Why is my Steam download speed so damn slow compared to everything else?

Try changing your download region in Steam settings - that usually helps

Steam servers get overloaded sometimes, especially during big sales or updates

I gave up and just let games download overnight while I sleep. Less rage that way.

There could be several reasons why your Steam download speed is crawling. First, go into Steam Settings > Downloads and check if there’s a bandwidth limit set – if there is, remove it. Then try switching your download region to a different nearby country or even a totally different one. Also, clear the download cache while you're in there. Restart your router/modem just to rule out local network glitches. If that doesn't help, check if you’re running any VPN, proxy, antivirus, or firewall that could be interfering. Steam downloads over TCP, so any traffic shaping or packet inspection can affect it.

Here's a full checklist that helped me fix mine:                                                                                                                  Steam settings: unchecked download throttle, changed region, cleared cache.                                                            Network: flushed DNS, reset Winsock, restarted router.                                                                                             Disabled VPN & antivirus temporarily – my VPN was cutting speeds by 70%.                                                                Made sure Windows wasn’t doing updates in the background.                                                                              Reinstalled Steam without deleting my Steamapps folder (only kept Steam.exe and Steamapps).                            Made sure my Ethernet cable wasn’t loose (yes, seriously – it was!).                                                                         Steam’s speed is often tied to how well your ISP routes traffic to Valve’s servers, so if all else fails, it could be on their end

Had this exact problem for months and finally figured it out. Two things that made a huge difference for me: First, disable "Allow downloads during gameplay" in Steam settings - even if you're not actively playing, Steam sometimes thinks you are and throttles the connection. Second, check your ISP's QoS settings if you have access to your router admin panel. Some ISPs or routers automatically deprioritize P2P-style traffic, which Steam downloads can get flagged as. I switched from WiFi to ethernet and went from 5 Mbps to my full 100 Mbps connection speed. Also try pausing and resuming the download a few times - sounds stupid but Steam sometimes gets "stuck" on a slow server and this forces it to reconnect to a faster one