Slow download speeds on Xbox Series X and Series S are one of the most frustrating things a gamer can deal with — especially when you just bought a new game and all you want to do is play. You stare at the progress bar. It barely moves. You check the estimated time: 6 hours. For a 50GB game. That hurts.
The good news? Most of the time, this is fixable. You don’t need to call your internet provider or buy new hardware. In most cases, a few simple tweaks are all it takes to dramatically improve your download speeds.
In this guide, we’ll walk through every method — from the quick and easy to the more technical — to help you get faster downloads on your Xbox Series X or Series S.
Why Is My Xbox Downloading So Slowly?
Before jumping into the fixes, it helps to understand why this happens in the first place.
Xbox consoles, like most devices, share your home network with phones, laptops, smart TVs, and everything else connected to your router. When multiple devices are active at the same time, your bandwidth gets split between all of them. Add in a less-than-ideal Wi-Fi connection, a congested server on Microsoft’s end, or outdated DNS settings, and you’ve got a recipe for painfully slow downloads.
Here are the most common culprits:
- Poor Wi-Fi signal or interference
- Network congestion from other devices
- Xbox Quick Resume or background apps using bandwidth
- Outdated router firmware
- Suboptimal DNS settings
- Downloading during peak server hours
- A game currently running in the foreground
Now let’s fix them — one by one.
1. Put the Console in Sleep Mode While Downloading
This is the simplest trick, and it works surprisingly well.
When you’re actively playing a game or have the dashboard open, your Xbox splits its resources between what’s running and what’s downloading. If you put the console into Instant-On (sleep) mode while a download is in progress, the Xbox dedicates more of its network resources to the download itself.
How to do it:
- Start your download as normal
- Press the Xbox button on your controller
- Go to Profile & System > Settings > General > Power Mode & Startup
- Make sure Instant-on is selected
- Hold the Xbox button and choose Sleep
Your download will continue in the background, often noticeably faster.
2. Pause and Resume the Download
It sounds almost too simple, but pausing a download and then resuming it can reset the connection to Microsoft’s servers and sometimes lock onto a faster one.
Steps:
- Press the Xbox button
- Go to My games & apps > See all > Queue
- Highlight the download and press Menu (☰)
- Select Pause, wait about 10 seconds, then Resume
Do this a few times if needed. Some users report a significant speed boost just from this.
3. Restart Your Router and Console
A classic for a reason. Routers can get bogged down over time with cached data and stale connections. Restarting yours clears all of that out.
Steps:
- Unplug your router from the power outlet
- Wait a full 60 seconds (not just 10 — let the capacitors drain)
- Plug it back in and wait for it to fully reconnect
- Restart your Xbox: hold the Xbox button > Restart console
After both devices come back up, check your download speed. Many people find this alone makes a big difference.
4. Switch to a Wired (Ethernet) Connection
If you’re using Wi-Fi, this is the single biggest improvement you can make.
Wi-Fi is convenient, but it’s inherently less stable and slower than a direct wired connection. Walls, distance, interference from microwaves and neighboring networks — all of these degrade your signal. An Ethernet cable bypasses all of that.
The Xbox Series X and Series S both have a Gigabit Ethernet port on the back. Plug in a Cat 5e or Cat 6 cable directly from your router to the console, and you’ll likely see a dramatic improvement.
If running a cable isn’t practical, consider a powerline adapter or a MoCA adapter as a middle ground — these use your home’s electrical wiring or coaxial cable to create a wired-like connection.
5. Change Your DNS Settings
Your DNS (Domain Name System) is like the internet’s address book — it translates website names into IP addresses. Your ISP’s default DNS servers are often slow or overloaded.
Switching to a faster DNS — like Google’s or Cloudflare’s — can reduce the time it takes for your Xbox to connect to Microsoft’s servers and improve overall network performance.
How to change DNS on Xbox Series X/S:
- Press the Xbox button
- Go to Profile & System > Settings > General > Network settings
- Select Advanced settings
- Choose DNS settings > Manual
- Enter the following:
Google DNS:
- Primary:
8.8.8.8 - Secondary:
8.8.4.4
Or Cloudflare DNS (often faster):
- Primary:
1.1.1.1 - Secondary:
1.0.0.1
- Press Save
After saving, run a network speed test from the Xbox settings to see if things improved.
6. Close Background Apps and Games
Quick Resume is one of the Xbox Series X/S’s best features — it lets you jump between games instantly. But those suspended games are still sitting in memory and potentially using network resources.
Before starting a big download, close everything out.
How to close all background apps:
- Press the Xbox button
- Hover over any running game or app
- Press Menu (☰)
- Select Quit
Repeat for anything else that’s running. This frees up both RAM and bandwidth for your download.
7. Download During Off-Peak Hours
Microsoft’s download servers — like any online service — get busiest during the evening and weekends when millions of people are gaming at the same time. If you’re downloading at 7 PM on a Friday, you’re competing with a lot of people.
