7 Ways to Fix Slow Steam Download Speeds

Is the download speed on Steam Have you been slow lately? Be aware that this can happen due to many factors.

However, in this discussion the author does not focus on discussing the root of the problem but goes straight to the solution.

Below are seven things you can do to speed up download speeds Steam when it's slow.

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How to Fix Slow Steam Download Speeds

Steam is a platform that provides the most popular gaming digital products and is used by millions of people.

Apart from login problems, a problem that you may sometimes encounter when using Steam is suddenly slow download speeds.

Of course, this is very annoying, especially when you are downloading a large game with a file size of 100 GB. So, to overcome all that, see the following explanation:

Checking Network Connections

The first, easiest way is to check the internet network in your home. Sometimes the Steam download process is slow due to a bad internet connection.

Therefore, make sure your network is always stable and try to restart router as well PC where you will download. This method usually works to fix slow Steam download speeds.

Something you shouldn't forget is to check the Steam server before blaming the global server as the origin of the problem.  

Maybe this is the simplest repair tip, but in fact incorrect router settings are also the cause of the slow Steam download process. 

Also read: How to Connect Oculus Quest 2 to Steam

Changing Download Server

The second thing you have to do when the download process on Steam is too slow is to change the download server. 

You need to know that Steam is a large platform that has servers all over the world. Well, of the several servers available, it is possible that servers from other parts of the world have better speeds. 

To change the download server, you can do the following procedure:

1. Open Steam Settings;
2. Click Downloads;
3. Click Downloads Region;
4. Select another download server from the drop-down menu.

You can try it by using servers located in small countries or countries further away from where you live. You need to know, every time you change the download server you need to restart Steam. 

Although this method does not guarantee success in increasing speed, some servers in other countries have better download speeds.

The thing that influences server speed is the number of Steam users who live in a country.

Quoting from the earlygame.com page, an experiment succeeded in finding this fact. Where on a trip from Germany to the Netherlands, the PC was left to continue downloading.

When departing from the city of Munich the download speed was only 4MB/sec. After entering the Netherlands, the Steam download speed increased by 10MB/sec.

Clearing Download Cache

Clearing the download cache is a great way to help improve slow download speeds.

The download cache stores temporary data from previous downloaded data. If this is allowed to accumulate, over time the data will swell and slow down the speed of the download process. 

Perform this procedure to clear the cache that has accumulated in the Steam application on your PC: 

1. Open Steam settings;
2. Click Downloads;
3. Clear download cache;
4. Restart the Steam application.

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Limiting Background Processes

The process of downloading games on Steam can be hampered because you have too many applications open in the background.

Therefore, limiting RAM usage in the background can lighten the load on the computer while working, especially during the download process.

Close all programs that you don't need for a while so that you really free up computer space during the download process Steam games going on.

Disable VPN or Firewall

Turn off VPNs or Firewall during the Steam game download process. You need to know, when activating a VPN or firewall, it endangers the security of your online network. 

Therefore, it is better to deactivate these two applications when you are going to download games on Steam. Whether your network is slow or fast.

Also read: Recommended List of Free Steam Games that You Must Try!

Using a Cable Connection

Using a cable connection can support game download speeds of hundreds of GB in size compared to using a wireless network.

Wired connections tend to be more stable and faster than wireless connections. Because with wireless connections, sometimes the distance of the router from your room also affects the download speed. 

Use an Ethernet cable to connect the router to the computer directly. 

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Closing Other Devices from the Network

When multiple devices are connected to the same network at the same time. All these devices will compete to get bandwidth. As a result, the download speed of ongoing Steam games will slow down.

Therefore, it is highly recommended to temporarily close other devices to increase the download speed.

You need to close other devices' access to network access. Especially if the game you download on Steam is hundreds of GB in size.

These are the seven ways you can do it when the Steam download speed on your computer is too slow.