PS5 or Xbox downloads slow? What really helps (and what doesn't)
Your plan says 500 Mbps, the speed test agrees, but the 80 GB game update crawls along overnight. Here is where console downloads get stuck, and the few changes that make a real difference.
First: what speed should you expect?
Internet plans are sold in megabits per second (Mbps); game sizes are in gigabytes (GB). There are 8 bits in a byte, so divide by about 8: a 100 Mbps line moves about 12.5 MB per second at best. Mbps vs MB/s explains it properly, and the unit converter's data-rate mode works out download times for any size.
| Line speed | 50 GB game | 100 GB game | 150 GB game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 Mbps | about 2 h 15 min | about 4 h 30 min | about 6 h 40 min |
| 100 Mbps | about 1 h 10 min | about 2 h 15 min | about 3 h 20 min |
| 500 Mbps | about 13 min | about 27 min | about 40 min |
| 1 Gbps | about 7 min | about 13 min | about 20 min |
These are best cases. Real downloads land somewhat lower, and the console also has to unpack and install, which can look like the download "slowing down" near the end.
Fixes that make a real difference
- Use a cable. Consoles often sit in a TV cabinet behind the screen, which is hard on Wi-Fi. Even a basic Cat5e cable gives the full speed of most plans. No cable route? See wired connection without drilling.
- On Wi-Fi, use 5 GHz and get the console out of the cabinet if you can. 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz explains the trade-off.
- Close the game. Both PlayStation and Xbox limit downloads while a game is running so your online game stays smooth. Quitting the game (not just pausing it) lets the download use the full line.
- Download in rest mode. On PS5, rest mode keeps downloading if "Stay connected to the internet" is on in the power-saving settings. On Xbox, the "Sleep" power option keeps updates and downloads going.
- Pause and resume. If a download is stuck at a fraction of your normal speed, pausing it and starting it again often connects to a different server and jumps back up.
- Wait out launch days. When millions of people grab the same update at the same time, the store's servers are the bottleneck. Your speed test can be fast while the download is slow, and nothing at home will change that.
- Check the rest of the house. Cloud backups, other downloads and 4K streams all share the line. If games also lag while the download runs, that is bufferbloat, and Wirebook's checkout queue lesson shows why.
Fixes that usually don't help
- Changing DNS (for example to a public resolver) changes which address books the console asks, not the speed of the line. It can occasionally steer you to a different server, but it is not a reliable speed boost.
- Changing MTU: leave it on automatic (normally 1500). Lowering it does not make downloads faster.
- Opening ports or a DMZ: these affect online play and party chat (NAT type), not store downloads.
- An expensive Cat8 cable: no faster than Cat5e at home speeds.
Test the console's own connection
- PS5: Settings, then Network, then Connection Status, then Test Internet Connection.
- Xbox: Settings, then General, then Network settings, then Test network speed & statistics.
If the console test is much lower than a test on a wired computer, the problem is the console's connection (Wi-Fi or cable). If both are fast but downloads are slow, it is the servers or a game running in the background.
Related
PS5 or Xbox HDR looks washed out · Wi-Fi calling not working · Run Ethernet without drilling holes · Wi-Fi extender vs mesh vs powerline · Ethernet cable: Cat5e vs Cat6 · Internet lags when someone downloads · Mbps vs MB/s explained
Questions
Why is my PS5 download so slow when my internet is fast?
Most often Wi-Fi to a console behind the TV, a game running at the same time, or busy store servers on a big release day. Use a cable, quit the game or download in rest mode, and pause and resume a stuck download.
Do downloads go faster in rest mode?
They can, because no game is running to hold them back. On PS5, enable 'Stay connected to the internet' in the rest mode settings so downloads continue.
Does changing DNS make PS5 or Xbox downloads faster?
Not reliably. DNS only looks up server addresses. It can occasionally point you to a different server, but it does not raise your line speed.
How long does a 100 GB game take to download?
About 2 hours 15 minutes at 100 Mbps and about 27 minutes at 500 Mbps in the best case, plus install time.
Why does my Xbox download slow down while I play?
Xbox limits background downloads while a game is running so online play stays smooth. Quit the game to give the download the full connection.
Published · updated .