How to reduce input lag on PC and console

Input lag is the delay between pressing a button and seeing the result on screen, and you can cut most of it with settings you already have. The biggest wins are TV game mode, a higher refresh rate, variable refresh rate (VRR) instead of classic V-Sync and, on PC, a low-latency mode such as NVIDIA Reflex or AMD Anti-Lag. Here is what to change on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Windows PCs.

Where input lag comes from

Every button press travels through a chain, and each link adds a little delay:

1. Your controller or mouse reads the input and sends it to the console or PC.
2. The game processes it, and the CPU and graphics chip render a new frame.
3. Your TV or monitor processes that frame and draws it.

Input lag is not the same as ping. Ping is the delay between you and an online game server, and a better network fixes it, not a faster TV. If your shots land late only in online matches, check your home network first; our Wi-Fi 7 vs Wi-Fi 6E guide is a good place to start.

Where the delay happens	Main fix	Platforms
TV or monitor processing	Game mode or ALLM	All
Time between frames	Higher refresh rate and frame rate	All
Frames waiting for the display	VRR instead of V-Sync	All
CPU and GPU render queue	NVIDIA Reflex or AMD Anti-Lag	PC
Controller connection	USB cable or 2.4 GHz dongle	All

Step 1: Turn on game mode or ALLM

Many TVs apply picture processing, such as motion smoothing, that suits movies but can add delay to every frame. Game mode switches the TV into a low-latency mode. Instead of making you dig through menus, HDMI Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) lets a console or PC signal the TV to switch into that mode automatically, then switch back when you start a movie.

• PS5: Go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and make sure ALLM is on. Sony notes that the TV still switches to low-latency mode whenever VRR is in use, even with ALLM off.
• Xbox Series X|S: Microsoft says the console invokes ALLM on capable TVs to turn on game mode for you.
• PC or an older TV: Turn on game mode manually in the TV’s picture settings for the HDMI input you use. Brands name it differently, so check the manual.

Step 2: Raise your refresh rate and frame rate

A higher refresh rate means each new frame reaches your eyes sooner. NVIDIA’s system latency optimization guide puts it plainly: “Increasing your Hz is the best way to reduce display latency.”

Refresh rate	Time between frames
60Hz	16.7 ms
120Hz	8.3 ms
144Hz	6.9 ms
240Hz	4.2 ms

Frame rate matters too. Microsoft notes that when a game doubles its frame rate from 60 fps to 120 fps, it halves its internal latency. Here is where to find the settings:

• PS5: Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > 120 Hz Output. Sony recommends the HDMI cable that came with the console, or an Ultra High Speed cable rated for 4K 120Hz.
• Xbox Series X|S: Settings > General > TV & display options, then Video modes under Advanced, according to Microsoft’s TV setup guide. The console’s most advanced features need HDMI 2.1, which some TVs offer only on certain ports.
• Windows: Settings > System > Display > Advanced display, then pick the highest option under Choose a refresh rate (Microsoft’s instructions). A 144Hz monitor left at 60Hz gives up most of its advantage, so it is worth checking.

In console games, a Performance mode that targets 60 or 120 fps usually feels snappier than a Quality mode locked at 30 fps. For help picking a faster screen, see our gaming monitor buying guide.

Step 3: Use VRR and get V-Sync right

Without any sync, the screen can show parts of two frames at once, a visible split called tearing. Classic V-Sync fixes tearing by making each finished frame wait for the display’s next refresh, and that waiting adds delay. NVIDIA’s guide says V-Sync “causes back pressure from the display that reverberates through the entire system.”

VRR is the better fix. According to HDMI Licensing, it makes the display wait for each frame to be ready, which “reduces or eliminates lag, judder and frame tearing.” On PC, you will see it sold as NVIDIA G-SYNC or AMD FreeSync.

Setup	Tearing	Added delay
V-Sync off, no VRR	Yes	Lowest
V-Sync on, no VRR	No	Highest
VRR, frame rate below the screen’s max	No	Low

• PS5: According to the PlayStation Blog, VRR turns on automatically in supported games when the console is connected to an HDMI 2.1 VRR display. Under Video Output > VRR, you can also apply it to unsupported games, though Sony says to switch that off if a game behaves unexpectedly.
• Xbox Series X|S: Turn on VRR in the same Video modes menu as 120Hz.
• PC: Turn on G-SYNC or FreeSync in your graphics software. NVIDIA says that on a G-SYNC monitor, keeping V-Sync on while using Reflex or its Ultra Low Latency Mode automatically caps the frame rate below the refresh rate, which prevents V-Sync back pressure.

Windows adds a layer of its own. NVIDIA recommends exclusive fullscreen mode to bypass the Windows compositor. If you prefer windowed or borderless mode, the Windows 11 setting Optimizations for windowed games (Settings > System > Display > Graphics) moves older DirectX 10 and 11 games to a newer presentation model that Microsoft says reduces frame latency.

Step 4: Turn on NVIDIA Reflex or AMD Anti-Lag

On a PC, the processor can race ahead of the graphics card and line up frames in a queue, so the image you see was built from older input. Both graphics chip makers offer a fix:

• NVIDIA Reflex: NVIDIA says Reflex reduces latency by synchronizing rendering across the CPU and GPU. If a game offers it, set NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency to On in its graphics menu. For games without Reflex, NVIDIA suggests Ultra Low Latency Mode in its driver settings, which also shortens the render queue.
• AMD Anti-Lag: The original Radeon Anti-Lag works at the driver level and is switched on in AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition. Anti-Lag 2 works inside the game, just before your controls are read, so developers must build it in. AMD lists Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2 and Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut among supported games, on Radeon RX 5000 series (RDNA 1) cards and newer.

A note on frame generation: features like DLSS Frame Generation add AI-generated frames to raise the frame rate you see, and NVIDIA pairs them with Reflex to keep responsiveness in check. If a fast-paced game feels floaty with it on, compare it with the feature switched off.

Step 5: Go wired, or pick 2.4 GHz over Bluetooth

Wireless controllers are good, but a cable is still the most direct route. Microsoft explains that on a wired Xbox Series X|S controller, “as soon as a digital state changes, the data gets transmitted.”

• PS5: Sony’s guide shows the setting: Settings > Accessories > Controllers (General) > Communication Method > Use USB Cable.
• Xbox: Plug the controller in with a USB-C cable to play wired.
• PC: Use a USB cable or the controller’s own wireless adapter before Bluetooth.

The Bluetooth-versus-dongle gap is real on many devices. Logitech’s G604 setup guide says its Bluetooth mode “has lower report rate” than its LIGHTSPEED 2.4 GHz receiver, and 8BitDo quotes a 1000Hz polling rate for its Ultimate 2 controller over 2.4 GHz and wired connections. Keep Bluetooth for phones and quick couch sessions.

If you play with a mouse, set its polling rate to at least 1000Hz in its software. NVIDIA says a 125Hz rate “adds up to 3ms of system latency on average” compared with 1000Hz. For help choosing a pad, see our game controllers explainer.

The bottom line

Start with the free fixes: game mode or ALLM, the highest refresh rate your screen supports, and VRR instead of plain V-Sync. On PC, add NVIDIA Reflex or AMD Anti-Lag wherever a game offers it, then plug in your controller or switch to its 2.4 GHz dongle. None of these steps costs money, and together they make games feel noticeably more responsive. Browse our gaming coverage for more, or find plain-English help on everything else on RedAndWhiteMagz.com.