Sometimes, router firmware might have a DNS management section where you can change these settings.

Public DNS services are often faster and more reliable, which can improve your connection during gaming sessions.

Managing Network Congestion

If multiple devices are using the WiFi simultaneously, it can slow down your connection. Here's how you can manage this issue:

Limit the number of devices using the WiFi network while you are gaming. Avoid activities that consume significant bandwidth, like streaming videos or downloading large files, during gaming time.

Reducing the number of devices and activities on the network can help improve your gaming experience.

Contacting Your ISP

If none of the above solutions work, there might be an issue with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Contacting them can provide you with additional assistance:

Call your ISP's customer support. Explain the issue and ask if they are aware of any known issues with your connection or network. They might offer solutions or services to help improve your gaming experience.

ISP customer support can provide insight into network-wide issues or offer more advanced troubleshooting steps.

Conclusion

By systematically following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issues preventing you from playing online games over WiFi. If problems persist even after trying these solutions, it might be worth considering upgrading your router or internet plan to enhance your gaming experience.

Remember, the key to successful online gaming relies on a stable and high-speed connection. The more you understand and optimize your internet setup, the better your gaming experience will be.