How to Fix Slow Downloading Speed on PlayStation 4?

A PS4 may download slowly due to the console’s wrong settings or issues with the network/router configurations. The issue is reported on nearly all models of PS4s and with different ISPs in different countries. In some cases, only a particular game download or firmware updates download is super slow (a 2GB file may show 99+ hours to complete), whereas, in other cases, every type of download is affected.

There may be many causes for a slow download on a PS4, but we found the following ones to be the most relevant:

1. Pause and Resume the PS4’s Download

If the server or CDN from which your PS4 is downloading is congested and is slow in sending the downloading packets, that could be the root cause of the issue. Pausing and resuming the download may solve the problem, as your PS4 may be connected to a different (less congested) server or CDN. Before moving on, perform a speed test on another device on your network to ensure the network speed is fine.

1. Head to the Downloads tab on your PS4’s Dashboard and select the game or content being downloaded.
2. Now click the Cross (X) button, and in the mini-menu, select Pause.

   

3. Then wait for 10 seconds, and afterward, click on Resume.

   

4. Now check if the PS4 console is downloading as per your network speed.

2. Test the Internet Connection of the PS4

Testing the internet connection of the PS4 may speed up the download. Testing the Internet connections allows PS4 to properly connect to the servers and can possibly fix your issue.

1. Launch Settings of your PS4 and select Network.

   

2. Then open Test Internet Connection and wait till the test completes.

   

3. Once done, check if the download speed has increased.

3. Close Running Apps/Games or Use the PS4’s Rest Mode

If you are playing a game or application while downloading any other content on the PS4, then the PS4 may lower the speed of the download (background process) to free available bandwidth for the game active. Here, closing running apps or games or putting the PS4 in the rest mode may clear the issue.

1. Firstly, check if closing all the running apps or games on the PS4 resolves the issue.
2. If not, click the Power icon on your PS4’s screen and select Enter Reset Mode.

   

3. Now check if the download speed has increased.

4. Restart Your Router and PS4

Restarting your Router & PS4 can fix the slow downloading issue you are facing that’s because running your PS4 for some time can throttle the speed of your network adaptor inside PS4 because of overheating. Restarting the router will make sure that DHCP server assigns a new IP address to your PS4 eliminating any bufferbloat (if present) thus improving your download speeds.

1. Power off your router and PS4.
2. Now disconnect the devices from their power sources and unplug their network cables.

   

3. Then wait for 5 minutes and afterward, plug back the network cables.
4. Now plug back the power cables of the devices and power on your router.
5. Then wait till your router’s lights are stable and afterward, power on your PS4.
6. Once properly powered on, check if the PS4’s download speed has normalized.

5. Disable Remote Play Connection Settings

The Remote Play feature is used to manage your PS4 remotely through a mobile phone, but this feature uses a lot more bandwidth than most streaming services like Netflix. If this PS4 feature is throttling your network’s bandwidth, that could slow the speed of your PS4’s download. In this case, disabling the Remote Play Connection Settings of the PS4 may resolve the issue.

1. Launch Settings of your PS4 and open Remote Play Connection Settings.

   

2. Now uncheck Enable Remote Play and save your changes.

   

3. Then check if the PS4 slow download issue is resolved.

6. Increase the Router Speed

If your router is not configured to utilize the full speed your network can offer, then that may cause slow PS4 downloads. Configuring your router to utilize the maximum network speed may clear the error in this context. For illustration, we will discuss the process for a Netgear router using a wireless connection.

1. Log into your router’s management portal (like routerlogin.net) through a web browser or an app.
2. Now steer to its Wireless Settings section and then, in the right pane, expand the Mode dropdown.
3. Then select the maximum available value e.g., Up to 150 Mbps.

   

4. Now apply your changes and restart your router along with the PS4.
5. Upon restart, check if the PS4’s slow download issue is resolved.

7. Connect the PS4 to the 5GHz Band of the Router

5 GHz band of your router (in the case of a dual-band router) provides a faster speed than the 2.4 GHz band. If your PS4 is connected to the 2.4 GHz band, then that could be the reason for the slow downloads and here, switching the console to the 5 GHz band (make sure your PS4 is close to the router) may resolve the issue. Keep in mind that not all PS4 models support connecting to the 5GHz band.

1. Launch Settings of your PS4 and open Network.
2. Now select Setup Internet Connection and click on Use Wi-Fi.
3. Then select Easy and open the Options menu.

