What to do if Diablo 4 is lagging on PS5

Lag in Diablo 4 is a frustrating experience, especially on a PS5, where it feels you have fewer potential solutions. There’s always a chance that it’s just something wrong with the game on Blizzard’s end, but there are still things you can try. It’s important to note that there’s no one individual way to solve the problem for everyone. That’s just how things go with online games sometimes. However, several of these have worked for me in the past.

Lag is the most dangerous enemy if you’re playing Diablo 4 in hardcore mode on PS5 and PC, so if you can’t fix it, we definitely recommend simply logging off to avoid having to start over again. That said, we do have a few potential tips to fixing your lag issues in D4’s PS5 edition.

Tips to deal with Diablo 4 lagging on PS5

Potential tips to fix lag on PS5 edition of D4

Close the game and check for updates.
Use a wired connection instead of wireless.
Check your Router to ensure it’s 5GHz signal instead of 2.2GHz/turn on 5GHz Wi-Fi band on PS5.
Rebuild your database on your PS5.
Clear some space on your PS5.
Turn off crossplay/cross chat.

Sometimes, the simplest solution is to just turn off Diablo 4 on PS5, and check for updates. Even if there isn’t an update, this can help, because some people have suggested that the game has memory leak issues. Stopping and coming back to it after playing a few hours could certainly be a way to have a fresh, lagless experience for bosses like Grigoire and Horadric Strongrooms.

If you aren't able to use a wired setup, a 5GHz Wi-Fi signal should help (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

The #1 solution for me though when it comes to online gaming on a console or PC alike, is to use a wired connection instead of wireless. I know this isn’t going to be an ideal solution for everyone; your console may be too far away, or there may be no slots empty in your Router. However, this has ensured that I have no lag in Diablo 4 on PS5, with the occasional exception of in towns.

Checking your Router to ensure it’s on a 5Ghz signal instead of 2.2Ghz is something I’d leave to someone who is experienced with adjusting Router settings. If your Wi-Fi is already 5GHz, you may need to turn the setting on in your PS5’s settings:

Open your settings.
Select Network.
Select Settings.
Select “Set Up Internet Connection.”
Select your current Wi-Fi Network.
Press the Options button on your controller.
Select Wi-Fi Frequency.
Choose “5 GHz Only.”

This should hopefully alleviate your lag issues with Diablo 4. You can see in the screenshots above how it works, and what speeds I personally received; your internet signal will certainly vary.

Another option is to rebuild your Database on your PS5. Think of it like a Disc Defragmentation. You can do this by completing the following steps:

Shut off your PlayStation 5 via the power button.
Once the system has shut down, press and hold the power button.
Release it on the second beep.
Connect your controller with a USB cable, and press the PlayStation button on your controller.
Select “Rebuild Database.”

If all else fails, maybe turning off Crossplay for a while could help (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

You can also check how much space you have on your SDD; having a full hard drive can slow down your gameplay. Putting your games on a M.2 SSD in your PS5 can also be a great option (that's what I do) but I also understand these can be expensive and may not be an option.

As a last resort, I’d turn off crossplay and cross network communication. I only do this last, because it kind of makes the game feel a bit emptier. I’m willing to endure rubber banding in towns; as long as it doesn’t affect actual gameplay. You do this by opening the settings in-game, selecting the Connect tab, and turning off Cross-Network Play and Cross-Network Communications.

If nothing else seems to work, I recommend checking the Blizzard forums to see if anyone else has a similar issue. It could mean the developers are working on it, but the above options have worked for me in the past.

Check out our other Diablo 4 guides and features

About the author

Jason is an Esports and Gaming journalist at Sportskeeda holding an amazing 11 years of experience under his belt. Having put out 4000-plus articles and amassing over 12 million reads for Sportskeeda, he is among the company’s most experienced writers. Jason holds a Bachelor's degree in English from UNC Pembroke and was inspired to become a gaming journalist very early on in life after reading Nintendo Power.

Jason is a jack of all trades when it comes to gaming journalism. He’s a key writer in Sportskeeda's MMO department, but he also likes to help out in other categories, like streamers, RPG, card games, and whatever else is needed. A solo gamer at heart, Jason's favorite titles include Earthbound and Dragon Warrior.

Jason places high value on accuracy and relevance in his write-ups. He achieves this with thorough research to sift facts from rumors. One of the biggest highlights of his career is his interview with Canadian pro wrestler Kenny Omega about his inclusion in the Like a Dragon game series. He is also good friends with journalist Kazumo Hashimoto, who he admires for the kind of stories he works on and his deep ethics.

A true cinephile, one of Jason’s primary hobbies involves enjoying cinematic experiences. He also loves reading, be it fiction or manga, when not working. Additionally, he streams on Twitch and posts his gaming insights on YouTube.

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Edited by Jason Parker