Steam download speed depends on your internet connection, your router placement, and what Steam is doing in the background

Steam's download speed is limited by the slowest part of your connection chain. Your internet service provider sets a maximum speed, your router may reduce that speed depending on distance and interference, and Steam itself may throttle downloads if you have other network activity running. Most slow downloads are not Steam's fault — they are a sign that something else is using your bandwidth, your router needs to be closer, or your internet plan is slower than you think.

The first step is to measure what speed you actually have right now, then compare it to what Steam is reporting. If Steam shows 500 KB/s but your internet test shows 50 Mbps, something between your modem and Steam is the problem. If your internet test shows 5 Mbps and Steam shows 500 KB/s, your connection itself is the limit.

Key Takeaways

  • Test your actual internet speed at speedtest.net and compare the result to what Steam reports in the download window — if they match, your internet plan is the limit.
  • Close other programs that use the network, especially web browsers with many tabs open, video streaming, and cloud backup software.
  • Move your router closer to your computer or switch to a wired ethernet connection, which is faster and more stable than Wi-Fi.
  • Change your Steam download server in Settings > Downloads > Download Region to a server closer to your location.
  • Restart your modem and router by unplugging them for 30 seconds, then plugging them back in.

Check what speed you actually have right now

Open a web browser and go to speedtest.net. Click the blue "Go" button and wait for the test to finish. Write down the number under "Download" — that is your actual internet speed in Mbps (megabits per second). Steam reports speed in MB/s (megabytes per second), which is 8 times larger. So if speedtest shows 40 Mbps, Steam should show around 5 MB/s when it is downloading at full speed.

Now open Steam and start a download. Look at the speed shown in the download window. If it is much lower than what speedtest showed, something is slowing Steam down. If it matches, your internet plan is the limit and you cannot make Steam faster without upgrading your connection.

Close programs that are using your network

Web browsers with many tabs open, video streaming services, cloud backup software, and Windows Update all compete with Steam for your bandwidth. Close everything except Steam and try downloading again. Pay special attention to Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge — they often run background tasks that use the network even when you are not actively browsing.

Check the Windows taskbar for programs you may have forgotten about. Look for Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, Backblaze, or Carbonite — these backup services will slow Steam to a crawl if they are syncing. Pause them temporarily or close them entirely. You can restart them after your download finishes.

Move your router closer or use an ethernet cable

Wi-Fi speed drops sharply with distance and through walls. If your router is in another room or upstairs, moving it closer to your computer can double your download speed. If moving the router is not practical, run an ethernet cable from the router to your computer. Ethernet is faster and more stable than Wi-Fi and will show you the true speed your internet connection can deliver.

If you cannot use ethernet, move your computer closer to the router temporarily while downloading. Avoid placing the router in a cabinet, closet, or metal shelving — these block the signal. The best location is open air, elevated, and in the center of the room you are using.

Change your Steam download server

Steam connects to regional servers to deliver downloads. If you are far from the server Steam chose, or if that server is overloaded, your speed will suffer. Open Steam and go to Settings > Downloads > Download Region. The menu shows a list of cities. Choose the one closest to your physical location. If you are in the United States, pick the city nearest to you. If you are outside the US, pick the closest available city.

After changing the region, close Steam completely and restart it. Start a new download to see if the speed improves. If it does not, try a different region — sometimes the closest server is slower than one slightly farther away.

Restart your modem and router

Modems and routers can get stuck in a slow state after running for days or weeks. Unplug the power cable from your modem, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Wait for all the lights to stop blinking and stabilize — this usually takes 2 to 3 minutes. Then do the same for your router. Once both are fully restarted, try a Steam download again.

If restarting does not help, check that your modem and router are not overheating. Feel the back of each device — they should be warm but not hot. Make sure they have space around them and are not sitting in direct sunlight or next to a heat source. Overheating can cause the devices to throttle their speed automatically.

Check for malware or viruses

Malware and viruses can run in the background and consume your bandwidth without your knowledge. Run a full scan with Windows Defender, which is built into Windows. Open Windows Security, click "Virus & threat protection," then click "Scan options" and choose "Full scan." Let it run completely — this can take 30 minutes to an hour.

If you use third-party antivirus software like Norton or McAfee, run a full scan with that instead. After the scan finishes and removes any threats, restart your computer and try a Steam download again. If your speed improves dramatically, malware was the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Steam downloading slower than my internet speed test shows?

Something else is using your network. Close web browsers, video streaming, cloud backup software, and Windows Update. If you are on Wi-Fi, move closer to the router or use an ethernet cable. If the problem persists, change your Steam download server to one closer to your location.

Does Steam throttle downloads on purpose?

Steam does not intentionally slow downloads, but it will pause or slow them if your connection is unstable or if you have bandwidth limits set in Steam settings. Go to Settings > Downloads and check that "Limit bandwidth to" is set to "Unlimited." If it is set to a number, change it back to unlimited.

Will a VPN make my Steam downloads faster?

A VPN almost always makes downloads slower because it adds an extra step between you and Steam's servers. Do not use a VPN while downloading from Steam unless you are trying to access a server in a different region for a specific reason.

What if I have tried everything and Steam is still slow?

Your internet plan may be the limit. Contact your internet service provider and ask what speed you are paying for. Run speedtest.net again and compare the result to your plan. If the test shows much lower speed than your plan promises, your modem or router may be failing and needs replacement.

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 overall speed.