The fastest Steam downloads come from changing where the game downloads from and closing other programs that use your internet

Steam downloads speed depends on three things you can control: which server Steam connects to, how much of your internet bandwidth other programs are using, and your router's settings. The single biggest change most people see comes from switching to a different download region — Steam has servers in different countries, and the one closest to you is not always the fastest one for your connection. After that, closing background programs that use the internet (video streaming, cloud backups, torrents, online games) usually adds another 10 to 30 percent to your speed.

Your internet speed itself is set by your provider and does not change through Steam settings. If Steam shows 500 KB/s but your internet plan is 100 Mbps, the problem is Steam's server or your router, not your plan. If Steam shows speeds close to what your provider promises, changing servers or closing programs will help less.

Key Takeaways

  • Switching your Steam download region in Settings can increase speed by 20 to 50 percent if your current region's server is congested.
  • Closing programs that use the internet — browsers with many tabs, video streaming, cloud backups, online games — frees up bandwidth for Steam.
  • Restarting your router clears its memory and can fix temporary slowdowns that affect all downloads, not just Steam.
  • Wired ethernet connections are faster and more stable than Wi-Fi, especially if other devices are using your Wi-Fi at the same time.
  • Steam's download speed shown in the client is real-time and will fluctuate; a 10-minute average is more useful than watching the number change second to second.

Switch your Steam download region

Steam servers are spread across different regions, and the one assigned to you by default may not be the fastest. Open Steam, go to Settings, then Downloads. Under "Download region," you will see a dropdown menu showing your current region. Try switching to a nearby region — if you are in the United States, try a different US region first, then Canada or Mexico if those are slower.

Download a small game or update (at least 100 MB) to test each region for 30 seconds to a minute. Write down the speed for each one. The region that shows the highest speed is the one to use. Some people find their assigned region is actually slower than one several hundred miles away, because that server has less traffic at that moment.

You can change regions as often as you want, so if you notice downloads slowing down later, try switching again. Servers get congested at different times of day, and a region that was fast at noon might be slower at 8 p.m.

Close programs using your internet connection

Any program downloading, uploading, or streaming uses bandwidth that Steam could use instead. The most common culprits are web browsers with many tabs open (especially if they have video playing), cloud backup services like OneDrive or Google Drive, video streaming apps, and online games running in the background. Close these completely — minimizing them does not stop them from using bandwidth.

Check your taskbar and system tray for programs you may have forgotten about. On Windows, right-click the taskbar clock, select Task Manager, click the Network column header to sort by network use, and look for anything above 0 percent. On Mac, open Activity Monitor, click the Network tab, and sort by Sent Bytes or Received Bytes. Close anything that is not essential.

If you live with others who are streaming video or playing online games on the same Wi-Fi, ask them to pause for the time it takes to download. A single person streaming 4K video can use 20 to 25 Mbps, which will slow Steam significantly if your total internet speed is under 100 Mbps.

Use a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi

Ethernet cables are faster and more stable than Wi-Fi because they do not have to compete with other devices for signal. If your computer is more than 30 feet from your router or separated by multiple walls, Wi-Fi speed drops noticeably. Moving closer or running an ethernet cable will show an immediate difference.

If running a cable is not practical, move your computer or router closer to each other, or switch to a less crowded Wi-Fi band. Most routers broadcast on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The 5 GHz band is faster but has shorter range. In Settings on your router (usually accessed by typing your router's IP address into a browser), you can see which band is less crowded and switch to it.

Restart your router and modem

Routers and modems have memory that fills up over time, which can slow all internet traffic. Restarting them clears this memory and often fixes temporary slowdowns. Unplug your modem (the device that connects to your internet provider's line) and your router (the device that broadcasts Wi-Fi) for 30 seconds, then plug them back in. Wait two minutes for them to fully restart before trying to download again.

If you have a combined modem-router unit, unplug that single device instead. This restart does not change any settings and is safe to do anytime.

Limit Steam's upload speed

Steam uploads files to other users when you are not downloading (peer-to-peer sharing). This upload uses some of your bandwidth and can slow downloads. In Steam Settings under Downloads, find "Limit bandwidth to" and set it to a number lower than your total internet speed. If your internet is 100 Mbps, set this to 80 Mbps to leave room for uploads and other traffic.

You can also disable peer-to-peer sharing entirely in the same menu by unchecking "Allow downloads during gameplay" and related options, though this means you will not help other users download games faster.

Check if Steam's servers are having problems

Sometimes Steam's download servers are slow for everyone in a region, not just you. Check the Steam status page (steampowered.com/status) to see if your region shows any warnings. If the servers are listed as having issues, there is nothing you can do except wait. If the status page shows everything normal but your speed is still very slow, the problem is on your end — your internet connection, router, or the region you chose.

You can also check third-party sites like IsItDownRightNow that show whether other users are reporting Steam problems. If many people in your area are reporting slow downloads, it is likely a server issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Steam download speed much slower than my internet speed?

Steam's servers may be congested, your router may be overloaded, or other programs may be using bandwidth. Test your actual internet speed at speedtest.net while Steam is not downloading. If the test shows your full internet speed, the problem is Steam or your router. If the test also shows slow speed, contact your internet provider.

Does downloading to an external hard drive slow things down?

External drives connected by USB 2.0 can bottleneck downloads, but USB 3.0 and newer are fast enough that the drive is not the limiting factor. If you are using an older external drive, try downloading to your internal drive instead to see if speed improves. If it does not, the problem is not the drive.

Will a VPN make Steam downloads faster?

A VPN usually makes downloads slower because it adds an extra step between you and Steam's servers. VPNs can help if you are trying to access a game region that is geographically restricted, but for pure speed, disable the VPN while downloading.

Can I download multiple games at once to go faster?

No. Downloading multiple games at once splits your bandwidth between them, so each one downloads slower. Download one game at a time for the fastest total speed.

Does restarting Steam help with slow downloads?

Sometimes. Close Steam completely (right-click the system tray icon and select Quit), wait 10 seconds, then reopen it. This clears Steam's connection to the server and occasionally fixes temporary slowdowns. If speed does not improve after restarting, the problem is not Steam's connection.