Is the problem your internet, your console, or the game server?

A step-by-step way to find out where an online problem actually is before you change anything.

Updated Sep 25, 2026

Most time wasted on connection problems goes into fixing the wrong thing. Five minutes of testing tells you which of three places the fault is in.

Step 1 — Is it one game or everything?

Open a different online game, or the store.

Only one game is affected → the game''s servers, or that game''s connection. Nothing on your side will fix it. Check the game''s official social accounts; outages are usually announced there within minutes.

Everything online is affected → continue to step 2.

Step 2 — Is the platform down?

Check the platform status page — PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo each publish one. If a service shows a problem, there is nothing to do but wait, and you can stop troubleshooting.

This is worth doing early. People rebuild databases and reset routers over an outage that was announced.

Step 3 — Is it the console or the connection?

Test another device on the same network — a phone on Wi-Fi, ideally. Load a video or run a speed test.

The phone is also slow → the problem is your internet, not the console. Go to step 4.

The phone is fine, the console is not → the problem is the console or its connection to the router. Try a cable if you are on Wi-Fi, and restart the console fully.

Step 4 — Is it your line or your Wi-Fi?

Connect a device by cable, or stand next to the router and test again.

Much better close to the router → Wi-Fi coverage is the problem, not your subscription. Moving the console or running a cable fixes it.

The same everywhere → the line itself. Restart the router, and if it persists, contact your provider.

Step 5 — Is it the time of day?

Test again late at night. If everything is fine at 2am and poor at 9pm, you are seeing peak-hour congestion. That is not something a console setting changes.