If you’ve ever loaded into a Deadlock match only to see ping spike over 200ms, or can’t find a lobby with your friends who live across the world, you’re not alone. Most new players don’t realize how easy adjusting your connection settings can be, and learning how to change servers in Deadlock is one of the fastest ways to improve your overall gameplay experience. I’ve spent dozens of hours testing different server connections for ranked play, and I’ve broken down the entire process so you don’t have to mess around with broken workarounds or random setting tweaks that don’t work. Even if you’re not great with tech, you can get this done in less than a minute.
Why You Might Need to Change Servers in Deadlock
There are tons of valid reasons to adjust your server settings, and it’s not just for players dealing with bad connection. High, inconsistent ping is the number one reason players switch servers, especially during peak play hours when local servers get overloaded. I’ve had matches where my ping jumped from 40ms to 300ms out of nowhere, and switching to a nearby less crowded server fixed the issue immediately.
Another common reason is playing with friends who live in other regions. If your friend group is split between North America and Europe, picking a server that’s in the middle for all of you will level the playing field so no one is stuck with unplayable lag. You might also want to switch servers if your local region has super long queue times, or if there’s a scheduled server outage announced for your area. You don’t have to create a new account to access servers in other regions, all your progress stays tied to your existing account no matter where you play.
Step-by-Step Process to Change Servers in Deadlock
The process only takes about 30 seconds, and you don’t need any third-party tools or mods to do it. All settings are built directly into the game’s main menu, so you won’t risk getting banned for adjusting connection preferences. Follow these exact steps to make sure your changes apply correctly:
- Launch Deadlock and navigate to the main settings menu by clicking the gear icon in the top right corner of the home screen
- Select the “Connection” tab from the left-hand menu, which is located right below the “Audio” settings option
- Uncheck the box labeled “Auto-select best server” to enable manual server selection. The game’s auto-select feature doesn’t always pick the lowest ping option, so turning this off gives you full control
- Click the drop-down menu under “Preferred Server Region” and pick the region you want to connect to. The menu will show current server load for each region, so you can pick one with low load for the best performance
- Save your settings and restart the game to apply the changes fully. Skipping the restart can cause your settings to revert, so don’t cut this step short
That’s it, no extra steps required. I recommend double-checking your ping in a private practice match right after you switch servers to confirm the connection is stable. If you still see high ping, you may need to restart your router before launching the game again to clear old connection data.
Key Considerations When Switching Deadlock Servers
While switching servers is simple, there are a few things to keep in mind to avoid annoying issues down the line. Your rank and unlocks stay tied to your account no matter what server you play on, so you don’t have to worry about losing your ranked progress or cosmetic skins when you switch regions. That said, you may notice slight differences in meta play and player skill level depending on the region you choose, which can take a match or two to get used to.
You may run into higher ping if you pick a server that’s too far from your physical location, even if the server itself has low overall load. For example, if you live in Germany and switch to the Australia server, you can expect ping of at least 300ms, which will make fast-paced team fights almost unplayable. Another thing to note is that some regions have stricter chat moderation rules, so you’ll want to familiarize yourself with community guidelines if you’re playing on a server outside your home region. Never switch servers while you’re in an active match lobby, as this can crash your game and leave your teammates stranded. You’ll also risk getting a 15-minute abandonment cooldown if you disconnect mid-match while trying to switch.
Troubleshooting Common Server Switch Issues
Most of the time, the process works without a hitch, but there are a few common issues you might run into. If the server you want to connect to doesn’t show up in the drop-down menu, that usually means it’s undergoing maintenance or has reached maximum capacity. You can check the official Deadlock status page to see if there are active outages for the region you’re trying to access, and try again later once the issue is resolved.
Another common issue is settings not saving after you restart the game. This usually happens if you have cloud sync enabled for your game files, so you may need to turn off cloud sync temporarily, adjust your server settings, then turn it back on again. If you still can’t connect to your chosen server after trying these fixes, flush your DNS cache on your computer to clear old connection records, this usually resolves 90% of connection-related issues for most players. I’ve run into this problem a few times after big game updates, and flushing the DNS always fixes it faster than reinstalling the game entirely. If all else fails, you can reach out to Deadlock support with your connection logs to get personalized help.
At the end of the day, adjusting your server settings doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Knowing how to change servers in Deadlock lets you customize your gameplay experience, fix connection issues, and play with all your friends no matter where they live. Take a minute to test out different servers during off-peak hours to find the one that gives you the best balance of low ping and fast queue times, and you’ll notice a huge difference in how your matches play out. Don’t be afraid to switch back and forth between regions as needed, as long as you follow the steps we outlined to avoid temporary cooldowns or connection errors.