How Can I Remote Play My PS5 Without Lag?

The dream of playing your favorite PS5 games anywhere, anytime, is made possible by Remote Play. However, that dream can quickly turn into a frustrating nightmare if plagued by lag. Nobody enjoys delayed inputs, choppy visuals, or sudden disconnections. So, how can you achieve a smooth, lag-free Remote Play experience? The solution isn’t always straightforward, but it’s often a combination of network optimization and adjusting your settings. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you.

The most effective way to reduce lag in PS5 Remote Play is to improve your network connection and lower your video quality settings. This involves ensuring you have a stable and fast internet connection, minimizing bandwidth usage by other devices on your network, and adjusting the resolution and frame rate in the Remote Play app. Prioritizing a wired connection whenever possible is also crucial. Let’s break down these factors in detail:

Optimizing Your Network Connection

Broadband Speed and Stability

First and foremost, your internet connection is the foundation of your Remote Play experience. Sony recommends a minimum of 5 Mbps for Remote Play, but for a truly smooth experience, you’ll want at least 15 Mbps. This is particularly important for upload speed, as that’s what sends the video feed of your gameplay from your PS5 to your remote device. The closer you are to 15 Mbps (or higher) upload speed, the better. The ideal upload speed for Remote Play would be 9 Mbps or faster.

• Check your internet speed: Use online speed testing tools to verify your upload and download speeds.
• Contact your internet provider: If your speeds are below the recommended threshold, consider upgrading your internet plan or troubleshooting with your provider for any connection issues.
• Minimize Network Traffic: Other devices on your network consuming significant bandwidth while you’re trying to use Remote Play can lead to lag. Activities like downloading large files, streaming videos, or online gaming on other devices can all contribute. If possible, limit these activities or perform them when you’re not using Remote Play.

Wired vs. Wireless Connection

A wired connection, using an Ethernet cable, provides a more stable and consistent connection than Wi-Fi. If your PS5 is connected to your router via Wi-Fi, consider switching to a wired connection if possible. This will drastically reduce packet loss, resulting in smoother gameplay and less lag.

• Connect your PS5 with ethernet: If possible, plug your PS5 directly into your router.
• Test Wi-Fi performance: If a wired connection is not an option, ensure you are using the 5 GHz band on your router. The 5 GHz band is faster and less prone to interference than the 2.4 GHz band, which is often more crowded. Position your router in an open area with minimal obstructions and try to move closer to it if the device you’re using for Remote Play is using WiFi.

Router and Network Optimization

Your router’s performance can also impact your Remote Play experience.

• Restart your router: Periodically restarting your router can help clear any temporary issues and improve performance.
• Router firmware: Ensure your router’s firmware is up to date. Outdated firmware can cause performance issues and security risks.
• Quality of Service (QoS): If your router supports it, use QoS settings to prioritize network traffic for your PS5 and Remote Play devices. This can ensure that gaming data takes precedence over other activities.

Adjusting Remote Play Settings

Lower Video Quality

Lowering the resolution and frame rate in the Remote Play app will significantly reduce the amount of data that needs to be streamed, making the experience smoother, especially on slower or unstable connections.

• Access video quality settings: On the Remote Play app, go to Settings (usually a gear icon). Look for Video Quality for Remote Play.
• Resolution: Set your Resolution to Standard (540p) or Low (360p) if you are experiencing severe lag.
• Frame Rate: Set the Frame Rate to Standard (30fps). Although 60fps is preferred for a smoother experience, a stable and consistent 30fps is better than a jittery and inconsistent 60fps.

Remote Play Device Optimization

• Close unnecessary programs: On your remote device, close any unnecessary programs or background processes to free up system resources, which can improve overall device and network performance.
• Device updates: Ensure your Remote Play device has the latest operating system and app versions installed.

Additional Tips

• Play on Local Servers: For online games, playing on servers closer to your location will lower latency.
• Minimize Input Latency: To reduce controller input delay, connect your controller via cable if possible.
• Clear PS5 Cache: Clearing the system software cache on your PS5 can sometimes resolve performance issues. You can do this via the PS5 settings menu.

