How to Fix FFXIV Lagging When Talking to Retainers or Using Emotes

Final Fantasy XIV generally runs smoothly, but occasional lag can occur, especially when interacting with retainers, NPCs, or using emotes. This guide explains potential causes and solutions.

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What Causes Lag in FFXIV During Retainer/NPC Interactions and Emotes?How to Troubleshoot Lag in FFXIV

What Causes Lag in FFXIV During Retainer/NPC Interactions and Emotes?

Lag in FFXIV, particularly during interactions or emote use, can stem from several factors:

• High ping or unstable internet connection: A weak or distant connection significantly impacts responsiveness.
• Overloaded servers: High player traffic or server issues can cause delays.
• Emote synchronization: Emote animations require server synchronization with other players in your instance, leading to potential lag if delays occur. Poor PC performance can also contribute to emote lag.

How to Troubleshoot Lag in FFXIV

Assuming your PC meets FFXIV's recommended specifications, try these troubleshooting steps:

1. Verify internet stability: Ensure a stable and strong internet connection.
2. Check server proximity: Playing on a geographically distant server (e.g., a North American server from Oceania) can increase ping and cause lag. Consider transferring to a closer server if necessary. While high ping doesn't always cause problems, it can contribute to lag spikes.
3. Account for server overload: Server congestion is common during major updates, expansions, or after security breaches. In such cases, patience is key; the issue will likely resolve itself.

This concludes our guide to resolving lag in FFXIV during retainer/NPC interactions and emote use. For more FFXIV tips, including Dawntrail patch updates and Alliance Raid coverage, check out The Escapist.