Frequent Lag - Only on FFXIV

[lunaryskupo]

I've been experiencing terrible, unplayable lag. I'd say it started since the 17th of this month, so it's a relatively new (and terrible) experience. I doubt it's because the servers are overpopulated due to the new patches, but who knows.

As I was writing this, it dropped to 0 Sending and 0 Receiving, then jumped back up to Receiving 1055. It's constantly doing this, but literally everything else non-related to XIV is perfectly, 100% cooperative.

Information:

- PC Windows 10
- I DC'd once two nights ago in a dungeon after experiencing lag for the entirety of it. I DC'd randomly out of nowhere, no lag or anything, last night in Palace of the Dead. Other than that, it's constant terrible ping from 50-9000. It's basically unplayable.
- Wireless Comcast -- 5.0 speed
- Discord, Paint Tool Sai, Steam (game is via Steam); I've tried with no programs running, as well.
- Every single night for the past week at around 7:00pm-12:00am or later.

I haven't tried anything to solve the issue because I don't know what I can possibly do. Other MMOs don't give me any lag problems whatsoever, streaming is fine, Discord is great. I have a pretty intense desktop so it isn't as though it can't handle the game itself. I don't lag on call when I'm on FFXIV, as in my voice is not choppy and there are no signs of disconnecting, so it's specifically a FFXIV issue (I think).

Help pls.

Thank you!

Lunarys

[Kerwin]

If you are connecting to the NA servers it sounds like you get routed through NTT.

NTT is the company Square Enix employs to route internet traffic to their servers. Dating back to 2017 when the NA servers where changed to the California location, the NTT network has congested and out of date nodes that you probably hit. These nodes can't handle traffic very well and is what causes you to lag/rubberband/disconnect.

You can't do anything about it. This problem falls to Square Enix only.

A moderator will be asking you simple trouble shooting questions and providing steps to help alleviate your problems. But if you are still having issues, you now know why.

[lunaryskupo]

I saw your post about this and I'm sorry you're also going through something similar; it must be super frustrating that SE won't do anything about it. I'm curious if it is the same issue because this is something that just started for me. I haven't been able to play properly for a week and a half now; the only time I dare do things is before 8:00pm and with my significant other afterwards so he can carry us through roulette. It's seriously impacting my enjoyment of the game... and I'm a new player, and I loooove this game, so this is heckin' unfortunate.

[dark494]

I saw your post about this and I'm sorry you're also going through something similar; it must be super frustrating that SE won't do anything about it. I'm curious if it is the same issue because this is something that just started for me. I haven't been able to play properly for a week and a half now; the only time I dare do things is before 8:00pm and with my significant other afterwards so he can carry us through roulette. It's seriously impacting my enjoyment of the game... and I'm a new player, and I loooove this game, so this is heckin' unfortunate.

Do a tracert and you'll find out

[Ariellendera]

Hello lunaryskupo, Thank you for posting on the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums

The issue you are describing is most associated with interference with the game data. Most of the time, it results from certain security/privacy changes on Internet Explorer. Other times it occurs when an application that is running in the background is causing interference, such as Anti-virus software, firewalls, media players, web browsers, etc.

Please make sure all background applications (including anti-virus programs such as Norton, Kaspersky, Windows Defender, etc.) have been disabled and/or closed to minimize game interference.

Ensure that the latest version of Internet Explorer is installed on your PC (even if you don't use Internet Explorer), please do not use Edge as that is a different internet platform. Once Internet Explorer is up-to-date, please open the IE browser, open the "Tools", go to "Internet Options" and adjust the following settings:
Under the "General" tab, please delete ALL browser history.
Under the "Security" tab, please move the slider to the lowest possible settings or no higher than "Medium"
Under the "Privacy" tab, please move the slider to the lowest possible settings or to "Allow All Cookies"
Under the "Advanced" tab, please make sure that "Allow software to run or install even if signature is invalid" is CHECKED.
Make sure that all SSL and TLS (EXCEPT SSL 3.0) are CHECKED.
[SSL 3.0 should be UNCHECKED]
Hit "Apply" to save the settings, and then "OK, to close the Internet Options menu.
Right-Click on the FFXIV launcher icon and select "Properties"
Go to the "Compatibility" tab, and change the compatibility mode to "Windows 7"
Hit "Apply", then "OK" to save the changes.
Please RESTART your PC now.


