How Do I Troubleshoot Slow Game or App Downloads on Xbox?
In a nutshell: If you use XBOX for gaming, you may have noticed a problem with slow game or app download speeds. This unfortunately happens sometimes. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to fix it.
Introduction
If you use XBOX for gaming, you may have noticed a problem with slow game or app download speeds. This unfortunately happens sometimes. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to fix it.
What You'll Need
Some Windows users have reported a drop in speed when Windows Defender real time protection is turned on. It is possible that turning it off while you download your game or app will get the download up to a reasonable speed. However, this is just anecdotal, and you may be exposing your computer to security risks when you turn Defender's real time protection off.Below, you will find instructions for increasing download speeds both on the Windows XBOX app and on the XBOX console. If doing it one way doesn't work for you, try doing it the other way instead. It might be free of whatever the problem is.You might also want to consider testing your network speed, to make sure that the problem isn't actually with your internet service provider.
Go to the XBOX home page.
XBOX home page
To troubleshoot slow downloads on the XBOX console, skip to step 10.
Pause whatever downloads you have going on right now.
Go to the Microsoft store.
Microsoft store
Find the same game that you were downloading in the Microsoft store.
Resume your download from the store.
This might be significantly faster than trying to download it via the XBOX app.
If this didn't help, continue with the next step.
Switch from wi-fi to an ethernet cable for faster, more stable download speeds.
Also, from the Settings menu, select the "Windows Updates" option.
From the Advanced Options menu, select the "Delivery Optimization" option.
Make sure that the bandwidth limits option is unchecked, so that Windows does not throttle your download speeds.
If this still isn't enough to solve the problem, skip to step 16.
If you haven't already done so, close any games you currently have running.
XBOX prioritizes games over downloads, so it will throttle download speeds in order to keep your game connection fast and stable.
If that wasn't enough, press the XBOX button on your controller.
Select the "My games & apps" option.
Select the "Manage" option and then open your queue.
Check to see if your download isn't paused or slowed because another item is trying to download first.
If it is, either allow the blocking download to be completed before trying again or pause that download.
If nothing else has helped, shut off your XBOX and restart it, then try the download again.
This could clear out items in the cache that are interfering with your download speed.
If you have tried all of the steps above and still have problems with slow downloads, it's time to contact XBOX technical support for help.
XBOX customer service
Make sure you tell them all of the steps you have already taken to solve the problem.
Conclusion
If you do need to contact XBOX for any reason, you will not be able to do so by phone, because XBOX does not maintain live phone support. However, online customer service and technical support contact options are available.
Further questions?
Solutions to similar problems
Why does GetHuman Write How-to Guides for Xbox Problems?
GetHuman has been working for over 10 years on sourcing information about big organizations like Comcast in order to help customers resolve customer service issues faster. We started with contact information and fastest ways to reach a human at big companies. Particularly ones with slow or complicated IVR or phone menu systems. Or companies that have self-serve help forums instead of a customer service department. From there, we realized that consumers still needed more detailed help solving the most common problems, so we expanded to this set of guides, which grows every day. And if you spot any issues with our What do I do if my Xfinity TV or internet is out? guide, please let us know by sending us feedback. We want to be as helpful as possible. If you appreciated this guide, please share it with your favorite people. Our free information and tools is powered by you, the customer. The more people that use it, the better it gets.