A quieter connection.
macOS uses Apple Wireless Direct Link (AWDL) for nearby-device features. Ping Protection keeps it paused while you play, even when macOS tries to turn it back on.
Less stutter in GeForce NOW on your Mac.
macOS uses AWDL for AirDrop, AirPlay, and Handoff. Its activity can contribute to Wi-Fi stutter. Ping Warden pauses AWDL while you play and graphs your latency so you can compare the results.
One-time purchase in USD. macOS 13 or later.
What users are saying.
Selected public reviews and comments from Mac gamers.
“Best fix I have found for Geforce NOW while on WiFi. Give it a try!”
“I use it every day. Thanks for developing it. You've done a real service for Mac game streaming.”
“Ended up using ping-warden and the lag is completely gone! I've enabled automatic game-mode detection and it does the job! Thanks!”
Sharing takes a pause.
AirDrop, AirPlay, Handoff, and other AWDL-dependent features are unavailable while protection is on. Turn it off or pause for 10 minutes when you need them.
Responds to interface changes.
macOS can reactivate AWDL after a single sudo ifconfig awdl0 down command. Ping Protection responds to interface-change events and requests that AWDL return down. The dashboard counts intervention attempts beside your live latency. That count does not measure spikes prevented.
macOS Tahoe 26 and later
One switch in Control Center.
Add the Ping Protection toggle to Control Center, or drag it to the menu bar next to Wi-Fi and Sound. It shows whether protection is actually on, including when Game Mode turns it on for you.
Prefer fewer icons? Switch Ping Warden to Control Center only in Settings, and the toggle replaces its menu bar icon. Open Ping Warden from Applications or Spotlight whenever you need settings. Add the control.
Ready when you are.
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Install Ping Warden
Download the app and move it to Applications. Open it from there. The signed, notarized build supports Intel and Apple silicon.
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Activate your license
Gumroad delivers your download and license key after purchase. Enter the key in Settings → License. One key covers the Macs you own.
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Turn on Ping Protection
Follow the welcome setup and approve the helper when macOS asks. Enable protection from the menu bar or the Control Center toggle. You can also use Game Mode to activate it for recognized games.
What can I use for free?
The dashboard, latency history, diagnostics, and updates work without a license. Enabling Ping Protection, including starting a Latency Session, requires the one-time $15 license or an active transition. You can download the app now and add a key later.
The source is available under the MIT license. You can inspect, modify, and build it yourself.
Does this fix every kind of lag?
No. Ping Warden addresses the interference that AWDL can cause on Wi-Fi, whether you play through GeForce NOW, Xbox Cloud Gaming, or a self-hosted stream over Moonlight or Parsec. It cannot fix a slow internet connection, an overloaded router, or a distant game server. Use the free dashboard to understand your connection first.
Already using Ping Warden?
If protection was enabled with an approved helper when you first launched version 4, you receive a 90-day transition from that launch. Updates preserve your original deadline. Check Settings → License for the time remaining.
If you donated through Buy Me a Coffee before version 4, email Oliver with your receipt and it will be honored as a full license.
On an older version and never offered an update?
On 2.0.5 or earlier, download the current version once. These early builds lack a working updater or have incomplete updater configuration. Quit Ping Warden, download the latest DMG, replace the copy in Applications, and launch it there.
On later versions, choose Check for Updates. If that fails, use the same manual download. Before 4.1.6, automatic checks could depend on helper approval. Version 4 asks you to accept the licensing change. Eligible existing users receive a 90-day transition. Read the upgrade steps and eligibility details.
What stays on my Mac?
Latency history, settings, and protection activity stay on your Mac. Ping Warden does not send usage analytics. Starting with 4.2.0, anonymous crash reporting is on by default when no choice is saved. Updates preserve your choice. Turn it off under Settings > Advanced > Privacy.
The app contacts Gumroad for license verification, checks for updates, and connects to your selected latency target. It also checks GeForce NOW’s status service to discover targets. License verification supports up to 14 days offline after a successful check.
The details, when you need them.
Explore the complete setup guide, feature list, technical documentation, and troubleshooting guide.
Chasing a specific symptom? Start with stutter in GeForce NOW on a MacBook, awdl0 ping spikes, or whether AirDrop is behind your Wi-Fi lag.