Steam initially released on September 13th, 2003. The platform was created by Valve Corporation as an online store. Now it has grown to be a place where PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android players purchase and play games. It is one of the biggest marketplaces with tons of games. Steam hosts Valve games like TF2, indie develop games like Shovel Knight and Undertale, and major developers games like Gears 5 and Grand Theft Auto. With so many users worldwide, there is bound to be lag issue. Server lag is only part of the problem, most of it comes from your connection to Steam. In this post we will teach you how to fix lag with a VPN. We will provide suggestions for PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.
How to Fix Lag Spikes in Steam
Here is the quickest way to improve Steam lag on PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.
- Sign up for ExpressVPN (includes a 30-day money back guarantee)
- Download the ExpressVPN app and connect to a server in the region you wish to play in.
- Test to see if your ping has lowered from your normal response time.
- Launch Steam and enjoy!
You can also use ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer service for a faster experience.
- Sign up for ExpressVPN (includes a 30-day money back guarantee)
- Log into Expressvpn.com and go to the “DNS Settings” tab.
- Click the button to register your IP address.
- You can also set dynamic DNS (more technical users)
- Click on the “Dashboard” tab
- Look for the “Set up on all your devices” section and click on the “see all devices” link.
- Click on the set up guide for your system.
- Make note of the IP address given in the set up box to the right of the screen.
- Set the DNS on your system to the IP given on the ExpressVPN site.
Why Does Steam Lag?
The popularity of Steam is both a blessing and a curse. As we mentioned, you will playing with users with differing Internet connection speeds. If you have performance issues when using the Internet in general then you can expect lag spikes when playing games on Steam. The two main considerations for lag are your Internet speed and hardware. PC gamers will want to focus on CPU, memory, and graphics card. Everyone needs a fast Internet connection.
More Tips to Fix Lag Spikes in Steam
Let’s start by looking at the best way to increase your Internet speed and lower ping times. In doing so you can expect less lag and a better gaming experience. We recommend testing a VPN to improve ping and reduce your lag. The key is to find a better route between your system and the game server. Your ISP isn’t focused on this issue as much as VPN providers. They know that it’s a competitive advantage if they can offer you a faster router to key locations. Most of the game developers host regional game servers in the same locations. This allows VPNs to offer better routes and will give you a boost in performance.
Steam Server Locations
Valve has not released the server provider they use to host steam. They have said that their are servers worldwide. We did find a Reddit forum in which people have theorized that Valve uses many server providers for the different parts of the platform. Based off this information we can recommend better game locations.
Here are some key VPN servers locations for ExpressVPN.
- United States – Washington DC and Los Angeles
- Europe – Franfurt and London
- Asia Pacific – Sydney, Singapore, and India
- South America – Sao Paulo
- Africa- South Africa
Here is a little more information on using a VPN for gaming.
How to Play Steam games with ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our pick for best VPN to reduce lag. It will allow you to improve your gaming experience on a variety of devices. You will be able to install an easy to use app for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch users can enhance their game play by using the ExpressVPN app on compatible routers or taking advantage of MediaStreamer. The MediaStreamer service is available for all ExpressVPN users and it works on many devices. It allows you to increase your speed even further. However, it does not give you the extra privacy protection a VPN will offer you. ExpressVPN will allow you to make your game faster on many devices.
We’re excited to share an exclusive discount on ExpressVPN for our readers. You can save up to 49% off a year of VPN and receive an extra 3 months of free VPN. Enjoy unlimited access to both their VPN network and MediaStreamer service. Save on your favorite games and reduce lag. Protect against DDoS attacks and unblock restrictions at school or work. ExpressVPN offers a 30 day money back guarantee so you will have a month to test their VPN and experience all the benefits of the service.
