Dead by Daylight lag, input lag, and stuttering can completely ruin the immersive and competitive experience of the game. Whether you’re a survivor looping the killer or the killer trying to maintain pressure, every second matters. In this guide, we break down all the major causes and solutions for lag, covering everything from system performance, in-game settings, network tweaks, and advanced fixes. Follow these steps to dramatically reduce lag and restore smooth gameplay.
What Causes Lag in Dead by Daylight?
Before we fix the problem, it's essential to understand what type of lag you’re experiencing:
Network Lag (High Ping or Latency): Causes teleporting, rubber-banding, and delayed actions.
FPS Lag (Low Frames Per Second): Makes the game choppy, slow, and hard to control.
Input Lag: Delay between pressing a button and the action happening on screen.
Each type requires different fixes, and we cover them all in this guide.
Minimum and Recommended Requirements for Dead by Daylight
To eliminate performance-based lag, ensure your system meets or exceeds these specs.
Minimum Requirements:
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: Intel Core i3-4170 or AMD FX-8120
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: DX11 Compatible GeForce GTX 460 / AMD HD 6850
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Recommended Requirements:
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 3 3200G
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: DX11 Compatible GeForce 760 / AMD HD 8800
Storage: SSD strongly recommended
If you fall below these specs, upgrade your hardware or optimize game settings.
Optimize In-Game Settings to Reduce Lag
Tweaking in-game settings is one of the most effective ways to fix Dead by Daylight lagging.
Display Settings
Resolution: Set to your monitor’s native resolution. If lag persists, lower it.
Window Mode: Use Fullscreen for the best performance.
Frame Rate Limit: Set to Uncapped or match your monitor's refresh rate.
Graphics Settings
Set these to Low or Medium for best performance:
Quality Preset Level: Low
Anti-Aliasing: Off
Post-Processing: Low
Shadows: Low
Textures: Medium (Low if VRAM is limited)
Effects: Low
Foliage: Low
Apply and restart the game after changes.
Fix Input Lag in Dead by Daylight
Dead by Daylight input lag can feel like sluggish or delayed controls. Here’s how to reduce or eliminate it.
1. Enable V-Sync Cautiously
If you’re experiencing screen tearing, enable V-Sync.
But if input lag is your main concern, disable V-Sync and use G-Sync or FreeSync instead if your monitor supports it.
2. Set Mouse Polling Rate to 1000Hz
High polling rates reduce input delay. Use software from your mouse manufacturer to adjust this setting.
3. Turn Off Motion Blur
Motion blur increases latency. Disabling it leads to crisper visuals and faster feedback.
4. Set Display to Game Mode
If you're using a TV or a monitor with various display modes, enable Game Mode to prioritize low latency over picture quality.
Update GPU Drivers and Optimize Your System
Outdated drivers are a top reason for Dead by Daylight lag.
1. Update Graphics Drivers
Use your GPU software to update to the latest version:
NVIDIA Users: GeForce Experience
AMD Users: Radeon Software
2. Use Driver Talent for Automated Driver Updates
Driver Talent is a powerful, user-friendly tool designed to automatically scan, download, and install the most compatible and up-to-date drivers for your system. Unlike manual updates that can be time-consuming and error-prone, Driver Talent eliminates guesswork and ensures your GPU, chipset, network adapter, and other critical components are running at peak efficiency.
With just a single click, Driver Talent can:
Detect outdated, missing, or corrupt drivers
Install WHQL-certified versions to guarantee system stability
Back up existing drivers before updating
Offer repair solutions for malfunctioning drivers
3. Clean Up Your System
Disable unnecessary startup apps.
Clean temporary files using Disk Cleanup or CCleaner.
Ensure your system is not overheating (monitor with HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner).
Fix Network Lag in Dead by Daylight
If you're teleporting, rubberbanding, or actions are delayed, you're suffering from network lag. Fix it with the following methods.
1. Use a Wired Ethernet Connection
Wi-Fi is convenient but less stable. A wired connection ensures consistent ping and reduced latency.
2. Close Background Applications
Applications like:
Steam downloads
Google Chrome
Torrent clients
Cloud backup services
...all consume bandwidth and cause high ping. Close them while gaming.
3. Set Dead by Daylight to High Priority
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc)
Right-click Dead by Daylight under the Processes tab
Click Go to details, then right-click the process
Choose Set Priority > High
This allocates more system resources to the game.
4. Change Your DNS Settings
Switching to a faster DNS can reduce connection delays:
Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8 (Google)
Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4 (Google)
Or use Cloudflare:
Primary: 1.1.1.1
Secondary: 1.0.0.1
5. Use a Gaming VPN
If your ISP is throttling traffic, a gaming VPN like ExitLag or NoPing can reduce ping and improve routing.
Advanced Windows Optimizations
Disable Fullscreen Optimization
Right-click DeadByDaylight-Win64-Shipping.exe in the game’s installation folder.
Select Properties > Compatibility.
Check Disable Fullscreen Optimization.
Click Apply.
Set Power Plan to High Performance
Go to Control Panel > Power Options
Select High Performance
If on a laptop, keep it plugged in while playing
Disable Game Bar and Background Recording
Go to Settings > Gaming > Game Bar
Toggle off Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast
Then go to Captures and disable background recording.
Monitor and Test Ping and FPS
Use in-game debug tools or software like RTSS (Rivatuner Statistics Server) and MSI Afterburner to monitor FPS and frame times.
To check ping:
Use Resource Monitor (resmon in Run dialog)
Use ping and tracert in Command Prompt to test game servers and routes
Final Fixes: Reinstall or Repair the Game
If all else fails:
1. Verify Game Files:
Open Steam
Right-click Dead by Daylight > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files
2. Reinstall the Game:
A fresh install can remove corrupt configuration or shader cache files.
Conclusion: Eliminate Lag and Play Smoothly
Dead by Daylight lag, input lag, and network lag can all be fixed by combining the right system optimizations, network adjustments, and in-game tweaks. By following the steps above, you’ll experience smoother chases, cleaner hits, and responsive controls.
For a faster and more stable gaming environment, we strongly recommend using Driver Talent to keep all drivers updated and your system optimized. Download Driver Talent now to instantly improve system responsiveness and reduce lag in Dead by Daylight.
