Chrome Download very Slow after update? Lets fix it

Google Chrome, is popular for its fast browsing speed, user-friendly interface, and seamless synchronization across devices. The browser receives regular updates to maintain compatibility with the latest standards and operating systems. While these updates primarily focus on enhancing security and fixing issues, some users may still encounter challenges, such as slow download speeds. Many Chrome users have reported experiencing slow download speeds when using Chrome, which can affect their productivity and online experience. This article explores, what causes Chrome download speed slow, and Troubleshooting tips help you speed up downloads if they are slower than usual.

How to Fix Slow Download Speeds on Chrome

Many factors can affect your download speed on Chrome, slow or unstable internet connection to corrupted cookies and cache of your Chrome browser. It may be many files you are downloading at the same time. The browser settings are not optimized for downloading, Your device is running low on resources or has malware.

• Slow internet connection or network congestion can significantly impact download speeds. You need to Check your internet connection and consider running a speed test.
• Certain Chrome extensions may consume bandwidth or interfere with downloads. Try disabling extensions to see if it improves download speed
• An outdated version of Chrome may have performance issues. Ensure you are using the latest version by checking for updates in the browser settings.
• Multiple downloads or updates running simultaneously can divide bandwidth and slow down individual downloads. Pause or prioritize ongoing downloads.
• Security software settings may sometimes interfere with download speeds. Check your antivirus or firewall settings and adjust them if necessary.
• Accumulated cache and cookies can affect browser performance. Clearing these regularly might improve download speeds.

Check Internet connection

This is the most obvious factor that determines how fast you can download files on any browser. If your internet connection is slow, your downloads will be slow too. You can use a speed test tool like Ookla’s Speedtest or Google’s Measurement Lab to measure your current download speed and compare it with your expected speed based on your internet plan.

• If your Internet speed is lower than expected, Restart your router and modem to clear any possible glitches or cache issues
• Move closer to the router or use a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi to reduce signal loss or interference.
• If you are connected VPN server, and the VPN server is too far from you, the data packet will take longer to travel and result slow
• Contact your internet service provider (ISP) to check if any issues or outages are affecting your area or plan.
• Disconnect other devices, pause any ongoing downloads on different devices, and re-run the speed test to isolate the issue.

The slower your internet connection, the slower information will make its way from the internet source to your computer or device.

Disable Browser Extensions

Extensions are small programs that add extra features and functionality to Chrome and enhance your browsing experience. but they can also consume a lot of resources and interfere with your downloads. Look for extensions related to download management or content blocking, as they could impact speeds.

You can use Chrome’s task manager to see how much resources each tab or extension is consuming and end any that are not needed. Open the Chrome Task Manager by clicking on the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and navigating to More Tools> Task Manager.

• Click on the three dots in the top-right corner of Chrome.
• Navigate to “More tools” > “Extensions.”
• Disable extensions one by one by toggling the switch next to each extension.
• Test download speeds after disabling each extension to identify the culprit.

Update chrome browser

Updates not only improve security and performance but also often address compatibility issues with websites and extensions. Regularly updating Chrome is crucial for optimal performance.

Chrome releases updates regularly to fix bugs and improve performance.

• Click on the three dots in the top-right corner of Chrome.
• Go to “Settings” > “About Chrome.”
• Chrome will automatically check for updates. If updates are available, click on “Update” to install them.
• After the update, restart Chrome to apply the changes.

Change chrome download location

By default, Chrome saves your downloads in the Downloads folder on your computer. However, this folder might be full or corrupted, which can slow down your downloads.

To change your download location, go to Settings > Downloads. Or type chrome://settings/downloads on the address bar press enter key,

Click on Change next to Location, Choose a different folder or create a new one to store your downloads.

You can also enable the option Ask where to save each file before downloading if you want to choose a different location for each download.

Consider using a download manager extension for Chrome to better control and optimize your download processes. Some of the features of a download manager include resuming interrupted downloads, splitting large files into smaller parts, and scheduling downloads. There are many download managers available online, such as Free Download Manager, Internet Download Manager, or JDownloader.

• In Chrome, go to the Downloads section (Ctrl+J)
• Pause unnecessary downloads by clicking on the pause button next to each download.
• Prioritize important downloads by dragging them to the top of the list.

Check Antivirus or Firewall settings

Some security software may have a dedicated setting for web protection that could affect download speeds. Additionally, check if there are any pending software updates for your security suite.

• Open your antivirus or firewall software.
• Navigate to settings and look for options related to web protection or firewall.
• Adjust settings to allow Chrome to function smoothly.
• Temporarily disable the antivirus or firewall for testing purposes and check download speeds.

Malware can infect your computer and affect your browser’s performance and security. To scan for malware, use reliable antivirus software or use built-in Windows security.

Clear Cache and Cookies

Chrome stores a lot of data in its cache and cookies, which can slow down your browser and affect your downloads. A cache is a temporary storage of web pages and images that Chrome uses to load websites faster. Cookies are small files that store information about your preferences and settings on websites.

However, over time, these data can accumulate and take up space on your computer, which can reduce your browser’s performance and speed.

• Click on the three dots in the top-right corner of Chrome.
• Go to “Settings” > “Privacy and security” > “Clear browsing data.”
• Select “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.”
• Select the time range all times and click “Clear data” to remove cached data.

Regularly clearing cache and cookies not only helps with downloads but also contributes to overall browsing speed.

Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration uses your computer’s hardware to offload certain tasks, but it might cause issues on some systems. Disabling it can sometimes lead to improved performance.

• Go to “Settings” > “Advanced” > “System.”
• Toggle off “Use hardware acceleration when available.”
• Restart Chrome to apply the changes.

Change DNS Settings

Google’s public DNS or other reliable DNS providers can often offer faster and more stable connections. Changing DNS settings is a simple yet effective solution.

• Press Windows key + R, type ncpa.cpl and click ok to Navigate to your network settings,
• Right-click on the active network adapter select properties,
• Double-click on Internet protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4) to open properties,
• Switch to manual DNS configuration, and input the preferred DNS server addresses, such as those provided by Google (8.8.8.8) and 8.8.4.4 for alternate DNS servers.

Reset Chrome settings

Sometimes, changing the settings of Chrome can cause problems with your downloads. For example, you might have changed the download behavior, the proxy settings, or the security settings of Chrome which can affect how it handles downloads.

• To reset Chrome settings, go to Settings > Reset and clean up > Restore settings to their original defaults. Click Reset settings to confirm.
• This will restore the default settings of Chrome without deleting your bookmarks, history, or passwords.

If you’re consistently experiencing slow downloads from a specific website, it’s prudent to check the website’s server status. Sometimes, server-side issues might be the culprit. Visit the website’s official status page or use online tools to check if the server is experiencing any disruptions or high traffic.

Applications running in the background, such as cloud services or streaming platforms, can consume bandwidth. Identifying and closing these applications can free up resources.

If none of the above methods work, you might want to try another browser to see if the problem is specific to Chrome or not. There are many alternatives to Chrome, such as Firefox, Edge, Safari, or Opera.

If you still can’t fix your slow downloads on Chrome, you might need to contact Google support for further assistance. You can reach Google support by visiting https://support.google.com/chrome/