Steam is the largest and oldest platform for pc games. Gamers can purchase, download and release games on Steam. Most of the AAA games are available on Steam.
If a game is on PC, then it is most probably on Steam. I have been using Steam since I had a PC with a stable internet connection. I have excellent memories playing CS GO and Killing Floor on Steam and I guess you can relate if you are a Steam user.
Steam usually runs perfectly with little to no issues most of the time. When downloading a game on Steam, you can see the download speed and it is usually good. Steam usually takes all your internet bandwidth to download files. This can hamper your internet speed for other online activities.
Steam gives its users the ability to throttle or limit the download speed so that your other tasks do not get slowed down.
Why throttle download speed in Steam?
If you are getting annoyed that Steam is slowing down your other tasks, I can relate and as I care about you, I have written the best methods to throttle or limit your Steam download speed.
Read the full article to know more details.
How to throttle the download speed for game updates in Steam easily
By default, Steam will use as much internet bandwidth it can to update games that are in your library automatically.
This will be annoying as you might be doing some important work but the game Doki Doki Literature Club is being updated at 5 Mbps in your 6 Mbps internet connection while working on some important school work.
So it is good to throttle or limit the download speed in Steam in these cases. Thankfully it is not hard to limit the download speed for game updates and downloads in Steam.
Check out our separate post on how to add a new Steam library folder.
We all like simple solutions, so I have written the most straightforward and best ways you can throttle your download speed for game updates Steam.
Here are the steps to throttle the download speed for game updates in Steam:
- Open Steam. Log in to your account if you are logged out.
- Click on Steam at the top left.
- Click on Settings.
- Click on Downloads.
- Turn on the Limit bandwidth to option.
- Set the bandwidth value in the Enter a new value below box. This value is in kbps, where 1000 kbps equals 1 Mbps. For example, 5000kbps=5Mbps.
- Click on OK.
If you want to know more about changing the download speed in Steam, read the full post for more details.
How to limit the download speed in Steam easily
Imagine this, you are giving an exam online in this pandemic. You have studied hard for this exam but your internet is slower than a handicapped tortoise. You are wondering why this is happening.
You find out Steam is updating Goose simulator in your game library and that is taking most of your internet bandwidth. You decide this is the last time something like this will happen!
I also faced a similar situation to this, so I understand your pain. I have written the steps on how to limit the download speed in Steam easily.
Here are the steps to limit the download speed in Steam easily:
- Open and log in to Steam.
- Click on Steam at the top left.
- Click on Settings and then Downloads.
- Tick the box for the Limit bandwidth to option.
- Set your desired bandwidth value. Remember that 1000kbps=1mbps.
- Click on OK.
If you have further inquiries regarding the download speed on Steam, read the rest of this post.
But before that, go through our epic guide on Stream Origin Games Over Steam.
How to fix slow download speed on Steam easily
I am pretty sure that no one likes slow speeds when using the internet. The same goes for when you are downloading something on Steam.
Some users have reported that they were suffering from low download speed when using Steam. Understandably this must be frustrating in this high-speed world.
As I understand how irritating this must be, I have written the easiest and best methods to fix slow download speeds on Steam. Thankfully the methods given below are simple, so keep your head cool and go through the steps. I believe in you!
Here are the ways you can fix slow download speeds on Steam:
1. Change download region
- Open Steam. Log in if you are not already.
- Go to Settings at the top right.
- Go to the Downloads section by clicking on it.
- Change the Download Region.
- Click on OK.
- Restart Steam.
- See whether your download speed has improved or not.
If this method did not fix the slow download speed issue, then check out the other methods given below.
2. Use Command prompt
The Windows command prompt is a tool that can be used for more specific tasks on your Windows operating system. This is the main reason why you can use the command prompt to clear some logs that can increase your download speed on Steam.
Here are the steps to use Command prompt to fix slow download speed on Steam:
- Search for cmd in the bottom left search bar on the desktop screen.
- Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.
- Type in C:\resetlog.txt and press the Enter button on your keyboard.
- Insert the command netsh winsock reset and press the Enter button.
- Type in ipconfig /flushdns and press the Enter button.
- Insert the command exit and press the Enter button.
- Restart your PC and run Steam. Check whether your download speed is slow or not.
If this method did not work for you, please follow the other given methods below.
Here’s a complete guide on how to fix Steam not enough disk space.
3. Change network and adapter settings
Changing some settings in the control panel can fix slow download speeds on Steam. Thankfully, the process of changing these settings is fairly simple.
So do not panic and follow the steps given below, I know you can do it!
Here are the steps to change the network and adapter settings for Steam:
- Go to the Control panel by searching for it in the search bar at the bottom left on your desktop screen.
- Click on Network and Internet.
- Select Network and Sharing Center.
- Click on Change adapter settings.
- Right-click on your Network adapter and select Properties.
- Select Internet Protocol Version 4 and click on Properties.
- Select use the following DNS server addresses.
- Put 1.1.1.1 in Preferred DNS server.
- Put in 1.0.0.1 in Alternate DNS server.
- Click on OK and close the window. Your problem should be fixed.
Conclusion
I tried my best to give you guys the best ways to limit your download speed on steam. Day by day, the world is getting faster and more efficient. Suffering from low download speeds should be a thing of the past and yet some people are still having problems.
Not everyone is privileged to have an amazing internet connection, I understand that. Hence, I tried my best to help you guys by writing the best ways you can increase your download speed and how to limit your download speed on Steam. I wish you luck in your gaming adventures!