Once your PC has been restarted, Right-Click the FFXIV launcher icon once more and select "Run as Administrator"

If the suggestions provided above do not resolve the issue, then there is a communication error.
Check the following Port Ranges on your router/modem to ensure that the following Port Ranges have been opened/forwarded/triggered:
▼TCP
54992 through 54994,
55006 through 55007,
55021 through 55040


your ISP may forward these ports for you.*

Thank you for playing Final Fantasy XIV! Hope to see you online.

[drebbe]

Hello lunaryskupo, Thank you for posting on the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums

The issue you are describing is most associated with interference with the game data. Most of the time, it results from certain security/privacy changes on Internet Explorer. Other times it occurs when an application that is running in the background is causing interference, such as Anti-virus software, firewalls, media players, web browsers, etc.

Please make sure all background applications (including anti-virus programs such as Norton, Kaspersky, Windows Defender, etc.) have been disabled and/or closed to minimize game interference.

Ensure that the latest version of Internet Explorer is installed on your PC (even if you don't use Internet Explorer), please do not use Edge as that is a different internet platform. Once Internet Explorer is up-to-date, please open the IE browser, open the "Tools", go to "Internet Options" and adjust the following settings:
Under the "General" tab, please delete ALL browser history.
Under the "Security" tab, please move the slider to the lowest possible settings or no higher than "Medium"
Under the "Privacy" tab, please move the slider to the lowest possible settings or to "Allow All Cookies"
Under the "Advanced" tab, please make sure that "Allow software to run or install even if signature is invalid" is CHECKED.
Make sure that all SSL and TLS (EXCEPT SSL 3.0) are CHECKED.
[SSL 3.0 should be UNCHECKED]
Hit "Apply" to save the settings, and then "OK, to close the Internet Options menu.
Right-Click on the FFXIV launcher icon and select "Properties"
Go to the "Compatibility" tab, and change the compatibility mode to "Windows 7"
Hit "Apply", then "OK" to save the changes.
Please RESTART your PC now.


Once your PC has been restarted, Right-Click the FFXIV launcher icon once more and select "Run as Administrator"

If the suggestions provided above do not resolve the issue, then there is a communication error.
Check the following Port Ranges on your router/modem to ensure that the following Port Ranges have been opened/forwarded/triggered:
▼TCP
54992 through 54994,
55006 through 55007,
55021 through 55040


your ISP may forward these ports for you.*

Thank you for playing Final Fantasy XIV! Hope to see you online.

As a network administrator, I threw up a little bit reading these recommendations. If you value your computer security:
-Don't disable Windows Defender.
-Don't "Under the "Advanced" tab, please make sure that "Allow software to run or install even if signature is invalid" is CHECKED.".
-Don't Under the "Security" tab, please move the slider to the lowest possible settings or no higher than "Medium".
-Don't Under the "Privacy" tab, please move the slider to the lowest possible settings or to "Allow All Cookies".

Shame on SE for recommending these.

[Kusanagi7]

ive been experiencing lag since early December on the EU data center. i have contacted my isp, tried their hotfix's none worked and seeing as this is the only online game this happens with (im on ps4) they dont seem to care.

[Ariellendera]

Hello lunaryskupo,

Are you still experiencing the lag? If so, have you tried the suggestions we have provided above? If you have tried all of the troubleshooting we are suggesting that you contact your ISP and make a report with them concerning the lag you are experiencing. Please keep us updated on your issue.

Thank you Hope to be of assistance.