What is input lag and how to reduce it to play better on your PC

When playing video games, one of the most frustrating issues is input lag — the delay between your action and its reflection on screen. Whether you’re using a controller, mouse, or keyboard, this latency can ruin the gameplay experience, especially in competitive or fast-paced titles. Fortunately, there are several ways to minimize input lag on your PC, though not all causes can be fully eliminated.

Understanding what input lag really means

Input lag is the delay between pressing a button and seeing the result in-game. This can feel like sluggish or delayed control and is especially noticeable in shooters, racing games, or platformers. The higher the input lag, the harder it is to respond quickly, resulting in poor performance or missed actions.

Practical ways to reduce input lag

To reduce input lag, you should start with your peripherals. Wired devices always offer significantly lower latency than wireless ones, including those using 2.4GHz dongles. If you’re using wireless gear, check battery levels — low batteries often lead to slower response times.

Next, go to your PC settings. Switch your Windows power plan to ‘High performance’, which forces the processor to run at maximum capacity. This reduces delays caused by power-saving features.

From a graphics standpoint, reduce visual settings that overload your GPU. Applications like NVIDIA App or AMD Adrenaline can auto-configure your games based on your hardware. You may also limit your frame rate to match your monitor’s capabilities, aiming for 60 FPS for action-heavy games or 30 FPS for slower-paced ones.

Lastly, consider disabling V-Sync. While it prevents screen tearing, it adds additional latency that can negatively affect gameplay.