How to Fix Slow WiFi on PS5 Slim: 5 GHz Band, MTU, DNS, and NAT Type Fixes for Faster Downloads and Lower Ping

The PS5 Slim (model CFI-2000, released October 2023) ships with a Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) radio supporting 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz with 2×2 MU-MIMO — on paper, more than enough for fast downloads and low-latency gaming. In practice, a handful of configuration issues consistently keep players stuck at sluggish speeds. Work through these fixes in order and you should see a dramatic difference.

Fix 1: Switch to the 5 GHz Band

This is the most impactful change you can make and takes under two minutes. The 2.4 GHz band is slower and shared with every other device in your home (and your neighbours’ homes). The 5 GHz band offers roughly twice the throughput and far less channel congestion.

On the PS5 Slim, go to Settings → Network → Settings → Set Up Internet Connection. Select your 5 GHz network (it’s often labelled with “_5G” or a separate SSID) and reconnect. If your router broadcasts both bands under the same name, log into the router admin panel and split them into two distinct SSIDs so the PS5 can choose definitively.

If your router supports band steering but the PS5 keeps landing on 2.4 GHz, disable band steering temporarily during setup. See our guide on WiFi band steering for how that feature works and when to turn it off.

Fix 2: Set a Fast DNS Server

Sony’s default DNS assignment relies on your ISP’s DNS servers, which vary in speed and reliability. Switching to a public DNS server can reduce the time the console spends resolving PlayStation Network addresses — shaving seconds off connection times and improving overall responsiveness.

In Settings → Network → Settings → Set Up Internet Connection, choose your WiFi network, then select Advanced Settings and set DNS to Manual:

• Google DNS: Primary 8.8.8.8 — Secondary 8.8.4.4
• Cloudflare DNS: Primary 1.1.1.1 — Secondary 1.0.0.1

Either option is a solid upgrade over most ISP DNS servers. Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 consistently ranks as the fastest resolver in independent benchmarks. After changing DNS, scroll down to MTU Settings (see Fix 3) while you’re still in Advanced Settings.

Fix 3: Tune Your MTU Setting

MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) controls the largest packet size the PS5 sends over the network. The default of 1500 bytes works well for most connections, but mismatched MTU between the PS5 and your router can cause packet fragmentation — a common source of invisible lag spikes in online games.

Still in Advanced Settings, set MTU to Manual and try these values:

• 1500 — the default; correct for most home networks and cable internet.
• 1473 — recommended if you’re on PPPoE (common with some DSL and fibre connections); reduces fragmentation overhead.
• 1450 — useful on VPN-enabled routers or connections with additional encapsulation layers.

If you’re unsure which to use, leave MTU on Automatic — the PS5 will negotiate the correct value. Only set it manually if you’re experiencing specific symptoms like frequent disconnects during gameplay while downloads run fine.

Fix 4: Open Your NAT Type

NAT Type directly affects who you can connect to in multiplayer. Type 1 is fully open, Type 2 is moderate (normal for home routers), and Type 3 is strict — and will cause matchmaking failures, party chat issues, and high ping in many games.

Check your NAT Type at Settings → Network → Connection Status. If you see Type 3, try these steps in order:

1. Enable UPnP on your router. Most routers have this under Advanced → NAT or Firewall settings. UPnP lets the PS5 automatically open the ports it needs.
2. Port forward manually if UPnP is unavailable: open TCP 80, 443, 3478, 3479, 3480 and UDP 3478, 3479 to your PS5’s local IP address.
3. Assign a static IP to the PS5 so port forwarding rules don’t break when the router reassigns addresses via DHCP. Set this in the PS5’s Advanced Settings using an IP outside your router’s DHCP range.

If you’re behind CGNAT (common with mobile broadband and some budget ISPs), your ISP shares one public IP address across many customers, and NAT Type 3 may be unavoidable without requesting a dedicated public IP. See our guide on fixing CGNAT for gaming for escalation steps.

Fix 5: Enable QoS on Your Router and Download in Rest Mode

If other devices in your household — streaming 4K video, running video calls, or backing up to the cloud — are active at the same time as your PS5, they compete for the same bandwidth. Quality of Service (QoS) lets your router prioritise the PS5’s traffic.

Log into your router’s admin panel and look for QoS or Traffic Priority settings. Add the PS5’s local IP address as a high-priority device. On routers with gaming presets (ASUS, Netgear Nighthawk, TP-Link Archer), a “gaming mode” toggle often handles this automatically.

For large game downloads, the PS5 Slim can also download in Rest Mode. Go to Settings → System → Power Saving → Features Available in Rest Mode and enable Stay Connected to the Internet. Downloads in Rest Mode are uninterrupted by other system activity and often complete faster than downloads while gaming.

Bonus: Check Actual Speed vs. Plan Speed

Before blaming the PS5, confirm what speed your connection is actually delivering. Run a speed test directly from the PS5 (Settings → Network → Test Internet Connection). Sony recommends at least 25 Mbps for standard downloads and 50 Mbps or more if you share the connection. If the result is far below your ISP plan, the bottleneck is the router or line — not the console. Our guide to reading speed test results explains what each metric means.

Quick Checklist

1. Connect to the 5 GHz band or a dedicated 5 GHz SSID.
2. Set DNS manually to 1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1 or 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4.
3. Test MTU at 1473 if your connection uses PPPoE.
4. Enable UPnP on your router to move from NAT Type 3 to Type 2.
5. Enable QoS on the router to prioritise PS5 traffic.
6. Enable Rest Mode downloads for large game updates.
7. Run Test Internet Connection to confirm actual speeds.

The PS5 Slim’s Wi-Fi 6 radio is genuinely capable of gigabit-class wireless speeds on a well-configured 5 GHz network. The fixes above remove the software and configuration barriers that prevent it from reaching that potential.