How to make large files download faster

The wikiHow Tech Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 2,, times. This wikiHow teaches you how to increase your device's download speeds. Aside from trying general fixes like minimizing the number of devices connected to your network and cutting down on running apps, you can also create a custom DNS browser for your network in order to download over a less crowded connection.

Disable unused apps. Turn off streaming services. Connect directly to the router via Ethernet. Disconnect other devices on the network. Try a custom DNS server. Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue.

No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Check your download speed. This will give you an estimate of your computer's current download speed. If you see that your download speed is significantly faster than files are actually downloading, the problem most likely isn't with your Internet.

If your download speed is much slower than your Internet package and router allow for, you need to minimize the number of devices connected to the Internet. Disconnect any non-essential devices from the Internet. The more devices you have on your network, the slower your Internet will be. If you can disable consoles, phones, televisions, tablets, and alternate computers, your own computer's downloads will be faster. Disable any apps you aren't using.

When you're downloading a big or a small file, it helps to turn off apps that are taking up your bandwidth. For example, you'd close BitTorrent if it was running in the background while you attempted to download a Windows update. Netflix, Hulu, and even YouTube can be a serious drain on your download speed. Even if it's only by a marginal amount, disabling these services will boost your download speeds. You should also close any non-essential browser windows or tabs.

Try connecting your computer to your router via Ethernet. If your computer isn't using an Ethernet connection, connect it to your router with an Ethernet cable and see if your downloads increase in speed. If your downloads do increase in speed, your wireless connection to the router is poor. Try staying closer to the router or purchasing a stronger router. If the download speed doesn't increase, the problem is either with the router or your computer.

You can reset your router's cache by unplugging both the router and the modem, waiting for a minute or so, and then plugging everything back in. Avoid seeding or uploading while attempting to download. As noble as it may be to give back to your favorite torrenting community by uploading, doing so while downloading will all but kill your download speeds.

Wait to seed until all of your downloads have completed and you're no longer using the Internet e. Force your protocol encryption if you're using a torrenting service. This action disguises what you're downloading so that your ISP doesn't selectively throttle it.

ISPs will throttle if they know a BitTorrent client is doing a lot of downloading. Click Preferences. Click BitTorrent. Click the "Outgoing" drop-down box. Select Forced. Click Apply , then click OK. Buy a new router. If your router is more than a couple of years old, it will invariably begin to slow down, and it won't handle downloads as well as a newer one.

When purchasing a new router, make sure you look at models that support the same download speed as your Internet package or, ideally, higher download speeds. Upgrade your Internet connection speed. Some Internet connections simply aren't able to handle hefty downloads, such as console or computer game installations.

Many ISPs have a "Gamer" package that prioritizes download speed, though you'll likely have to pay significantly more for this package than you would for a standard Internet package. Contact your Internet Service Provider. If you've tried everything else and you can't get your download speeds to increase, you'll need to call your ISP and tell them about the problems you're experiencing.

You may even need to switch your ISP if you live in a remote-enough area. Part 2. Click Change adapter options. This option is beneath the "Change your network settings" heading on the Status tab. Click your current connection's name. It will be on the Connections page. This will select it. Click Change settings of this connection. This button is in the top row of options in the window.

Clicking it will open the connection's settings. It's in the window that's in the middle of Wi-Fi Properties. You may first need to click the Networking tab at the top of Wi-Fi Properties. Click Properties. It's near the bottom of the window. Check the "Use the following DNS server addresses" circle. It's near the bottom of the Properties window. Enter a preferred DNS address. Do so in the "Preferred DNS server" field. Google - Enter 8.

Enter an alternate DNS address. Click OK. This saves your DNS settings. Click Close. It's at the bottom of the window. Restart your computer. Once your computer finishes booting up, you can test your download speeds; if your network was the reason they were slow, they should be faster now.

Click System Preferences. This is near the top of the Apple drop-down menu. Click Network. It's a globe-shaped icon in the System Preferences window. Click your current Wi-Fi network. It should be in the pane on the left side of the window. Click Advanced. You'll find this near the middle of the window. Click the DNS tab. It's at the top of the window.

If your speed increases when you are directly next to the modem, this is a good sign, in which case your router may be the issue. As mentioned, the router allows you to extend your connectivity range. If your device is too far away from the router, this could be impacting your download speed. The location of your router can have a major impact on your download speed as well. Be mindful of where you are placing your router as some areas in your home may not have a strong connectivity signal.

If you have a large house, consider getting Wi-Fi extenders that can boost the range and increase your internet speed. Avoid putting your router in basements, bathrooms, cabinets, on the floor, or near microwaves and other home appliances. Your router should be in a central location so the connection can reach throughout the entire home.

Sometimes Wi-Fi can be tricky, in which case connecting to an Ethernet cable can quickly increase your download speed. To do this, connect the Ethernet from your modem to your device. If the cable is too long or if it is outdated, try upgrading to a higher-quality, shorter cable.

Sometimes this slight change can make all the difference. Viruses on your device can cause a multitude of issues. These viruses can run in the background, using your internet and increasing your bandwidth usage, which results in slow download speed. To prevent this, consider installing antivirus software to protect yourself from viruses, malware, and other online threats.

Aside from installing virus scanners, you may also want to limit how much bandwidth is being used on your device. Bandwidth is a measurement that refers to the amount of data that can be transferred within a network. All of the applications, downloads, and updates that happen on our network can take up our bandwidth, causing download speed to suddenly slow down.

You can also manually limit how much bandwidth is being used by updating your device settings. Cache is what stores your internet data to help website browsers and apps load faster. Sometimes your browser cache will become full and can cause download speeds to run slower. While you may not want to clear your cache completely, you can choose what data to clear.

You can clear your browsing history, computer cookies , and cached images and files. Over time, the software performance can start to decline, making it important to update regularly. Once you are logged in, update the current settings and you may be able to fix any issues associated with download speeds. When logging into your internet service providers account to update the firmware, you can also check on the different settings. The default settings that are set on your router are often not the best.

Always keep your internet speeds up to par and make sure your devices are compatible with your current ISP package.

With the tips and tricks mentioned in this article, you should be able to fix whatever is causing your slow download speed in no time.

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Restart your computer Before you dive into other methods, try a good old restart. Upgrade internet speed Depending on your service provider, your internet connection may not be able to handle large downloads.

Disable other devices connected to your router The more people and devices you have connected to your internet, the slower the connection can be. Change the location of your router The location of your router can have a major impact on your download speed as well.