Fix Input Lag in Valorant – Best 2025 Settings & Guide
Why Input Lag Matters in Valorant
Valorant is a highly competitive FPS where even a few milliseconds of delay can make a huge difference in reaction time, aiming precision, and movement fluidity. If your shots feel delayed or movement sluggish, you are likely experiencing input lag—the delay between pressing a key or clicking a button and the corresponding action appearing on screen.
This guide covers all the best methods to reduce input lag in Valorant, from in-game settings to hardware and network optimizations, ensuring the lowest possible delay for the most responsive gameplay.
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Reduce Input Lag Valorant
1. Optimize In-Game Settings – Reduce Rendering Delay
Your Valorant settings play a crucial role in reducing input lag. Adjust them correctly for maximum responsiveness.
Turn Off V-Sync and Limit FPS Correctly
V-Sync: Always disable it (Settings → Video → Graphics).
- Why? V-Sync synchronizes frames but introduces significant input lag due to delayed frame rendering.
Limit FPS Based on Refresh Rate:
- 144Hz Monitor → Cap at 141 FPS
- 240Hz Monitor → Cap at 237 FPS
- 360Hz Monitor → Cap at 357 FPS
- Uncapping FPS can cause microstutters. Keep the limit slightly below your monitor’s refresh rate.
Enable NVIDIA Reflex for Low Latency (NVIDIA Users)
- Settings → Graphics → NVIDIA Reflex: Set to “On + Boost”
- Why? This reduces render queue latency and ensures the lowest system input lag possible.
Best Graphics Settings for Lowest Input Lag
| Setting | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Multithread Rendering | Enabled |
| Material Quality | Low |
| Texture Quality | Low |
| Detail Quality | Low |
| UI Quality | Low |
| Vignette | Off |
| V-Sync | Off |
| Anti-Aliasing | None/MSAA2x |
| Anisotropic Filtering | 1x |
| Improve Clarity | Off |
| Experimental Sharpening | Off |
| Bloom | Off |
| Distortion | Off |
| Cast Shadows | Off |
- Why? These settings minimize render latency by reducing the GPU workload, ensuring maximum FPS and responsiveness.
2. Optimize Mouse and Keyboard for Low Latency
Your input devices (mouse and keyboard) significantly impact your reaction time and aiming precision.
Mouse Optimization – Use 1000Hz Polling Rate & Disable Acceleration
Polling Rate: Set to 1000Hz in your mouse software (Logitech G Hub, Razer Synapse, etc.).
- Why? A 1000Hz polling rate reduces input lag to 1ms, compared to 8ms at 125Hz.
Disable Mouse Acceleration (Windows Settings):
- Go to Control Panel → Mouse → Pointer Options
- Uncheck “Enhance pointer precision”
Use Raw Input in Valorant:
- Settings → Mouse → Raw Input Buffer → ON
- Why? This bypasses Windows processing for faster mouse response.
Keyboard Optimization – Reduce Input Delay
- Use a Wired Mechanical Keyboard: Wireless keyboards introduce extra latency (~5-10ms delay).
- Disable USB Power Saving Mode:
- Go to Device Manager → USB Controllers → Disable power-saving options for all USB devices.
- Turn Off RGB Effects: Fancy lighting effects can increase response time.
3. Optimize Display for Lowest Input Lag
Your monitor plays a massive role in reducing input lag.
Use a High-Refresh-Rate Gaming Monitor
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Best Monitor Settings for Low Latency
- Disable G-Sync & FreeSync:
- NVIDIA Control Panel → Manage 3D Settings → Turn Off G-Sync
- AMD Radeon Settings → Display → Disable FreeSync
- Why? G-Sync/FreeSync reduces screen tearing but adds slight input delay.
- Enable “Low Latency Mode” in Monitor OSD (On-Screen Display Menu):
- Some monitors have a Low Latency or Instant Mode. Enable it.
- Use DisplayPort Over HDMI:
- DisplayPort 1.4+ is faster than HDMI and provides lower input lag.
4. Reduce System Latency – PC & Windows Optimizations
A well-optimized system can make a huge difference in responsiveness.
Enable High-Performance Mode (Windows Settings)
- Control Panel → Power Options → High Performance
- Why? Prevents CPU from underclocking, ensuring consistent frame rates and lower input lag.
Disable Background Applications
- Close unnecessary apps (Discord, Chrome, OneDrive, etc.) in Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc).
- Turn Off Windows Game Mode:
- Settings → Gaming → Game Mode → OFF
Overclock Your Monitor (If Possible)
- Some 144Hz monitors can be overclocked to 165Hz.
- Check monitor OSD settings or use NVIDIA Control Panel.
5. Network Optimization – Reduce Online Input Lag & Latency
Since Valorant is an online multiplayer game, network latency (ping) and packet loss directly impact input lag.
Use a Wired Ethernet Connection (Avoid Wi-Fi!)
- Ethernet > Wi-Fi → A wired connection is always more stable and lower-latency.
- Use a Cat6 or Cat7 Ethernet cable for the best performance.
Enable Valorant-Specific Network Settings
- Go to Settings → General → Network
- Network Buffering → Minimum
- Packet Loss Compensation → Enabled
- Why? These settings reduce the delay between your actions and server updates.
Use Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS for Faster Server Response
- Change your DNS settings to:
- Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4
- Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1
Final Thoughts – Maximize Your Competitive Edge
Reducing input lag in Valorant requires a combination of hardware, software, and network optimizations. Even small reductions in delay can drastically improve reaction time and aiming consistency, giving you a competitive edge.
Find out how you can improve your input delay in general: Learn more.