Downloading a new game can be very exciting. However, this happiness quickly turns into frustration when you know your internet is fast, but the speed just isn’t coming. If you are stuck in a similar situation right now—don’t worry. In this guide, I’ll show you four simple ways to increase download speeds inWindows 11.

1. Close Background Processes

If you’redownloading a Steam gamewhile watching a 4K YouTube video, both tasks will compete for network bandwidth and slow your download. Therefore, the first thing you should do is close all the background processes. To do this:

Additionally, you can give the downloading application more network priority. Here is how:

Windows 11 logo

2. Use a Wired Internet Connection

Although Wi-Fi speeds have improved, they still pale in comparison to ethernet speeds. Therefore, if you are downloading a big game likeCall of Duty Warzoneand your PC/laptop has an ethernet port, try plugging it in. You will instantly see your download speeds go up.

3. Change DNS Server

DNS, orDomain Naming System, is a service that translates human-written website names likeFossbytes.cominto bits that computers can understand. In simple terms, DNS is your gateway to the internet. However, if your DNS server is slow, it can bottleneck the whole system. Fortunately, you can change it in Windows 11. Here is how:

If you frequently download large files, adownload managercould solve your problems. These programs break the file into smaller parts and download them simultaneously, making the process faster and more efficient. Some of the popular download managers includeJDownloader 2,Free Download Manager, andMotrix.

ethernet port on a laptop

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You can use websites likespeedtest.netto check your download speed quickly.

Some of the best DNS servers are OpenDNS, CloudFlare, and Google.

To improve download speeds over Wi-Fi, try moving closer to your router, reducing interference from other devices, or switching to a 5GHz network if your router supports it.

Image of DNS system to increase download speed in Windows 11

Conclusion

There you have it—the best ways to improve your download speeds inWindows 11. Whether you’re downloading a large game or file, there’s a method here for everyone. Be sure to try all the solutions to see which works best for you.