PUBG: Battlegrounds players have reported the “Network lag detected” error on Steam and Reddit for years. One PUBG player’s Reddit post described that error like this: “The game (PUBG) gives me the “Network lag detected” message. When it stabilizes itself and goes back to normal I click the button to reconnect it just keeps giving me the same prompt and won’t let me get back in.” It is a gaming error that disconnects some players from PUBG matches. This is how you can fix the PUBG “network lag detected” error on Windows PCs.
Verify the PUBG Game
First, try repairing the game files for PUBG: Battlegrounds by verifying its files. Some players say doing this has fixed the PUBG “Network lag detected” error for them. If you’re a Steam user, you can verify PUBG’s files as instructed on this help page for Valve’s game client. This Epic page tells how users can verify game files with the EGL client.
The Verify integrity of game files
Execute DNS Flush and Winsock Reset Commands
Inconsistent network configurations on your PC can cause many game network issues to occur, such as the PUBG “network lag detected” error. Executing DNS flush and Winsock reset commands can sometimes address such issues. This is how you can execute commands for flushing the DNS cache and Winsock catalog.
- To access the file finder tool, hold the Windows logo key and press S.
- Next, search for the Command Prompt by entering a cmd keyword.
- Open Command Prompt with elevated privileges by right-clicking that app within the search tool and selecting Run as administrator.
- Next, input an ipconfig /flushdns command and hit Enter to execute.
The ipconfig /flushdns command
- To reset the Winsock catalog, execute the netsch winsock reset command.
Set a Cloudflare DNS
Your PC has a pre-set DNS you can change to variable alternatives. Try changing that to a Cloudflare DNS for better performance and reliability. You can switch your DNS to Cloudflare like this.
- Activate the search box for finding files in Windows.
- Enter ncpa.cpl in the file finder and click the search result that matches the keyword input.
- Right-click the adapter for the internet network and select its Properties context menu option.
- Double-click the label text for the Internet Protocol Version 4 setting.
- Next, select the radio button for Use the following DNS server addresses to activate additional settings.
- Enter the Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 value in the Preferred DNS box.
- Next, type in 1.0.0.1 into the Alternative DNS box.
The Use the following DNS server address
- Click OK to apply the modified DNS settings.
Disable Windows Firewall
Firewalls that interfere with software and game connectivity can feasibly cause the “network lag detected” error. So, try disabling the firewall on your PC before playing PUBG to see if that makes any difference. If you don’t have a third-party firewall, you’ll need to disable Windows Defender Firewall by going through the steps on this Microsoft site page.
Should this potential fix work, I don’t recommend leaving the firewall permanently turned off. Turn the firewall back on after playing PUBG: Battlegrounds. Or try adding the TslGame.exe file to that firewall. Microsoft’s support page about allowing apps through the firewall includes instructions for how to do that.
The Windows Defender Firewall Control Panel applet
Reset Your PC’s Network
Finally, try resetting the network settings on your PC for a last-resort potential fix for the “Network lag detected” error. This potential fix reinstalls network adapters and other components to a default configuration. You may need your internet password to re-establish a connection after applying this solution. These are the steps for applying for a network reset.
- Bring up the file search box in Windows.
- Type network reset into the file finder tool.
- Click Network reset to bring up that option in Settings.
- Press Reset now and click Yes to confirm.
The Reset now button
- Select the Windows 11/10 Restart option.
I hope one of those potential solutions fixes the PUBG “Network lag detected” error on your PC. Nothing is guaranteed to fix this gaming issue, but the potential fixes covered above have worked for some players. If you need more potential solutions, try sending a support ticket to the game’s help service by clicking Submit a request on this PUBG page.
