How to Troubleshoot Slow Xbox Download Speeds

Simple fixes to boost your download speed on Xbox

Co-authored by Megaera Lorenz, PhD Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: December 11, 2025 Fact Checked

Are your Xbox games and apps downloading at a glacially slow pace? There are several issues that could cause this problem, but it’s usually easy to fix. While the most common causes are a poor network connection or games and apps running in the background, it could also be a software glitch, a server issue, or even your ISP throttling download speeds. Read on to learn what might be causing your slow Xbox downloads and how to fix it.

Common Reasons for Slow Xbox Downloads

A poor internet connection is one of the most common reasons for slow Xbox downloads.
Make sure there are no other games or apps running during a download.
It could be a problem with Xbox’s content servers or a software glitch on the Xbox itself.
Using a VPN or changing your DNS server can help you get around ISP throttling issues.

1

You might have a poor internet connection.

Bad network connections are a common cause of slow downloads. There are lots of reasons your internet speeds might be slow, so you’ll have to do some trial and error troubleshooting. Sometimes restarting your router is enough to fix the problem. If that doesn’t work:^{[1]
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- Check your Xbox’s network connection. This will help give you a sense of whether it’s a connection issue or something else. To do so:
  - Close any open games and pause any downloads that are running. Then, press the Xbox button and go to Profile & system > Settings > General > Network settings. Select Test network connection.
- Try testing your internet speed. You can easily do this at a website like speedtest.net. If your internet speed is slower than what your ISP advertises, you might need to contact them and ask what’s going on.
- Make sure your local network isn’t overloaded with traffic. If someone else on the network is doing something that uses up a lot of bandwidth, like streaming high-definition video or having a conference call, that might be the problem.
- Check if anything is physically interfering with your Xbox’s Wi-Fi connection. If your router is in a different room, or if there are other electronics between your router and your Xbox, you might not have a great connection.
  - If all else fails, try connecting your Xbox directly to your modem with an Ethernet cable. This will create a stronger connection.

2

Background games and apps can slow your downloads.

Many Xbox users report this as a major cause of download delays. If you have any games or apps running, close them and see if that helps. To do so:^{[2]
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- Go to My games & apps > Manage > Queue.
- Select Suspend my game. You’ll only see this option if you have a game running while you’re trying to download another game or app.
- Alternatively, navigate to a game on your Home screen, select it, and press the ☰ (Menu) button. Select Quit.

3

Your Xbox might need a restart.

Your console can get slow and glitchy if it’s on for too long. To restart it, press and hold the Xbox button on your controller, then select Restart console > Restart. This will automatically pause any downloads. To verify that your download has restarted once the console turns back on:^{[3]
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- From the Home screen, go to My games & apps > See all > Manage > Queue.
- Highlight the game or app you’re trying to download.
- Make sure the status is listed as “Installing.” If it says “Queued” or “Paused” instead, press ☰ > Resume installation.

4

Xbox’s servers might be busy.

Some Xbox users observe that downloads slow down at certain times of day. If there are lots of players trying to download games or apps at the same time, you might run into slower download speeds. If this is the case, there’s not much you can do except wait it out.
- Check Xbox’s server status here.

5

It could be normal download speed fluctuations.

Check in on your download occasionally. It’s normal for the speed to fluctuate a bit. However, if your download seems to stall or you’re consistently noticing that downloads take longer than usual, then there might be a problem.

6

A Remote Play connection can slow things down.

Turn off Remote Play while you’re downloading apps and games. Remote Play can take up bandwidth and make your Xbox download more slowly.^{[4]
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- You can also click or tap the flyout menu at the top left corner of the screen (the tab-shaped icon with two rows of dots), click •••, and then click Disconnect.

7

Your ISP might be throttling your download speeds.

Some ISPs intentionally throttle traffic from certain busy servers. You might especially notice this problem at certain times of the day. To get around it, try using a VPN, which can mask your activity and make it harder for your ISP to identify and slow down specific high-bandwidth activities (like downloading games).
- You can’t directly install a VPN on your Xbox. However, you can install one on your Wi-Fi router (if your router supports it), and it will then apply to all your connected devices.^{[5]
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  - To do this, you’ll need to find your router’s IP address, then visit it in a browser.
  - Log in with your router’s admin username and password (usually printed on the router itself).
  - Log into your VPN provider’s website and find the manual setup or router configuration section.
  - Select your preferred server, then choose the open VPN protocol (.ovpn) and download the configuration files you need.
  - On your router page, locate the VPN client section and upload the configuration file(s) you downloaded. Enter your VPN account username and password.
  - Click Activate (or something similar). All devices on your router’s Wi-Fi, including the Xbox, should now be connected via the VPN!
- If installing a VPN on your router isn’t an option, you can install one on your computer, then create a Wi-Fi hotspot and connect the Xbox to that.

8

It might be a DNS issue.

Some redditors report that switching to a new DNS can speed up downloads. Try switching to a public DNS (Domain Name Server), such as Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8) on your Xbox and see if that makes a difference in download speeds. To change your DNS settings:
- Select the
  Settings icon on the home screen, then select General > Network settings (or Network > Network settings).
- Select Advanced settings > DNS settings.
- Select Manual.
- Use the number pad on the screen to enter the number of the DNS you’d like to use. You should have the option to enter a primary DNS and a backup/secondary DNS.
- Press the menu button to save your changes. The Xbox should automatically test your connection to the internet after you return to the Network settings menu.

9

A software update might be to blame.

Some players report slower download speeds after updating. If this is the case, you may need to just wait it out, or keep checking back for a new update that patches any issues with the previous one.
- On the other hand, if your Xbox system software is out of date, updating it might fix the problem.

10

It could be a hardware issue.

It’s possible that there’s a problem with the built-in hard drive, your external storage device, or some other component of the Xbox. Visit the Xbox repair service website and register your device (if you haven’t already) to find out about your warranty status and repair service options.