5 Steps To Increase Epic Games Launcher Download Speed

Many things can contribute to slow download speed on the Epic Games Launcher while downloading games like Fortnite, GTA V, Rocket League, or any other games.

Ever faced the frustration of a snail-paced download while trying to get your hands on the latest game from Epic Games? I’ve been there, and I know I’m not alone. Slow download speeds can turn the excitement of a new game into a test of patience, but what’s really behind this sluggish performance?

Fix Epic Games Slow Download Speed

In this article, I’ll dive into the common culprits of slow downloads from Epic Games and share some tried-and-true solutions that have worked for me. Whether it’s a server issue, your internet connection, or something else entirely, I’ve got the insights to help you troubleshoot and get back to gaming faster. Stick around to uncover how you can optimize your downloading experience and say goodbye to those painfully slow progress bars.

1. Change Throttle Download Settings on Epic Games Launcher

Changing throttle download settings on the Epic Games launcher may not make a lot of sense, but according to many users, it may be the reason you have a slow download speed. 

The steps you have to take are the following:

Open your Epic Games launcher and navigate to Settings.

Navigate to the Settings tab in Epic Games Launcher.

Find the option called Throttle Downloads and tick it. You will see a box like this one below with a default value of 0. 

Tick the option Throttle Downloads and change the “0” value to something like 10000000.

Restart your Epic Games launcher and check your download speed on the Epic Games Launcher. If there is no difference, move to the second method.

2. Optimize the engine.ini file

There may be some download speed limitations by default in the engine.ini file causing the internet connection between your PC and Epic Games store to be slow.

That’s why we are going to edit the config file to make sure there are no download speed limitations and possibly fix the slow download speed.

Navigate to your search bar and type ” %APPDATA%” and hit ENTER.

On the top bar, click on “AppData“.

Enter the “Local” folder.

Double-click the Local folder

Look for the EpicGamesLauncher folder and double-click on it.

Now you should see 2 folders ( Intermediate and Saved ). Double-click on Saved.

Double-click on the Config folder.

Double-click on the “Windows” folder.

Now you should be able to locate the “Engine.ini” file. Once you find it, double-click to open it and start editing.

If a window pop-up asking you, “How do you want to open this program?”, choose Notepad.

Select everything in the engine.ini file and delete it. Then copy the following code and paste it into your engine.ini file. 

[HTTP] HttpTimeout=10 HttpConnectionTimeout=10 HttpReceiveTimeout=10 HttpSendTimeout=10 [Portal.BuildPatch] ChunkDownloads=3 ChunkRetries=20 RetryTime=0.5

Save and close the file, restart your Epic Games Launcher and start downloading the game again to see if the download speed has increased.

If there is no difference, try the following adjustments in the code above: increasing the ChunkDownload=3 value, changing it to 4, saving and closing the file, restarting the Epic Games launcher, and trying again.

If there is still no difference, try with 5,6,7. If nothing works, move to the next step.

3. Reset network settings/DNS Cache

If the previous two steps didn’t help you increase Epic Games Launcher download speed, try to reset your network connection, and socks settings, and flush your DNS server cache.

To do that, follow my instructions below.

Open a Command Prompt window (CMD) as administrator and run the following commands in the same order as listed.

Command #1: ipconfig /flushdns -> hit enter

Command #2: ipconfig /registerdns -> hit enter

Command #3: ipconfig /release -> hit enter

Command #4: ipconfig /renew -> hit enter

Command #5: netsh Winsock reset -> hit enter

Restart your computer and check your Epic Games Launcher download speed again.

Use a High-Quality VPN Server.

If you need to be using a VPN while downloading games from Epic Games for whatever reason, then it might be a good idea to connect to a high-quality VPN server for the best results.

I recommend getting NordVPN since it’s the best all-around VPN in the market and it’s also well-priced.

4. Use an Ethernet Cable

Another way to fix slow download speed and ensure a good internet connection is to use an Ethernet cable. A wired connection will allow you to establish a direct connection with your router, eliminating any potential wireless interference that could be affecting your ping and download speeds.

Using a wired connection instead of a wireless connection, if not all of the time, most of the time will get you a better download speed in Epic Games. I understand that sometimes it may not be possible for you to connect to your network via an Ethernet cable. If that’s the case, then you may consider moving your computer or laptop closer to your router to have a better and more stable connection or getting a better gaming router.

Here are two cheap but highly effective ethernet cables: VANDESAIL and AB RJ45

5. Optimize Network Settings

Network settings play an essential role in ensuring a stable internet speed.

Go into Device Manager, look for your network adapter, right-click on it, and choose Properties.

If you want more advanced network optimizations, I recommend following my guide on optimizing network settings and reducing ping. But, the settings below should be enough for potentially reducing your high ping in X Game.

Navigate to the Power Management tab and uncheck the option: “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power“.

Navigate to the Advanced tab, and disable any power-saving feature like:

• Energy-Efficient Ethernet

• Green Ethernet

• Power saving mode

• Disable any other power-saving feature.

Common Causes of Epic Games’ Slow Download Speeds

Experiencing an Epic Games slow download issue can be puzzling, especially when you’re eager to play the latest release. By understanding common causes, you’ll be better positioned to speed up your Epic Games downloads. Let’s dive into the primary culprits.

Firstly, bandwidth congestion is a frequent offender. If your network is saturated with multiple devices streaming, downloading, or running large updates concurrently, your download speed on Epic Games can be significantly impacted. To put this into context:

Each of these can eat into the bandwidth available for your game download, causing a crawl in speed.

Secondly, the server load of Epic Games itself can throttle the download speed. When too many users are attempting to download simultaneously, especially during big game releases or sales, even a robust server can struggle, leading to an inevitable slowdown.

Another reason you might ponder, “Why is Epic Games downloading so slow?” is your Internet Service Provider (ISP) throttling game downloads deliberately, which unfortunately does happen. ISPs might prioritize certain types of traffic, impacting how to speed up your Epic Games download.

Finally, don’t overlook the hardware limitations of your own setup. Outdated network equipment, like old routers or modems, can’t handle high-speed data transfers efficiently. Moreover, your device’s hard drive write speed can also be a bottleneck if it’s not up to par for the large file sizes that games often have.

Adjusting these elements can transform a sluggish transfer into a swifter experience. Once you’ve isolated the cause, implementing the right tweaks can significantly increase your Epic Games download speed, ensuring a faster route to game time.

Conclusion

I’ve walked you through some effective strategies to boost your download speeds from Epic Games. Remember, it’s all about managing your bandwidth, keeping an eye on background processes, and timing your downloads right. Put these tips into action, and you’ll notice a significant difference. Say goodbye to frustratingly slow downloads and hello to a smoother, quicker gaming experience. Happy gaming!

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