)
How to make your broadband better for gaming
)
Want to get the most out of your broadband when you’re gaming? We’ve got you. Here’s our tips for making your broadband work better when you’re gaming online, so you can get that silky smooth gameplay you deserve
By Virgin Media Edit
- Published
- 29 August 2025
Why isn’t my broadband fast when I’m gaming?
There’s loads of things that affect your broadband when you’re gaming – no matter how fast your broadband is. While having a good broadband speed does matter, other factors like latency, ping, and package loss can all affect how your game feels, since they all impact how well your data travels between your device and the game’s servers.
Even if you have high download and upload speeds, high ping, latency or packet loss can all cause stuttering, freezing, or sudden disconnections during a match, which can be really frustrating when you’re trying to win.
Don’t forget about your WiFi quality and strength either. Wireless connections can be affected by walls, distance, and interference from other devices, and if your router is far away or the signal is weak, your connection will suffer. And that bad connection will feel even worse when other people in your household are streaming videos, downloading files, or on video calls, since everyone has to share the same bandwidth and if there isn’t enough, everything slows down.
What impacts your broadband when you’re gaming?
When your game starts lagging or freezing, it’s easy to blame slow internet speed. But there’s more to a smooth gaming experience than just how fast your broadband is. Here are the main reasons why your broadband might struggle when you’re gaming:
Download speed is one of the most important things to consider when you’re gaming since it plays big role in how your online games play and feel. A high download speed will keep your games running silky smooth, while a lower download speed can lead to issues like lag, rubber-banding, and even full-on disconnections.
Download speed also affects how quickly you can download games, updates, and patches onto your device. Many games are huge in size, so having fast download speeds means less waiting and more playing. It also helps with streaming content or watching videos while gaming.
Upload speed isn't as important as download speed for online gaming, but it is important if you stream your gameplay, share clips, or use voice chat during online games. A higher upload speed keeps your stream running smooth, and your voice clear without lag or cut-outs. It’s especially useful if others in your home are also using the internet.
Ping is a measure of how fast your device communicates with the game server. A low ping means quicker response times and less delay between your actions and what happens in the game. For competitive or fast-paced games like first-person shooters or racing games, low ping is the key to staying sharp and acting fast.
Latency is closely related to ping and refers to the delay before data starts moving between your device and the game server. Lower latency means more responsive gameplay. High latency can make games feel slow or unresponsive, especially during online matches.
Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transmitted over your network in a given amount of time. If you live with others who stream videos, work from home, or play games too, you’ll need a connection with lots of bandwidth so it can handle multiple devices at once. A fast and high-capacity broadband plan will make sure everyone gets a smooth experience without slowing you down.
Packet loss happens when small pieces of data traveling across your network don’t reach their destination fast enough. In games, this can cause stuttering, missed shots, or sudden teleporting. The best broadband for gaming should keep packet loss as low as possible for smooth and reliable gameplay.
How can I make my broadband better for gaming?
If lag, stutter, or disconnections are ruining your gaming sessions, there’s plenty you can do to fix it. Here are 10 changes you can make right no to make your broadband better when you’re gaming online:
1. Place Your Router in the Best Spot
Your router’s position matters more than most people think. If it’s hidden behind furniture, stuck in a cupboard or surrounded by thick walls, your WiFi signal will weaken. The weaker the signal, the higher the latency and packet loss – two things that kill gaming performance.
Pro tip: Place your router in an open space, ideally in the centre of your home and elevated on a shelf or table. Keep it away from large appliances and metal objects, which can interfere with the signal. If your gaming setup is far away, consider moving your router closer to your console or PC for the best results.
2. Reduce the Number of Connected Devices
Every extra device on your network uses bandwidth – even when idle. Smart TVs, streaming boxes, phones, tablets and smart home gadgets all compete for data. When too many devices are active, your game can lag due to network congestion.
Pro tip: Disconnect any devices you’re not actively using. If others in your household are streaming movies or downloading files, you may notice lag spikes. Ask them to pause during your gaming sessions or enable Quality of Service (QoS) in your router settings to prioritise gaming traffic.
3. Use a Wired Ethernet Connection over WiFi
WiFi is the best option for most people as it’s convenient, but for gaming it’s not always the most reliable option. That’s because wireless signals can be affected by walls, distance and interference from other networks, all of which can lead to your gaming sessions not being as stable as they should be if your signal gets too weak. A wired Ethernet connection eliminates these issues and provides a stable, low-latency connection, which is critical for competitive gaming.
Pro tip: If you want the fastest and strongest connection you can get, use a Cat6 Ethernet cable for the best performance. Plug your console or gaming PC directly into the router whenever possible. You’ll see a big improvement in ping and fewer random disconnects.
4. Restart Your Router Regularly
Like any device, your router needs a reboot now and then. Over time, memory leaks or minor glitches can cause slowdowns and unstable connections. Restarting your router clears temporary data and refreshes the connection to your ISP.
Pro tip: Power cycle your router by turning it off for 30 seconds, then turning it back on. Doing this once a week can help keep your connection stable. If you find you need to do this daily, it might be time to upgrade your router.
5. Upgrade to a Gaming-Ready Router
If your router is several years old, it may not handle modern broadband speeds or multiple devices well. Newer routers often include features like dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), MU-MIMO for multiple devices, and QoS settings to prioritise gaming traffic.
Pro tip: Upgrading to a newer router, ideally one that supports WiFi 6 or mesh systems, can make a noticeable difference to your speed and reliability. All of our broadband deals come with superfast Hub 3, Hub 4, or Hub 5 routers capable of supporting all of the speeds we offer – from 125Mbps to 1Gbps and beyond.
6. Close Background Apps and Downloads
Background processes can quietly eat up your bandwidth. This includes automatic game updates, cloud backups and streaming apps running in the background. Even a single download can ruin your ping and cause rubberbanding during online matches.
Pro tip: Before gaming, close unnecessary apps on your PC or console. Pause any large downloads and turn off auto-updates during play sessions. On PC, use Task Manager to check for hidden bandwidth hogs.
7. Use a WiFi Booster or Mesh system
If you can’t move your router and still experience weak signals in your gaming area, a WiFi booster or mesh system can help. Boosters amplify the existing signal, while mesh systems create multiple access points for better coverage.
Pro tip: Mesh systems are best for gamers in multi-floor homes or large spaces, as they provide seamless connectivity without dead zones.
8. Limit Bandwidth-Hungry Activities During Gaming
Streaming in 4K, uploading videos or downloading large files while gaming can cause major lag spikes. If multiple people in your home are using the internet heavily, your gaming experience will suffer.
Pro tip: Schedule big game downloads or updates for off-peak hours. Ask others to avoid streaming in high resolution while you’re gaming. If your router supports QoS, set your gaming device to “high priority” mode.
Is it time to upgrade your broadband package?
Sometimes the problem isn’t your setup – it’s the speed you’re paying for. Broadband packages are limited to a specific speed you agree on with your provider, meaning you'll only get the maximum speed your broadband is capped at.
If you’re on a basic broadband package, you may not have the bandwidth for gaming, especially if multiple people use the network at once.
At Virgin Media, we’ve got a range of superfast and ultrafast broadband deals with speeds to suit every home – from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps and beyond. If you’re not sure what you can get? Use our helpful broadband postcode checker to see all of the broadband deals that are available in your area.
Browse the Virgin Media range
)
)
)
)
Virgin Media services are only available in eligible Virgin Media network areas. All of the products on this page are subject to survey, network capacity and a credit check.