By addressing these key factors, you can significantly improve your PS5 Remote Play experience and enjoy smooth, lag-free gaming, no matter where you are. It might involve some trial and error to find the optimal settings for your specific setup and network, but the effort will be worth it when you’re enjoying your favorite PS5 games without frustrating interruptions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What’s the difference between upload and download speed? Why is upload speed important for Remote Play?

Download speed is how fast you receive data from the internet, while upload speed is how fast you send data to the internet. For Remote Play, upload speed is crucial because your PS5 needs to send the live video and audio feed of your gameplay to the device you’re using. If your upload speed is slow, you’ll experience lag.

2. Can I use Remote Play on mobile data? Is it recommended?

Yes, you can use Remote Play on mobile data. However, it’s often not as stable as Wi-Fi and can consume a large amount of data. If you’re not careful, you can use up your data allowance very quickly. It’s recommended to use Wi-Fi whenever possible for a more stable and affordable connection.

3. What is a good latency for Remote Play?

Ideally, your latency should be below 40ms. Anything below 100ms is generally acceptable for gaming. Higher latency values result in noticeable lag, making gameplay frustrating.

4. Does changing to performance mode on PS5 affect Remote Play?

Switching to the PS5’s Performance Mode prioritizes higher frame rates over resolution on the PS5. In terms of Remote Play you’ll want to consider this in conjunction with your quality setting on the Remote Play App. It’s more important to get a smooth experience on the remote device.

5. What is a “Chiaki” and should I use it?

Chiaki is a third-party, open-source Remote Play client, offering alternative solutions to the official Remote Play app. Some users have reported better performance with Chiaki, depending on the platform they are using it on and their hardware. If you are having trouble with the official Remote Play app, Chiaki might be worth looking at as a last resort solution.

6. Is a 5 GHz Wi-Fi band always better than 2.4 GHz?

Not always, but for gaming, the 5 GHz band is usually better because it can handle higher speeds and less interference. The 2.4 GHz band has a longer range, so if you need distance, it may be necessary to use it instead. If you are having problems with lag, experiment with both.

7. Can I achieve 4K streaming with Remote Play?

PS5 Remote Play does not directly support 4K streaming across all platforms. It does support 4k streaming on select devices such as the Chromecast with Google TV (4K Model) and the BRAVIA XR A95L TVs. However, you can often get a high-quality picture on other devices by optimizing your network and settings as discussed previously. If you do not have a 4k device you are more likely to get a better experience with a more manageable video quality.

8. Can I play my PS5 away from home?

Yes, you can Remote Play your PS5 from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. This is the beauty of Remote Play—you can access your PS5 games from a computer in another room, or from your phone while away from your home as long as both devices have a network connection.

9. How can I make my controller work better for remote play?

If possible, you should connect your controller to the device you are using for Remote Play via a cable. This will reduce input delay and make it easier to control games. The controller should always be fully charged before starting any gaming session.

10. Can I change the resolution on my PS5 itself to improve Remote Play?

Changing the resolution of your PS5’s display output, through Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, does not affect the streaming resolution of Remote Play, which is separately managed within the Remote Play app itself.

11. What happens if my internet connection is unstable while using Remote Play?

An unstable connection will cause interruptions in Remote Play. This will cause lagging, dropped frames, or disconnections. To avoid this, focus on maintaining a stable wired connection wherever possible, and use the tips in this guide.

12. Is PS5 Remote Play better on a PC than on a smartphone?

This can depend on the processing power and network capabilities of your devices. Generally speaking, PCs can provide a more stable Remote Play experience due to their better processing, and greater availability of a wired connection.

13. What does “packet loss” mean?

Packet loss occurs when data packets traveling over a network fail to reach their destination. This can cause stuttering, lag, and other issues in Remote Play. A stable wired connection usually has a lower rate of packet loss than Wi-Fi.

14. What is the minimum upload speed I need for a smooth remote play experience?

While a minimum of 5Mbps is required to run PS Remote Play, an upload speed of 9Mbps or higher is optimal.

15. What does “latency” mean?

Latency is the delay between an action and the reaction it causes. For gaming it means the time it takes for you to input a command with your controller and for it to be shown on your screen. Low latency is critical for a smooth gaming experience, and a good latency level is considered to be below 40ms. Anything above 100ms will cause noticeable lag.