How To Fix Dota 2 Lagging, FPS Drops, and Freezing During Gameplay

After updating Dota 2 many players on Reddit complained about lagging, FPS drop issues during team fights. Dota 2 needs to be updated to use its features like a new hero, map changes, bug fixes, etc. Unfortunately, for many players, Dota 2 lagging, FPS drop, and freezing issues pop up after the Muerta update.

The most recent major update named “The New Frontiers” AKA Muerte update is reported to have caused these performance issues.

Before attempting these fixes, we would recommend that you check if your PC meets the minimum requirements to play Dota 2 and that you have a stable internet connection. Make sure you’re running the latest GPU drivers. If you’re running any bandwidth-hungry app in the background then disable it as well.

Although, Valve’s official updates have fixed these issues for many players if you are still dealing with these Dota 2 lag spikes even if your internet is fine then, we recommend that you try one of our unofficial fixes gathered from multiple sources mentioned below.

How to Fix Dota 2 Lagging, FPS Drops, Freezing During Gameplay

1. Switch to an Ethernet (LAN) Cable

Dota 2 requires a stable internet connection for smooth gameplay. While Wi-Fi is great for browsing, streaming videos, and downloading switching to a wired (LAN) connection is highly recommended as it eliminates many Dota 2 lag-related issues.

If for some reason you are unable to switch to an Ethernet cable then moving closer to your router can eliminate packet loss. Alternatively, you can reduce the number of users on the network for improved stability in-game.

2. Disable Steam Overlay

Steam’s in-game overlay might be a helpful tool but it can hog up memory and resources which can cause lagging & fps drops or even stutters. Disabling it may fix the issue:

  1. Open Steam.
  2. Right-click on Dota 2.
  3. Click on Properties.
  4. Uncheck “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game”.
  5. Click “Ok” to save changes.

3. Monitor CPU & GPU Temperatures

If the above fix does not work then the Dota 2 lagging and stuttering might be caused by high CPU or GPU temps. You can check PC’s temp using MSI’s afterburner, Core Temp, or Nvidia/AMD’s respective tool. GPUs and CPUs may be thermal throttling where they automatically downclock by reducing power input in order to lower the temps. During this process, the overall performance deteriorates.

If CPU or GPU temps mostly remain high then you might need to reapply thermal paste. Additionally, cleaning your PC case, GPU, or CPU cooler might also help lower the temperatures and improve Dota 2 performance.

4. Deleting Certain Background Files

A certain fix has worked wonders for many players and it involves deleting select Dota 2 files which are causing the lag, FPS drops, or freezing issues. However, we advise you to proceed with caution and create a backup of game files before attempting this fix.

  • Right-click Dota 2 on steam
  • Click on Properties
  • Go to the Local Files tab
  • Click Browse and it should take you to the game directory
  • Go to Dota 2 beta > game > Dota> maps > backgrounds and delete the list of files provided below
    • dashboard_background_muerta_ofrenda_wide.vpk
    • dashboard_background_muerta_ofrenda.vpk
    • dashboard_map_update_2023.vpk
    • frontpage_nemestice.vpk
    • frostivus_tree.vpk
    • frostivus_present.vpk
    • guilds_background.vpk
    • hero_frontpage_hoodwink.vpk
    • hero_frontpage_hoodwink_2021_blossom.vpk
    • hero_frontpage_marci_fg.vpk
    • hero_frontpage_pudge_persona.vpk
    • hero_showcase_arcana_pudge.vpk
    • hero_showcase_arcana_rubick.vpk
    • hero_showcase_arcana_rubick_1cell.vpk
    • hero_showcase_arcana_rubick_2cells.vpk
    • hero_showcase_battlemaiden.vpk
    • hero_showcase_crystal_maiden_persona.vpk
    • hero_showcase_dawnbreaker.vpk
    • hero_showcase_faceless_void_arcana_fg.vpk
    • hero_showcase_hoodwink.vpk
    • hero_showcase_marci_fg.vpk
    • hero_showcase_mars.vpk
    • hero_showcase_mars_bg.vpk
    • hero_showcase_mirana_persona.vpk
    • hero_showcase_mirana_persona_alt.vpk
    • hero_showcase_muerta.vpk
    • hero_showcase_muerta_wide.vpk
    • hero_showcase_ogre_magi_arcana.vpk
    • hero_showcase_phantom_assassin_persona.vpk
    • hero_showcase_pudge_persona.vpk
    • hero_showcase_void_spirit.vpk
    • spectate_background_default.vpk

Deleting these files has confirmed to fix frame and lag-related issues but if at any time you wish to reverse the changes you may place the files back into the directory from the backup folder or select the Verify Integrity of Game Files under the Local Files tab in Dota 2 properties.

5. Change Network Type In-game

If you’re experiencing lag or packet loss during Dota 2 gameplay then there’s a built-in option in the game settings menu to boost overall smoother gameplay and eliminate lag at the cost of slightly increased latency.

  • Launch Dota 2
  • Open settings from the top left corner.
  • Click on the Options tab
  • Select “I have a Low-end Network” under the Network section.

6. Flush your DNS

Another fix that is confirmed by many players involves flushing the DNS resolver cache. Applying this fix should resolve your lagging issues in Dota 2 along with optimizing your internet connection speed. To do so:

  • Press Windows + R keys and type cmd.
  • Launch CMD (Command Prompt).
  • Enter the command “ipconfig /flushdns” (without the “”)

7. Change DNS Server Address

Changing your DNS server address to Google’s DNS Server Address should also fix the lagging and packet issues in Dota 2 while improving the stability of your internet connection. To do so follow these steps:

  • Open Control Panel.
  • Open Network and Sharing Centre.
  • Click on your current active connection.
  • Open Properties.
  • From the scroll-down menu double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPV4).
  • Select the “Use the following DNS server addresses:”
    • In the “Preferred DNS Server:” enter 8.8.8.8
    • In the “Alternate DNS Server:” enter 8.8.4.4

8. Reinstalling Dota 2

If none of the above fixes resolve the Dota 2 lagging, FPS drop, or freezing issues then as a last resort reinstall it. There might be a missing or corrupt game file that cannot be fixed. So reinstalling Dota 2 will fix the issue.

Make sure you uninstall the game via Steam and also delete all remaining files that can be found in the directory where it was installed.

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