7 Ways to Speed Up Steam Downloads for Games

Steam is the largest digital storefront for Windows PC gaming, from which millions of players download many games and updates for them. Downloading large games eclipsing 50 gigabytes can take a long time, particularly for those players with slower internet connections. Furthermore, players often complain on Reddit and elsewhere about Steam games downloading much slower than they should for relative connection speeds. These are some ways you can speed up Steam downloads on Windows 11/10 PCs.

Read also: 8 Ways to Fix Windows PC Games Not Launching on Steam

Optimize Download Settings in Steam

Steam includes various settings with which you can optimize downloads. Optimally configuring those settings for speed will likely reduce download times. So, try setting Steam’s download options as follows.

1. Start Steam to bring up the window for the software.
2. Click Steam > Settings to access options for the software.
3. Select Downloads to view options for that tab.
4. Next, select the closest location to you on the Download region drop-down menu.
5. Turn off the Throttle downloads while streaming setting.
   
   

   The Downloads tab in Steam

6. Disable the Limit download speed option.
7. Click OK and restart Steam.

If Steam downloads are still slow with the nearest region selected, you can try selecting the next closest region to your location. For example, users in England could select a region like Manchester instead of London. However, it’s usually better to have the closest region selected unless its server is very congested.

Clear the Download Cache for Steam

Steam has a download cache that can adversely affect download times when corrupted or overly full. Clearing that cache is a recommended troubleshooting method for fixing download issues, such as excessively slow downloads. To clear that cache, open the Downloads tab as outlined above and press the Clear Cache button.

Disable Background Apps With High Network Usage

Minimizing background apps with high network usage can speed up Steam downloads by optimizing bandwidth. Doing this will free up internet data space for downloading Steam games. This is how you can disable background apps with high network usage.

1. Quickly activate Task Manager by utilizing the Ctrl + Shift + Esc hotkey.
2. Select Processes if that tab doesn’t open by default.
3. Look at the info in the Network column to see what apps have higher network usage.
   
   

   The Processes tab in Task Manager

4. Right-click apps with higher network usage and select End task.

Also, try turning off other internet-connected devices when downloading Steam games. Devices such as mobile phones and tablets can also hog bandwidth. TVs will do so when you’re watching online streaming services such as Netflix.

Turn Off Metered Connections

Do you have a metered connection enabled? If so, try turning off that connection setting. A metered connection can affect download speeds by reducing app data usage when enabled. You can turn off metered connections like this.

1. Press the Windows logo + I keyboard buttons and click Network & Internet in Settings.
2. Click your internet network on the Wi-Fi tab.
3. Turn off the Set as metered connection setting.
   
   

   The Metered connection

Disable VPNs

Do you utilize a VPN connection? If so, try disabling your VPN to utilize your regular internet connection for downloading Steam games. Your VPN service might be slower for downloading games because of its data encryption process and server path. These are the steps for disabling a VPN via Settings.

1. Open the Windows file finder tool by clicking the taskbar search box or button.
2. Enter VPN in the file finder tool.
3. Click VPN settings to access those options.
4. Select Network & Internet > VPN in Settings.
5. Next, click your VPN connection to press a Disconnect button for it.
   
   

   The Disconnect button

Unselect DLCs

To speed up Steam downloads for games already installed, try unselecting DLC content. Doing this will decrease the amount of patching required for the game update. This is how you can unselect DLCs for Steam games.

1. Open Steam and go to that software’s Library tab.
2. Click a game in the sidebar.
3. Scroll down the game’s page and click the Manage my DLC option.
   
   

   The Manage My DLC option

4. Unselect all selected DLC checkboxes.
   
   

   The DLC tab

Set a Higher Process Priority for Steam

Some users confirm setting a higher process priority for Steam has helped to speed up Steam downloads on their PCs. Doing this allocates higher CPU priority to Steam. You can set a higher process priority for Steam like this.

1. Right-click any part of the taskbar to select a Task Manager shortcut.
2. Click Details in Task Manager’s tab bar.
3. Right-click the Steam process to select Set priority > High.
   
   

   The Set priority submenu

Applying those methods will likely speed up Steam downloads by variable amounts for most users. I can’t promise they’ll dramatically boost download speeds for everyone, but users confirm them to work. They could make a big difference to the time it takes for games to install and update if Steam games download very slowly on your PC.