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Steam Slow Download Speed: Why and How to Speed It Up

Get back to downloading games on Steam fast with these great tips

5 min. read

Updated onFebruary 14, 2024

updated onFebruary 14, 2024

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Many gamers are complaining about Steam’s download speed being slow and this isn’t the only issue. Sometimes,Steam doesn’t recognize installed games, so it’s essential to ensure that your download is working correctly.

Then there is also the Steam download speed fluctuating, which affects the majority of the gaming community in one form or another. Sometimes, the fluctuations are so severe thatSteam can’t even go online.

Here’s a nifty formula for you to hold on to. Multiply your Steam download speed by 8, and if the result is close to your known connection speed, then you don’t have any issues.

How can I boost the Steam download speed?

1. Clear the download cache

This is the first thing you should try if Steam download is slow with Ethernet or any other type of connection.

Sometimes the Steam download speed is slow, but Internet fast. This can happen regardless of your gear or network arrangements. You can still battle with a Steam download slow issue over fiber.

2. Change the bandwidth limit

This is a quick and easy solution, and it should help you if the Steam download speed is slow or ifSteam has no internet connection.

3. Change the download region

1.Launch theSteam app, then choose the Steam option from the top-left corner of the window.

2.Go toSettings.

3.In the left panel, chooseDownloads.

4.You should see aDownload Regionsection with a drop-down menu beneath.

Click on the drop-down menu and choose adifferent server.
Press onOKwhen you’re done.

Steam has many servers across multiple regions in the world. As a default, Steam automatically detects your area through the network.

Sometimes, these can be cluttered or may malfunction from a hardware problem, thus requiring you to change the download location.

You will have to experiment and try different servers to see which fits your needs best if the Steam download is slow and stopping.

4. Lower the Disk usage

If Steam disk usage is slow, this solution should help you quickly fix that.

5. Disable your VPN or proxy

The encryption overhead could slow Steam update if you’re currently connected to a VPN or proxy server.

Disable any VPN or proxy service before downloading a game on Steam. However, it’s only a temporary fix since you need to re-enable the secure tunnel once the download finishes.

As a long-term solution, consider investing in a premium VPN service that uses modern VPN protocols, which minimize damage to your download connection speed.

You can even disable encryption while staying connected to a VPN server, although it won’t help protect your online privacy.

Why is Steam downloading so slow?

There are multiple reasons why the Steam download is slow, but most notably, it’s a server-side issue. Therefore, changing the download region can sometimes help.

There is no platform better than the other. In fact,Steam launching issues happen on Windows 11, which is Microsoft’s latest and we dare say, greatest yet OS just as they can happen on previous versions.

The problem can occur due to local factors, such as corrupted cache files or high disk usage, so be sure to look into that if you want to fix the problem.

➡️ Does Steam limit download speed?

Steam doesn’t limit the download speed, but the process is a bit more complex, resulting in download speed issues.

Each download is divided into chunks, and the client downloads, extracts, and verifies them at all times. This puts a bit of strain on your CPU and drive, causing slowdowns.

➡️ How can I pick the fastest Steam download server?

When picking the server, you should consider several factors:

You should know thatcommon Steam errorscan negatively affect your experience, so make sure you fix them.

Disk space problems can also slow Steam patching, so ensure you have enough space on your drive to download games.

All these issues can make yourSteam download stop. Needless to say that a slow and stopping Steam download is quite a nightmare as it reduces the overall download speed.

What browser can I use to get the smoothest experience on Steam?

If you don’t have the time to go into complex troubleshooting steps, there is a quick solution that may come in handy.

You can install Opera GX, the world’s first gamer-oriented browser that allows you to download files faster than regular browsers.

Opera relies on its advanced parallel downloading technology, which splits files into smaller parts.

These smaller parts are then downloaded simultaneously. So, if you want to enjoy fast download speeds on Steam, install Opera GX on your computer.

⇒Get OperaGX

How to increase disk usage on Steam?

Sometimes, it’s more about the Steam disk usage being slow. And that can be a significant problem, but hopefully, we managed to help you fix that.

If you’re having more problems, visit ourSteam downloads that keep dropping to 0to guide more in-depth solutions.

Feel free to try the ones you’re most comfortable with, and let us know how it went by reaching for the comments section below.

Steam Slow Download Speed: Why and How to Speed It Up#

How can I boost the Steam download speed?#

1. Clear the download cache#

2. Change the bandwidth limit#

3. Change the download region#

4. Lower the Disk usage#

5. Disable your VPN or proxy#

Why is Steam downloading so slow?#

What browser can I use to get the smoothest experience on Steam?#

How to increase disk usage on Steam?#