Many Steam users are having an issue when downloading games. The download speed of their Steam games are very slow, and sometimes they can’t download anything at all! This is very frustrating. But don’t worry! The following are a few fixes that have helped many Steam users.
How to fix Steam Download Slow
You don’t have to try them all; just work your way down the list until you find the one that works for you.
- Clear your download cache
- Change the download server location
- Temporarily disable your firewall
- End the resource-hogging programs
- Update your network driver
- Check your network connection status
- Reinstall Steam
- Repair corrupted system files
Method 1: Clear your download cache
When you’re having a slow download speed on your Steam client, the first thing you should try is to clear your download cache. To do so:
- On your Steam client, click Steam, then click Settings.
- Select Downloads from the left pane, then click on the Clear Cache button.
- Click Confirm.
- Then your Steam will be restarted. Try to log in to your account and test the download speed
If you’re still having a slow download speed, you may need to try other fixes below.
Method 2: Change the download server location
Your Steam download speed may be slow because the download server you’re using is not working properly. Try a server at another location to see if this works for you.
- On your Steam client, click Steam, then click Settings.
- Click Downloads, then click the drop-down menu of Download region and select a different download server location.
- Click Restart Now to proceed.
- Then start downloading your game and see if this works for you.
If it does, great. But if not, try the steps above again to choose another different location. If your issue persists, don’t worry. There are still other fixes you can try.
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Method 3: Temporarily disable your firewall
Your download issue may be caused by interference from your security software. To see if that’s the problem for you, temporarily disable your antivirus or firewall and check if the problem persists. (Consult the documentation of your security software for instructions on disabling it.)
If this resolves your problem, contact the vendor of your security software and ask them for advice, or install a different security solution.
Method 4: End the resource-hogging programs
Downloading games can be a resource-consuming task for your hard drive. And your download speed may be slowed down if there are other programs causing high drive utilization. You should check your disk usage and end those resource-hogging programs.
To view your hard drive usage:
- On your keyboard, press the Windows logo + R keys simultaneously to open the Run box. Then type taskmgr and hit Ener to open the Task Manager.
- In the Task Manager, view the hard drive utilization of your computer, and end those programs or processes that are causing high usage but you don’t need them for now (by right-clicking it and selecting End task/Process). If you don’t know whether you can end a program or a process, we suggest you do some research on the Internet to find out more information about it.
After ending the resource-hogging programs, try restarting the download process to see if this works for you. Hopefully, it does. But if not, there are two more fixes for you to try…
Method 5: Update your network driver
Your download speed may be slow because you’re using the wrong network driver or it’s out of date. You should update this driver to see if that’s the case for you.If you don’t have the time, patience, or skills to update your drivers yourself, you can do it automatically with Driver Easy.
Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for it. You don’t need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don’t need to be troubled by the wrong driver you would be downloading, and you don’t need to worry about making a mistake when installing.
You can update your drivers automatically with either the FREE or the Pro version of Driver Easy. But with the Pro version, it takes just 2 steps (and you get full support and a 30-day money-back guarantee):
- Download and install Driver Easy.
- Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
- Click the Update button next to your network adapter to automatically download the correct driver for your computer, then you can manually install it. Or click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system (this requires the Pro version – you’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All).
Method 6: Check your network connection status
Your download speed may be slow because your network connection is not working properly. To check your network connection status:
- Make sure your computer is properly connected to the Internet. Check your network cable connection (if using wired network connection) or your wireless network status (if wireless connection).
- Restart your network devices, including your computer and router/modem, to see if this resolves the problem for you.
- Contact your Internet service provider to ask for advice if you are having any network connection issues.
Method 7: Reinstall Steam
Perhaps some of your Steam files are corrupted so your Steam download speed is slow. To fix this issue, you should reinstall your Steam. And before that, you should back up your game files.
- Open your Steam Library.
- Right-click the game’s title and select Properties….
- From the Installed Files tab select Backup game files.
- Click Browse… to browse to the folder where you wish to create the backup files.
- Click Create Backup to begin the backup process.
- Once complete, choose Open folder to move or burn copies of the backup files
- Now, quit Steam.
- On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and R at the same time to invoke the Run box.
- Type appwiz.cpl and press Enter on your keyboard.
- Right-click Steam in the list and select Uninstall, then follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall this program.
- Download Steam and install it on your computer.
- Open the Steam program, then click Steam, and select Restore Game Backup….
- Browse to the location of the game’s backup files.
- Continue through the Steam windows to install the necessary games.
- Wait until the restore process is complete.
- Then check if you can have a good download speed.
Method 8: Repair corrupted system files
If you are facing persistent issues and none of the previous solutions have proven effective, it is possible that your corrupted system files are to blame. To rectify this, repairing the system files becomes crucial. The System File Checker (SFC) tool can assist you in this process. By executing the “sfc /scannow” command, you can initiate a scan that identifies problems and repairs missing or corrupted system files. However, it is important to note that the SFC tool primarily focuses on scanning major files and may overlook minor issues.
In situations where the SFC tool falls short, a more powerful and specialized Windows repair tool is recommended. Fortect is an automated Windows repair tool that excels in identifying problematic files and replacing malfunctioning ones. By scanning your PC comprehensively, Fortect can provide a more comprehensive and effective solution for repairing your Windows system.
- Download and install Fortect.
- Open Fortect and run a free scan of your PC. Wait a few minutes, and it will give you a detailed report of your PC status.
- If Fortect detects any issues on your PC, click Start Repair to start the repair process.
Once finished with the repair, check if the error has been resolved.
Hopefully one of the fixes above help you fix your issue. If you have questions, leave us a comment below.