   

4. Now click on Wi-Fi Frequency Bands and select 5GHz only.
5. Then complete the setup as per your requirements and afterward, check if the PS4’s download speed has improved.

8. Try Another Network Type or Another Network/VPN

If a particular network card on your PS4 (PS4s are known to have weak network cards) is about to fail, that may slow PS4’s downloads. Also, Wi-Fi connections perform weaker as compared to a LAN connection and for gaming, it is better to use a LAN connection. Moreover, if your ISP or its router configurations limit the PS4’s speed, that could also cause the issue. Trying another network type of your PS4 or another network/VPN may clear the slow download issue in this scenario.

1. Connect your PS4 to another network type i.e., if you are encountering issues on a Wi-Fi connection, then check if using a LAN connection (make sure Wi-Fi is disabled) clears the slow download issue or vice versa. If the issue is resolved when you connect the PS4 to Wi-Fi, then you may change your LAN cable or powerline adapter (if being used).
   Make sure to make the switch the connection in the Internet Connection Settings of the PS4, otherwise, it may still use the older network type e.g., the PS4 may use Wi-Fi, even if connected through the LAN cable or vice versa if not configured in the PS4 settings.
2. If not, disconnect your PS4 from the current network and restart your PS4.
3. Upon restart, connect your PS4 to another network (like your phone’s hotspot) and then check if the PS4 is downloading fine.

   

4. If not, check if using a VPN resolves the PS4’s slow download issue.

9. Disable the Router’s QoS Feature

A router uses the QoS (Quality of Service) feature to prioritize the web traffic on the basis of its importance. If the router is prioritizing other types of traffic over the PS4’s download, then that could slow the PS4 download speed. In such a case, disabling the router’s QoS feature may speed up the PS4’s download speed. The general process to disable the router’s QoS feature is as under:

1. Head to the management portal of your router through a browser or an app and log in using your credentials (if required).
2. Now steer to the Advanced tab and open Qos Setup.
3. Now untick the checkbox of Turn Internet Access QoS on and click on Apply.

   

4. Then restart your router and PS4 to check if the download speed has normalized.

If the issue is resolved after disabling the router’s QoS, then you may edit the QoS setting of your router to prioritize the PS4-related web traffic. 

10. Disable the Router’s Firewall

Your PS4 may download slowly if your router’s firewall is taking excessive time to pass the data packets between the console and servers if it is “suspicious” of the web traffic exchanged. Here, disabling the router’s firewall may clear the slow download issue. The general guidelines are as under:

Warning:

Proceed at your own risk and with extreme caution as disabling your router’s firewall may expose the console, its data, and the network to threats.

1. Launch a web browser and head to the management portal of your router.
2. Then steer to the Settings tab and expand the Security option.
3. Now head to the Firewall tab and untick the option of Enable Firewall (in the right pane).

   

4. Then apply your changes and restart the router along with the PS4.
5. Now check if the PS4 download speed is fine.
6. If that did not work, check if changing the NAT type of your network to open resolves the issue.

11. Reset Your Router to the Factory Defaults

PS4 slow downloads could be a result of the corrupt router’s firmware or any customization to the default router’s configuration which conflicts with the PS4 standards. Here, resetting your router to its default state may speed up the download speed of your PS4. Before proceeding, note down the instructions and configurations required to re-set up your router.

1. Firstly, locate your router’s reset button (generally on the bottom or back of the router) and press/hold it with a pointy (like a paperclip) item.
2. Now wait for 30 seconds and then release the button.

   

3. Then let the router power on properly and afterward, configure it as per the OEM’s instructions.
4. Now restart your PS4 and upon restart, check if the PS4 is downloading fine.
5. If resetting your router did not work, make sure the PS4 required ports are properly forwarded in your router’s configuration, and then check if the slow download problem is solved.
6. If not, then you may set up a static IP for your PS4 or use a DMZ (strictly not recommended).

12. Rebuild the Database of the PS4

If the database of your PS4 is congested or corrupt, then the PS4 may take a longer time to make space for new downloads and ultimately will slow down the downloads. Here, rebuilding the database of the PS4 may clear the slow download problem. Before moving on, remove any disc drive from your PS4 and make sure to back up the console’s essential data.

1. Power off your console from the power menu and then boot the PS4 into the Safe Mode.
2. Then connect the controller when asked to (Bluetooth wouldn’t work in the PS4’s Safe Mode) and on the Safe Mode screen, select option no. 5 of Rebuild Database.

