Introduction
Welcome to the world of Steam, the leading digital distribution platform for PC gamers.
If you are a Steam user, you may have encountered a common issue slow download speeds.
In this article, we will explore various methods to help you improve your Steam download speeds in 2016.
From simple tweaks to more advanced controls, well guide you through step-by-step instructions to maximize your download performance.
Keep in mind that the effectiveness of these methods may vary depending on your specific setup and internet connection.
Its worth trying different approaches to find the ones that work best for you.
So, without further ado, lets dive into the world of faster Steam downloads!
A weak or unstable connection can significantly impact your download speeds.
Here are a few things you’re free to try:
1.
Turn both devices off, wait for a couple of minutes, and then turn them back on.
Wired connections tend to be more stable and provide faster speeds, especially if your Wi-Fi signal is weak.
Try downloading during off-peak hours to see if that improves your speeds.
Pause any ongoing downloads or updates on other devices to free up bandwidth for Steam.
Switching to a different download region can help alleviate these issues.
Heres how:
1.
Open Steam tweaks:Launch the Steam system and go to the Steam menu in the top left corner.
From the drop-down menu, select options.
Go to Downloads:In the controls window, tap on the Downloads tab located on the left-hand side.
Change Download Region:Look for the Download Region section and hit the drop-down menu.
Apply Changes and Restart Steam:Click OK to save the changes.
Steam will prompt you to restart the client for the changes to take effect.
Close and reopen Steam to complete the process.
Changing your download region can help bypass congested servers and connect to a server with faster speeds.
Experiment with different regions to find the one that works best for you.
Here are some steps to help you manage background applications:
1.
Close Unnecessary Programs:Before starting your Steam download, close any unnecessary programs running in the background.
Manage Background Services:In addition to applications, background services can also impact performance.
Adjust Power configs:On laptops, your power configs may affect system performance.
Activating these modes can prioritize system resources for gaming and help optimize Steam download speeds.
The Steam download cache stores temporary files that can become corrupted over time.
Clearing the cache can help resolve download speed issues.
Heres how to do it:
3.
Clear Download Cache:Look for the Clear Download Cache button and hit it.
A confirmation dialog box will appear to ensure you want to proceed with clearing the cache.
Click OK to confirm.
Restart Steam:end the Steam client completely and then relaunch it.
The cache will be cleared, and Steam will rebuild the necessary files and folders.
By clearing the download cache, you eliminate any potential corruption that may be hindering your download speeds.
This can help optimize the performance of Steam and potentially improve your download experience.
After clearing the cache, monitor your download speeds to see if theres an improvement.
If not, move on to the next method to continue troubleshooting and optimizing your Steam download speeds.
Updating your graphics drivers to the latest version can potentially resolve any compatibility or performance issues.
Heres how to revamp your graphics drivers:
1.
Identify Your Graphics Card:Determine the make and model of your graphics card.
Visit the Manufacturers Website:after you snag the information about your graphics card, visit the manufacturers website.
For example, if you have an NVIDIA card, go to the NVIDIA website.
Download the appropriate drivers.
Updating your graphics drivers ensures that your system is equipped with the latest software enhancements and bug fixes.
If youre still experiencing slow download speeds after updating your graphics drivers, dont worry.
There are still more methods to explore.
Lets move on to the next section and continue troubleshooting to optimize your Steam download speeds.
Disable Windows Updates
Windows updates are important for the security and stability of your operating system.
However, during a Steam download, these updates can consume valuable bandwidth and impact your download speeds.
Temporarily disabling Windows updates while youre downloading games or updates on Steam can help improve your download speeds.
Heres how:
- tap on the corresponding result to initiate the Windows Update controls.
Pause Updates:In the Windows Update parameters, punch the Pause updates for 7 days option.
This will temporarily pause Windows updates for a week.
Set Active Hours:Windows allows you to set active hours, during which it will avoid installing updates.
To do this, go back to the Windows Update tweaks and tap on Change active hours.
In the Windows Update options, punch Advanced options.
Under the Choose how updates are installed section, select Notify to schedule restart.
This will allow you to manually install updates at your convenience.
If disabling Windows updates didnt result in faster download speeds, dont worry.
We still have more methods to try.
Lets move on to the next section and continue optimizing your Steam download speeds.
To prevent this from happening, you could exclude Steam and its associated files from antivirus scans.
Heres how:
1.
- reach the Exclusion/Exceptions parameters:Look for the parameters related to exclusions or exceptions.
By excluding Steam from antivirus scans, you prevent unnecessary interference with the Steam client and its download process.
This can potentially lead to improved download speeds and a smoother overall experience.
Its important to note that excluding Steam from antivirus scans may slightly reduce security.
If excluding Steam from antivirus scans didnt yield the desired results, dont worry.
There are still additional methods to try.
Lets move on to the next section and continue optimizing your Steam download speeds.
Disabling the auto-update feature can help prioritize your current download and potentially speed up the process.
Heres how to disable auto-updates in Steam:
3.
Change Auto-Update prefs:Look for the Download restrictions section and punch the drop-down menu below it.
This will prevent automatic updates for games until you specifically choose to launch them.
Save the Changes:Click OK to save the changes in your Steam tweaks.
Disabling auto-updates in Steam allows you to have more control over when updates occur.
If disabling auto-updates didnt significantly improve your download speeds, dont worry.
There are still further methods to explore.
Lets move on to the next section and continue optimizing your Steam download speeds.
Heres how to set up a wired connection:
1.
Check for an Available Ethernet Port:Ensure that your system and router both have available Ethernet ports.
Most modern computers and routers have these ports, usually located at the back.
Disable Wi-Fi:To ensure your system is using the wired connection, disable Wi-Fi on your system.
This can usually be done through the web connection tweaks on your operating system.
- reboot your rig and Router:After making the physical connection, restart both your rig and router.
This will ensure that the changes are properly applied, and your rig recognizes the wired connection.
Using a wired connection bypasses the interference and signal limitations often encountered with Wi-Fi connections.
Lets move on to the next section and continue optimizing your Steam download speeds.
First, ensure that your internet connection is stable and running at its optimal speed.
Consider changing your download region if necessary, as this can help bypass congested servers.
Additionally, limiting background applications andclearing the Steam download cachecan free up resources and eliminate potential bottlenecks.
Dont forget to keep your graphics drivers up to date, as outdated drivers can impact system performance.
Excluding Steam from antivirus scans can prevent interference that may hinder download speeds.
Finally, consider using a wired connection to minimize signal fluctuations and maximize download stability.
Its important to experiment with different approaches and find the combination that works best for your specific setup.
Happy gaming and speedy downloads!
