Steam is a well-known gaming portal for Windows 10 users. On this platform, you can play your favorite game on your computer without buying a physical copy. It is a quite convenient way.
Recently, many users are experiencing Steam download slow while trying to download a game. It is a big issue that affects the gamers of the Steam community. Users get frustrated when they have to wait for prolonged periods to download a game and it is really annoying.
Some effective tips are discussed in this article which can help you understand why your download speed is slow in the Steam. By applying the solutions, you should be able to fix this issue.
Also read: Can I Reset Steam Password? A Quick Guide!
Steam Download Slow: What Should You Do?
‘Why is my steam download so slow?’ or ‘Why does steam download so slow?’
Well, it can spoil your entire day thinking about the reasons behind it. Although your internet connection is fast, such an issue can occur. So, if it ever comes to your mind that network connectivity is the only reason, you might be wrong.
There are many instances alongside the poor network connection which may cause the Steam download slow error. Outdated network drivers can cause it. Sometimes when the server of your selected download region is down, you may notice that your download speed is slow, or you can’t download the game.
If you have the Windows firewall activated, it is also possible that the firewall is blocking the action.
You can experience slow downloading speed if there is a problem with the cached download in Steam. Setting limited download bandwidth is another reason why you face such an issue. In some cases, it is detected that the slow download occurs due to high CPU usage on the computer.
Moreover, using a VPN also affects the download speed and makes Steam harder to run.
Why Is My Download Speed So Slow On Steam? – Get Solutions!
If you notice any inconsistency in the speed or your steam client doesn’t respond while downloading, you may apply these fixes discussed below. You should apply them one by one until you get the one working for you.
Solution 1: Check The Network Connectivity
The primary step to fix slower Steam download is to check whether the network connection is working properly. Make sure that all the peripherals connected to your computer for providing the internet are in well and good condition.
If you are using a wireless connection, be ensured that the signal is strong enough. Also, you need to look for any misconfiguration in your network connectivity settings. Here is how you can check the network status of your computer:
- Press Win + I from the keyboard and the Settings window appears.
- Click on the Status option from the left panel.
- Here you can see the information regarding the connection you are connected to.
- If you are connected, make sure that the connection signal is strong. You can also find available networks by clicking on the Show available networks option.
- You may run the network troubleshooter to detect the problem automatically. Scroll down and click on the Network Troubleshooter option and follow the on-screen instructions to start the scanning. If anything wrong gets detected, the troubleshooter will automatically fix it.
You can also restart your router to check if it resolves the issue. Turn off the power of the router, wait for a few minutes and again turn it back on. Now try downloading in Steam and see if there is a sign of improvement.
If Steam could not connect to Steam networks, then read this article.
Solution 2: Install Pending Driver Updates
As already stated above, one of the reasons behind slow Steam downloading speed is pending updates for your network driver. You should always keep the drivers up-to-date to avoid such an issue like Slow downloading.
To fix this issue, you should check for any available updates on your computer. If any pending update gets detected, install it at the earliest. To know the process of how you can update any driver, click on how to update the device driver using Device Manager.
If the problem is not resolved yet or you don’t have any pending update, continue to the next solution.
Solution 3: Clear The Download Cache
When you are having the Steam download slow, you may try clearing the download cache. If some downloaded files are corrupted, then clearing the download cache will remove the problematic files and should help you to fix this issue.
You will have to re-login after performing this process. So, make sure that you have all the login credentials available with you.
To apply this method, follow the instructions provided below properly:
- After opening the Steam application, navigate to the top left corner and click on the Steam option.
- You can see the Settings option in the drop-down menu. Choose it.
- Now locate the Downloads tab in the Settings panel and select it.
- Find and click on the Clear Download Cache option.
- Confirm this action by clicking on the OK button.
- Now re-login using your login credentials.
After logging in, try to download a file to check if Steam download slow error remains.
Solution 4: Change The Steam Server Download Region
When the download server you are using doesn’t work properly, the download speed may vary. You should try a different region to check whether it improves the download speed.
To change the download region, follow the steps below:
- After opening the Steam application, click on the Steam option at the top left corner.
- Locate the Settings option and click on it.
- Find the Download option from the Settings section and click on the Download region drop-down to change the server location.
- Click on the OK button to save the change.
Now relaunch Steam and start downloading to check if the problem still persists.
Solution 5: Disable Windows Firewall Temporarily
Your download issue may appear if you have the Windows firewall active. Windows firewall scans your downloaded items to ensure that there are no malware-infected files. Enabling the firewall may affect your download speed significantly.
You may add the Steam application to the exception list or disable the firewall temporarily to ensure that the reason appears due to the firewall activation.
To disable the firewall temporarily, click on how to disable Firewall in Windows 10. It will guide you through the firewall disabling process. After turning off the Windows Firewall, check if it improves the download speed on Steam.
Also read: How To Use Steam Gift Card To Send And Receive Money And Games?
Solution 6: Change The Limit Of Steam Bandwidth
In some cases, you may experience Steam download slow because of bandwidth restrictions. You should change the Steam bandwidth limit or set it to “No limit”. Follow the steps below to change the bandwidth in Steam settings:
- Go to the Steam Settings by following the steps stated previously.
- Navigate to the Download option on the left-hand side and click on it.
- Locate the Download Restriction section and click on the drop-down beside the “Limit bandwidth to” option.
- Make sure to set No Limit here.
- Click on the OK button to save.
Now check whether the problem continues. If it doesn’t work, you may also try changing the bandwidth to different values listed under the “Limit Bandwidth To” option.
Solution 7: End Programs Causing High CPU Usage
If your computer is running lots of applications and background processes, the Steam download may slow down. You should stop those applications from consuming more CPU power to check if it helps.
Follow these steps below to see the active programs:
- Press Ctrl + Alt + Del together and select the Task Manager option to open it.
- On this window, you can see that the applications at the top are causing high CPU usage. Select them one by one and click on the End Task button below.
- Repeat this process to end all those programs you are not using currently.
Relaunch Steam after closing the processes causing high CPU usage, and check if the Steam download speed is increased.
Solution 8: Reinstall Steam Application
If the problem still continues, you can fix the issue by reinstalling the application. You need to uninstall the Steam first in order to reinstall it.
To remove Steam from your computer, follow the steps below:
- Click on the Start icon and type Control Panel.
- Select the Control Panel app from the search result.
- Click on the Programs and Features option.
- A list of installed programs will appear. Locate the Steam on the listed applications and right-click on it.
- Select the Uninstall option.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall the Steam from your computer.
- After the uninstall finishes, go to the Steam Official website and download the Steam installer.
- Install the Steam using its installation wizard.
Now try to download a file using Steam and check whether the slow download persists.
Solution 9: Stop Using VPN
Using a VPN increases the chance of slow download on Steam. You should turn off the VPN before downloading any file on Steam to minimize the chance of having the Steam download slow.
The problem regarding slow download on Steam should be removed after applying the solutions discussed above.
Conclusion
Now you know why you were having the Steam download slow and what should you do to remove such a problem from your computer. I hope the solutions stated above really worked for you. Which one of the solutions helped you to fix the issue? Let us know by commenting below. If you still have queries regarding slow download speed on Steam, feel free to ask us here.