   

3. Now click on OK to confirm rebuilding database of the PS4 and afterward, wait till the process completes. The PS4 will reboot and the progress bar on the screen will be shown. This may take time from minutes to hours depending upon the size of the data on the disk.

   

4. Once done, the PS4 will restart, and afterward, check if the download issue is cleared.

13. Change the DNS Settings of Your PS4

If your ISP is using a CDN, then that could slow the download speed if the CDN is overloaded or does not have good speed. In this case, changing the DNS settings of your PS4 may speed up downloads.

1. Launch Settings of your PS4 and open Network.
2. Now select Set Up Internet Connection and select Wi-Fi. In the case of LAN, select LAN and follow steps 4 and onwards.
3. Then click on Custom, select your Wi-Fi network and key in the password of the network.

   

4. Now set IP Address settings to Automatic.
5. Then, on the DHCP Host Name screen, click on Do not Specify, and in the DNS Settings window, select Manual.

   

6. Now enter the following or any other DNS values as per your choice:

   Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8
   
   Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4

   

7. Then on the MTU Settings menu, select Automatic and for Proxy Server, click on Do Not Use.

   

8. Now select the button of Test Internet Connection and once done, check if the download speed of your PS4 has improved.

   

If you do not want to use Google DNS, you may use CloudDNS, Comodo DNS, Cloudflare DNS, etc.

14. Change the MTU Size of Your PS4

If the MTU size of your PS4 is not optimal as per the requirements of your network or server from which you are downloading, then that can slow the handling of data packets received through the download. In this case, changing the MTU size of your PS4 may speed up the download speed.

1. Follow steps 1 to 7 of the DNS solution (discussed above) to steer to the MTU Settings in the PS4 Settings.
2. Now select Manual and change the MTU value to 1473.

   

3. Then set Proxy Server to Do Not Use and click on Test Internet Connection.

   

4. Once done, check if the download speed has normalized.
5. If that did not work, check if changing MTU to 1492 or 1450 clears the issue.

15. Set UP a Proxy to Speed UP PS4’s Download Speed

The PS4 lowers the size of the data packet as the networking distance between the PS4 and the server involved increases, resulting in lower download speeds.

Here, setting up a local proxy on your network may speed up the download as the networking distance between the proxy and your PS4 will be minimum (that will increase the size of the data packets and may speed up the download process). Before moving on, do note that you need a PC on the same network as your PS4 to perform the steps listed below.

Warning:

Proceed at your own risk as we are not linked to CCProxy and Squidman in any way and we are referring to them in a good faith as the applications are reported to be generally safe but if they cause any harm, Appuals.com will not be responsible for that.

1. Launch a web browser on your PC and head to the download page of the CCProxy website.
2. Now install CCProxy on your PC and launch it. In case you are a Mac user, you may use Squidman.
3. Then click on Start and once the proxy server starts, open the Options menu.

   

4. Now note down the IP and port number of your proxy server.
5. Then, on your PS4, head to its Settings and select Set Up a Network Connection.
6. Now use your connection type e.g., Use a LAN Cable and on the next screen, click on Custom.
7. Then select Automatic on the IP Address Settings window and click on Do not Specify on the DHCP Host Name menu.
8. Now select Automatic for DNS Settings and on the MTU Setting window, click on Automatic.
9. Then, on the Proxy Server window, select Use and enter the details (IP and port number) noted in step 4.

   

10. Now click on Save and then check if the PS4’s download speed has improved. If an issue occurs while using the default 8080 port of CCProxy, you may try to use port 808.

A point to remember is that some online PS4 games may fail to operate when connected through the proxy. You may set up proxy only when downloading content on the PS4, otherwise, you may disable it. 

16. Initialize Your PS4 Console

The PS4 may show slow download speeds if the firmware of your console is corrupt and due to this corruption, the essential modules of the PS4 are failing to execute quickly. Initializing the PS4 may clear the slow download problem (this will reset your console to its default state). Before advancing, back the essential PS4 data (online backup or to a USB device).  

1. Steer to the Settings of the PS4 console and click on Initialization.
2. Then open Initialize PS4 and select Full.

   

3. Now, wait till the reset process finishes. Make sure your PS4 console does not shut down during the reset process.
4. Once done, set up the console as per your liking and hopefully, its slow download issue would be resolved.

If none of the above worked, you may contact Sony or the problematic game support to resolve the issue. Moreover, check if installing a new hard drive in the PS4 clears the error.