Steam is the most popular platform for downloading and playing PC games. However, slow download speeds can be frustrating when trying to install large modern games. Fortunately, there are several methods to optimize Steam and your network to achieve faster download speeds.
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Check Your Internet Connection Speed
The first step is to test your internet speeds to determine if your connection is the bottleneck. Use a reliable speed test site and run multiple tests at different times of day.
-Aim for at least 15-20 Mbps download speeds for smooth Steam performance. If speeds are consistently below this or fluctuating greatly, contact your ISP about options to upgrade.
Use a Wired Internet Connection
WiFi is prone to interference and limits bandwidth. Connect your gaming PC directly to your router or modem with an Ethernet cable for the most consistent speeds. This avoids congestion from other wireless devices on your network.
Close Other Internet-Consuming Apps
Background apps and software updates can saturate your connection. Quit any other programs using bandwidth like video/music streaming, torrents, or large file downloads.
- Temporarily pausing these while installing Steam games can help allocate more speed.
Change the Download Region
Steam utilizes download servers across the world. Manually selecting a server closer to your physical location often results in faster speeds:
- Access Steam > Settings > Downloads and select an alternative download region from the drop-down menu.
- Test download performance from various regions to determine the fastest option.
Limit the Download Speed in Steam
Counterintuitively, restricting Steam’s maximum bandwidth usage can improve stability and accelerate downloads.
- In Settings > Downloads, enable “Limit auto-update rate” and reduce the value if you experience speed fluctuations or congestion with other internet activity.
Disable Throttling Options
By default, Steam intentionally throttles speeds in certain scenarios like game streaming. Disable these limitations:
- In Settings > Downloads, turn off “Throttle background downloads” and “Throttle downloads during gameplay”.
Change Windows Network Bandwidth Limits
Windows 10/11 allocates bandwidth overhead for system functions and services. You can customize these limits:
- Access Settings > Gaming > Xbox Networking to configure download and upload speeds for Game Mode.
- Set these to 80-90% of your maximum internet speeds.
Update Network Adapters and Drivers
Outdated network adapters and faulty drivers can bottleneck connectivity.
- Use Device Manager to check for adapter and Ethernet/WiFi driver updates from your hardware manufacturers.
Clear the Download Cache
A bloated download cache can slow things down. Clearing it forces Steam to re-download crucial data:
- Access Steam > Settings > Downloads > Clear Download Cache.
- Repeat this after major Steam updates or if experiencing speed degradation over time.
Properly optimizing your network and Steam settings can help accelerate game downloads, reducing frustrations with slow speeds. Test various combinations of these tips to determine the best approach for your setup.
