How to Prioritize Game Traffic With QoS Settings on Windows

What Causes This?

Online games are sensitive to latency, packet loss, and sudden bandwidth spikes. On Windows, large downloads, cloud sync apps, browser tabs, launchers, and update services can compete for the same connection, causing your game traffic to wait behind less important traffic. QoS, or Quality of Service, helps by telling Windows and your network which traffic should be treated as higher priority.

Common Symptoms

• Ping jumps when Steam, Epic Games Launcher, OneDrive, or Windows Update is active
• You get lag spikes even though your internet speed looks fine
• Voice chat cuts out when downloads or streams are running
• Multiplayer games feel inconsistent at busy times
• Background apps use bandwidth without you noticing

How to Fix It Manually

1. Find out which app is using your bandwidth

   1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
   2. Click More details if needed, then open the Processes tab.
   3. Sort by Network to see which apps are using your connection.
   4. Close or pause non-essential apps like launchers, cloud sync tools, browser downloads, or streaming apps before gaming.

2. Set your network connection as metered This reduces some background activity on Windows.

   1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
   2. Go to Network & internet.
   3. Select Wi-Fi or Ethernet, then click your active connection.
   4. Turn on Metered connection.

3. Create a QoS policy in Local Group Policy Editor This works on Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

   1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
   2. Go to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Policy-based QoS.
   3. Right-click Policy-based QoS and choose Create new policy.
   4. Give it a name like Game Priority.
   5. Leave Specify DSCP Value enabled and enter a value such as 46.
   6. Optionally set Throttle Rate to 0 so you do not limit the game.
   7. Click Next.

4. Apply the policy to your game

   1. Choose Only applications with this executable name.
   2. Enter the game’s .exe file name, such as valorant.exe, cs2.exe, or fortniteclient-win64-shipping.exe.
   3. Click Next.
   4. Leave Any source IP address and Any destination IP address selected, then click Next.
   5. Choose TCP and UDP, or create separate rules if needed.
   6. Leave the port settings as Any source port and Any destination port unless the game publisher gives specific ports.
   7. Click Finish.

5. Restart and test the connection

   1. Restart your PC after creating the policy.
   2. Launch your game and test while a download runs in the background.
   3. If your router supports QoS, log in to the router and prioritize your PC or gaming device there too. Router-level QoS often has a bigger effect than Windows-only QoS.

6. If you use Windows Home Windows Home does not include Local Group Policy Editor by default. In that case, your best manual options are:

   1. Pause downloads in Steam, Epic Games Launcher, and Xbox app.
   2. Pause OneDrive or other sync apps while gaming.
   3. Disable bandwidth-heavy startup apps in Task Manager > Startup apps.
   4. Use your router’s QoS settings, if available, to prioritize your PC.

Fix It Automatically with Kudu

Kudu can spot apps and services that compete with your games for bandwidth and reduce that background network activity automatically. Instead of manually checking Task Manager, startup items, sync tools, and update-related processes every time, Kudu helps keep your connection focused on the game.

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