How to Increase Download Speed

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  • If the speed of your Internet connection is vital to your online enjoyment, slow downloads may be frustrating. Luckily, there are several ways to increase download speed.

  • If the speed of your Internet connection is vital to your online enjoyment, slow downloads may be frustrating. Luckily, there are several ways to increase download speed.

  • Introduction

    • There is nothing worse than slow download speeds. Download speed refers to the rate data is transferred from the Internet to your computer and is measured in kilobits per second (kbps), kilobytes per second (KBps), megabits per second (Mbps) and megabytes per second (MBps).

  • Step 1: Learn About Your Internet Connection

    • Your maximum download speed will depend on your computer's Internet connection.

  • Types of Internet Connections

    1. Dial-up internet connections are connected through your phone line and are the most basic type of internet connections.
    2. Broadband internet connections provide high speed internet access, which includes:
      1. DSL Internet connections.
      2. Cable Internet connections.

  • Upgrade Your Internet Connection

    • If your Internet connection is too slow, you may want to contact your service provider to upgrade your connection. If your service provider can't give you the results you want, you may want to change service providers.

  • Step 2: Test Your Download Speed

    • Testing your connection will tell you if you are getting the speed promised by your Internet service provider. There are many online programs that allow you to test your internet connection for free. During an online speed test the website will send your computer a file and then measure how long it takes to download.
    1. Choose a speed test, such as:
      1. SpeedTest.net: Speed Test
      2. McAfee: Speedometer
      3. Speakeasy: Speed Test
      4. CNet: Bandwidth Meter Online Speed Test
    2. Once at the website, select the server nearest to your geographical location.
      • Enter any other information, such as area code, service provider or connection type.
    3. Start the test.
    4. The length of test will depend on the speed of your connection.
    5. The results will be given in the form of a transfer rate (e.g., kbps).

  • Step 3: Optimize Your Computer

    • The first thing you need to do is make sure your computer is running as efficiently as possible.
    1. Defragment your computer. Defragment organizes the files on your computer so your computer can load files faster.
      1. Go to Computer or My Computer.
      2. Right click on your C drive.
      3. Click Properties.
      4. Select the Tools tab.
      5. Click Defragment Now.
    2. Optimize your Windows Registry.
    3. Use a TCP Optimizer.
      • Search online to find the right one for you.

  • Step 4: Prioritize Downloads

    • Remember, your Internet connection provides a finite bandwidth capacity. The more files you try downloading at a time, the slower each download will be. To increase your download speed, you need to:
    1. Limit your number of downloads.
      • Try only downloading one file at a time.
    2. Limit the number of programs running while you download.
      • Open internet browsers and other programs will slow your Internet speeds.
      • Only keep the programs open you absolutely need.
    3. Disable add-ons and extra tool bars.
    4. Try downloading off peak hours (5 pm to 11 pm).
    5. Try downloading when you are not using your computer for anything else.

  • Conclusion

    • You don't have to be frustrated by slow download speeds. Follow these simple tips and soon you'll be downloading files to your heart's content.


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