Having slow download speeds on Steam? Here’s the fix!
Steam is the main gaming portal for Windows 10 users, and despite other new platforms emerging from time to time, it’s still the preferred choice of the many.
A big reason for that is the plethora of games and huge titles included in the library of the app. As compelling as it be to buy the latest and greatest games, a lot of users are complaining about slow download speeds in Steam.
This is a big problem that affects the majority of the gaming community in one form or another, and today we’ll take a look on how to solve it.
How can I get faster download speeds on Steam in Windows 10? First, you can clear the download cache. Many download problems occur because of corrupted files. Then you can change the bandwidth limit and the download region.
For more information on how to do that, check the guide below.
What can I do if the download speed on Steam is slow?
First of all, we’ll have to determine if your speed is actually slow or not. Internet connection is usually measured in multiples of bits per second, but Steam downloads, like many other file downloads, are measured in multiples of bytes per second.
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.
QUICK TIP
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 UR Browser, a privacy focused browser that allows you to download files four times faster compared to regular browser.
How is that possible? UR Browser relies on its own 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 UR Browser on your computer.
- Fast page loading
- VPN-level privacy
- Enhanced security
- Built-in virus scanner
If you prefer to stick to your current browser, then use the troubleshooting solutions listed below to speed up Steam downloads.
Steps to make Steam download faster
Solution 1 – Clear the Download Cache
This is the first thing that you should try, as most downloading problems with Steam on Windows 10 can be solved in this way:
- Launch Steam.
- Go to Settings.
- In the left panel, choose Downloads.
- In the right section, on the bottom of the page you will see a Clear Download Cache button. Click on it.
- A new window should appear. Hit OK and wait for the process to finish.
- Now re-login with your credentials and check if your download speed has increased.
Solution 2 – Change the Bandwidth limit
In some cases, bandwidth limit doesn’t coincide with that of your ISP, and this can alter your download speeds. If you have a stable connection, follow the steps:
- Launch Steam.
- Go to Settings.
- In the left panel, choose Downloads.
- Under Download Restrictions, you will see a Limit bandwidth to drop-menu.
- Set it to No Limit and click OK.
- Resume your download.
Although this is a good choice on a stable connection, on an unstable connection you should set it to an appropriate value close to your ISP connection.
Solution 3 – Change the Download Region
Steam has many servers across multiple regions in the world. As a default, Steam detects automatically your region through the network.
Sometimes, the servers in your region can be cluttered or may malfunction from a hardware problem. To change the download location, do the following:
- Launch Steam.
- Go to Settings.
- In the left panel, choose Downloads.
- You should see a Download Region section with a drop-down menu beneath.
- Click on the drop-down menu and choose a different server.
- Click OK.
Note: this isn’t a exact science and there isn’t a certain “universal server” that can work for everybody. You will have to experiment and try different servers to see which fits best your needs. We recommend starting with those closest to your actual location.
Solution 4 – Lower the Disk usage
Many users are reporting that the download in Steam on Windows 10 slows down, and in some cases stops, because of high disk usage. There are some specific WPR items running in the background that are causing the issue.
To fix this problem, just press Windows key + R to start Run > type in cmd and hit Enter > and in cmd type WPR -cancel.
It’s worth mentioning that some users fixed the issue by disabling Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
To do that, just open cmd and type stop-service diagtrack. If you want disable the start-up process as well, type set-service diagtrack -startuptype disabled.
If you are interested in some other common issues with Steam on Windows 10, check out our updated guides:
- Steam Corrupt Disk Error while downloading and updating games [FIX]
- Steam failed to apply updates? Fix it in 5 easy steps
- Steam Chat cannot upload or send images [FIX IT FOR GOOD]
- Steam access denied: You’ll say thank you for this guide
As you can see, some solutions are simpler and other more complex. Try the ones that you’re comfortable with and let us know how you did in the comments section below.