Try scheduling your downloads for:
- Late night (midnight to 6 AM)
- Early morning
- Weekday afternoons
You can queue up a download and let it run overnight. With Instant-On mode enabled, your Xbox will download even while you’re sleeping.
8. Check for Network Congestion at Home
Even if Microsoft’s servers are fast, your home network might be the bottleneck.
Streaming 4K video, video calls, and online gaming on other devices all eat up bandwidth. If someone in your house is watching Netflix in 4K while you’re downloading a 100GB game, that’s going to slow things down.
Quick tips:
- Ask household members to pause streams or downloads temporarily
- Check your router’s connected device list to see what’s using the most bandwidth
- Consider setting up Quality of Service (QoS) on your router to prioritize Xbox traffic
QoS settings are usually found in your router’s admin panel (typically accessed at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in a browser). Look for a section called “QoS” or “Traffic Priority” and add your Xbox to the priority list.
9. Check Your Internet Plan Speed
Sometimes the issue isn’t your Xbox or your network setup — it’s just that your internet plan doesn’t offer the speeds you expect.
Run a quick speed test on another device (phone or laptop on the same network) using Fast.com or Speedtest.net. If you’re paying for 100 Mbps but only getting 20 Mbps, that’s a conversation to have with your ISP.
For comfortable gaming and downloading, you generally want:
- Minimum: 25 Mbps download
- Recommended: 100 Mbps or higher
- Ideal for fast downloads: 200 Mbps+
10. Check Microsoft’s Server Status
Sometimes it really isn’t your fault. Microsoft occasionally has server issues or scheduled maintenance that affects download speeds for everyone.
Check the official Xbox Status page at support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-live-status to see if there are any known issues. If the servers are having problems, the only real fix is to wait it out.
11. Factory Reset Network Settings
If you’ve tried everything above and you’re still seeing poor speeds, resetting your network settings on the Xbox can clear any corrupted configuration.
How to reset network settings:
- Go to Settings > General > Network settings
- Select Advanced settings
- Choose Alternate MAC address
- Select Clear and then Restart
This resets your network configuration to default and sometimes resolves stubborn connection issues.
12. Update Your Router’s Firmware
An outdated router can have bugs that affect performance and stability. Most modern routers can update their firmware automatically, but many people never check.
Log into your router’s admin panel (check the label on your router for the IP address and login credentials) and look for a Firmware Update option. If one is available, install it.
Bonus Tip: Use a 5 GHz Wi-Fi Band (If You Must Use Wi-Fi)
If a wired connection genuinely isn’t an option, at least make sure you’re on the 5 GHz band rather than 2.4 GHz.
The 5 GHz band is faster and less congested than 2.4 GHz, though it has a shorter range. If your Xbox is in the same room or close to your router, connect to the 5 GHz network for noticeably better speeds.
Most modern routers broadcast both bands. Look for an SSID in your Wi-Fi list that ends in “5G” or “5GHz.”
FAQ
Why are my Xbox Series X download speeds so much slower than my internet speed?
Several factors can cause this: Wi-Fi signal degradation, background apps consuming bandwidth, other devices on your network, or Microsoft’s servers being under heavy load. Try a wired connection and download during off-peak hours for the best results.
Does Quick Resume slow down downloads on Xbox Series X?
It can, yes. Games suspended via Quick Resume remain in memory and may use background network resources. Closing those apps before downloading can free up bandwidth.
What internet speed do I need for fast Xbox downloads?
You can technically download on any connection, but for comfortable speeds, aim for at least 100 Mbps. If you frequently download large games (80–150 GB is now common), 200 Mbps or more will save you a lot of waiting.
Does putting Xbox in sleep mode help download speeds?
Yes — when the console is in Instant-On (sleep) mode, it allocates more resources to downloading since it doesn’t need to power the display, run the dashboard, or maintain game sessions.
Should I use Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS on Xbox?
Both are significantly better than most ISP-provided DNS servers. Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) is generally considered the fastest globally, but Google (8.8.8.8) is also excellent. Try both and run a network test after each to see which performs better in your area.
Why does my Xbox download speed vary so much?
Download speed fluctuates based on Microsoft’s server load, your network congestion, and the health of your connection. Speeds tend to be fastest late at night when fewer people are downloading.
Can I speed up downloads while playing a game?
You can, but the game will always take priority over the download. For the fastest downloads, either put the console in sleep mode or don’t run anything in the foreground.
Final Thoughts
Slow download speeds on Xbox Series X and Series S are annoying, but they’re almost always fixable. Start with the easy wins — sleep mode, pausing and resuming, restarting your router. If those don’t cut it, move on to switching DNS servers, using a wired connection, or adjusting your router’s QoS settings.
With a bit of tinkering, you should be able to get download speeds that actually match what your internet plan is capable of. And once you’ve got things running smoothly, those big game installs won’t feel like such a slog.
Good luck — and happy gaming.
