How to Fix Heroes of the Storm Lag in 2024

What is lag in games?

Lag occurs when there’s a delay between when you press a button and the on-screen response and it’s caused by sluggish or unstable connections. It can have a big impact on your game performance, making you miss that crucial game shot.

What is packet loss in HotS?

It’s what happens when the ping on your system is very high or your data gets lost between you and the game server.

When information gets lost, your gameplay on Heroes of the Storm (HotS) will be affected.

What are the different types of lags and their origins?

Lag comes in different forms and has a variety of causes. Keep reading to learn more.

Packet loss

If you experience poor responsiveness while playing a game, that’s packet loss.

When you play a game online your local system sends packets of data to the online game server, which then sends information back to your system. The amount of time it takes the information to travel is called ping.

When your ping is very high, or the packet of information never reaches its destination, it can ruin your gameplay.

The problem could be hardware or network-based.

Stutter

Stutter is when your game freezes in choppy, and unpredictable ways, making it almost impossible to play Heroes of the Storm, where every second counts.

Your problem could be hardware-related like insufficient power to the CPU or GPU, misconfigured RAM speed or Windows settings, outdated drivers and BIOS, or too many background programs and downloads running at the same time. It could also be a network issue.

Microstutter

A microstutter refers to small, irregularities in your frames per second (FPS) which affects your graphics quality more than your play, especially when playing in high graphics settings.

The cause of a microstutter could be either hardware or network-related.

Rubberbanding

If you find your characters bouncing around the screen like they are attached to a rubber band, that’s called rubberbanding, and it makes it nearly impossible to play the game.

If you are experiencing rubberbanding, you are facing a network-related form of lag and not a hardware issue.

How to fix lags when gaming (including Heroes of the Storm lag)

Don’t let lag ruin your gameplay. Whether the problem is with your hardware or your network, you can find a solution to your lag in the section below.

Hardware solutions

Lag issues that are hardware-related are more common when using a PC. Here are some relevant solutions to a variety of hardware problems.

 Check to see if your device has all of the hardware specs and system capabilities recommended by Blizzard for the game Heroes of the Storm including your RAM, CPU, GPU, and memory. The more RAM you’ve got, the more your device can process at once.

 Go through the process of a hardware test to check for hard drive issues.

 Restart your computer to remove any background interference.

 Make sure your graphics settings are up to date and configured properly.

 Adjust your graphic settings. Lowering the graphics options will decrease the demands on your hardware and allow the game to run more smoothly.

 Make sure your graphic drivers are up to date. You can do this by uninstalling and re-installing your GPU driver.

 Optimize your GPU driver to improve gaming performance and graphics quality.

 Disable sound enhancement by clicking on the sound icon in your toolbar and closing any unused sound devices.

 Install the latest BIOS version of your motherboard hardware.

 Disable all background programs, and downloads that are not relevant and may be slowing your computer down.

Network solutions

If your network is the root of your lag problems, try these simple fixes.

 Switch from a Wi-Fi connection to a wired ethernet connection for a faster and more stable connection.

 Free up bandwidth by pausing other streams and downloads while gaming.

 Bypass ISP slowdowns with a premium VPN.

Use a VPN

Lag caused by Heroes of the Storm running slow due to ISP throttling or overcrowded servers can be eliminated with the help of a high-quality VPN. Just follow these simple steps.

1. Subscribe to a high-quality VPN, like ExpressVPN.
2. Install the app on your PC or game device.
3. Open the app and connect to one of the servers close to home.

3 best VPNs for fast & stable Internet connection (Fix packet loss & stutters)

Looking for the best VPN to eliminate lag while you play online games like Heroes of the Storm? Read on to find out all you need to know about the three best VPNs for online gaming.

1. ExpressVPN

The number one VPN for getting rid of lag, increasing your FPS, and improving your gameplay is ExpressVPN. It is one of the fastest VPNs on the market, and a fast connection is the key to a smooth gaming experience.

With over 3000 servers available in more than 94 countries worldwide, you’ll never have to worry about ISP throttling or overcrowded servers slowing your connection down. The less distance your data has to travel, the better, and with ExpressVPN’s vast network, you’ll have no problem finding one close to home.

ExpressVPN is compatible with all major devices including PCs, mobile devices, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and routers. Plus you can connect up to 5 devices at the same time.

The VPN is easy to set up and use on your own, but if you find you need a helping hand, just reach out to the 24/7 live chat support.

There are a lot of factors that can contribute to lag while you play online games, but you might as well give a VPN a try. It’s an easy solution, and if it doesn’t eliminate your lag, just cancel within the first 30 days and get your money back.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN is a great value, offering premium service at a lower cost than ExpressVPN.

NordVPN servers are fast enough for smooth gaming and there are over 5700 servers in more than 60 countries around the world protecting you from internet traffic slowdowns and ISP throttling which can lead to lag. Don’t forget to select one of the locations close to home for the fastest connections.

With NordVPN, you can use up to 6 different devices at the same time, and the app is compatible with just about any device including your personal computer, mobile devices, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and routers.

This user-friendly VPN comes with 24/7 live chat support to help you optimize your VPN for great gaming speeds.

If you find that NordVPN isn’t fixing your lag issues and improving your gameplay, cancel within the first 30 days of use and get a full refund.

3. Surfshark

Improve your gaming and get rid of lag without having to spend a lot with Surfshark, a high-performing budget VPN.

Surfshark has over 3200 servers in more than 100 countries in-network, so it’s easy to avoid the overcrowding on servers that contribute to lag, and you won’t ever have to worry about ISP throttling ruining your games. Plus, you can easily find a close server, to keep the distances your data travels low, and your speeds high.

You can use an unlimited number of devices simultaneously with Surfshark VPN, and it’s compatible with all major devices and operating systems including desktops, laptops, mobile devices, gaming consoles, and routers.

If you need any help using Surshark to improve your games and get rid of your lag, just reach out to the 24/7 live chat support for some free advice.

If you find Surfshark isn’t improving your lag issues, you can cancel your subscription within 30 days and get a full refund.

Can I use a free VPN to fix Heroes of the Storm lag?

Free VPNs don’t typically have what it takes to get rid of lag. The main reason a VPN can help with lag is by providing faster connections, and since most of the free VPNs are overcrowded, and limit data, bandwidth, and speed, they can actually make your lag worse!

How to get rid of HotS packets loss with a VPN (Step-by-step)

Don’t let lag ruin your gameplay. Here’s how to use a VPN to play all your favorite games without lag getting in your way.

1. Subscribe to a high-quality VPN, like ExpressVPN.
2. Download the VPN app onto your device.
3. Open the app and select one of the servers close to your current location.
4. Give it a try to see if your problems are fixed.

FAQs

Conclusion

Nothing can ruin your gameplay while you’re trying to enjoy Heroes of the Storm more than lag! One of the most common contributing factors to this problem is a slow internet connection, which you can easily remedy with a high-quality VPN, like ExpressVPN.