How to Boost Download Speed in Chrome on Windows

Chrome might dominate the browser market, but let’s face it – it’s not winning any speed awards when it comes to downloading files. The popular browser often hits a wall when trying to download large files or multiple items simultaneously. Tweaks like enabling parallel downloading and optimizing your DNS settings can boost download speed in Chrome.

If you’re unhappy with Chrome’s sluggish download performance, you don’t have to abandon Chrome for faster alternatives. We’ve some quick fixes that actually make Chrome download files faster and take just minutes to implement.

Before blaming Chrome for slow downloads, check if the problem is with your internet connection. Many download speed issues stem from network problems rather than browser settings.

1. Visit fast.com to measure your current download and upload speeds
2. Try Chrome’s built-in speed test tool by typing “internet speed test” into Google’s search bar and clicking Run Speed Test.
3. Alternatively, use Chrome extensions like Open Speed Test for quick toolbar access

If your test shows speeds significantly lower than what you’re paying for, contact your ISP. They might need to fix issues in your area or upgrade your service.

1. Try These Quick Fixes

Every device connected to your network takes a slice of your bandwidth pie. Each additional connection reduces the resources available for Chrome downloads. To free up bandwidth:

• Restart your router by unplugging it for at least 30 seconds. This clears out cached data and resolves firmware bugs that slow performance.
• Sometimes, minor technical glitches cause issues with your system and web browser. Restarting your computer might fix temporary problems.
• For persistent speed problems, connect directly to your router using an Ethernet cable. Wi-Fi is typically slower and more vulnerable to interference than wired connections.
• If multiple devices (smart TVs, tablets, gaming consoles) use your network, disconnect them to free up bandwidth.
• Avoid streaming video and music while you download.
• Position your computer closer to the router for better signal strength.

Once you’ve confirmed your internet connection isn’t the problem, several system-level bottlenecks might be hampering Chrome’s download speeds. Let’s tackle these common issues that often go overlooked.

2. Shut Down Bandwidth-Hungry Apps

If your computer has multiple apps running in the background, they might compete with Chrome for network resources. This silent battle for bandwidth can dramatically slow your download speeds. Here’s how to identify and close these resource hogs:

1. Open Task Manager (press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on Windows).
2. Select the Network tab to sort applications by bandwidth usage.
3. Right-click on high-bandwidth applications and select End Task.

This process gives Chrome more network resources to work with, improving download speeds since your bandwidth isn’t being divided among multiple demanding applications.

3. Close Unnecessary Tabs in Chrome

Many people habitually keep too many tabs open when using a web browser. Each tab consumes memory, bandwidth, and processing power. Too many open tabs can slow down your browser, cause lag, and even decrease the download speed, especially on slower networks and limited RAM. You can close unused tabs in Chrome to make it download files faster.

To close unused tabs in Chrome, simply select a tab and click the Close (X) icon. Alternatively, you can do that via Chrome’s Task Manager.

1. Click the 3-dot menu icon at the top-right corner of the browser window.
2. Select More Tools > Task Manager.
3. Press Ctrl, select the tabs you want to close, and click the End Process button.

Once you close background applications and unnecessary tabs, you should experience faster performance and increased download speed in Chrome.

4. Remove Unnecessary Chrome Extensions

Extensions extend Chrome’s capabilities, but come at a cost—they eat up CPU resources, memory, and bandwidth. Worse yet, poorly coded extensions can overwork your browser, causing your computer to crawl or even overheat.

To clean up your extensions:

1. Click the 3-dot icon in Chrome’s top-right corner.
2. Select Extensions, or type chrome://extensions/ in your address bar and press Enter.
3. Toggle off extensions you don’t use daily, or click Remove to uninstall completely.

Don’t know which extensions are causing trouble? Chrome’s Safety Check feature (Settings > Privacy and Security > Safety Check> Check now) can identify problematic extensions consuming excessive resources.

Every extension you remove frees up memory and processing power for Chrome to handle your downloads more efficiently.

5. Disable VPNs and Proxies Temporarily

VPNs and proxies are great for privacy, but terrible for download speeds. They route your traffic through additional servers, adding extra steps to the download process. This redirection creates delays, especially if the proxy server is geographically distant from you.

To disable a proxy in Chrome, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy and click the toggle next to it.

For VPN connections, disconnect temporarily while downloading a file. Disabling the VPN might expose your real IP address, so weigh the security implications.

6. Turn on Parallel Downloading

One of Chrome’s most powerful speed-boosting features splits large files into smaller chunks and downloads them simultaneously. This hidden experimental feature can significantly cut download times.

1. Type chrome://flags in your address bar and press Enter.
2. Search for “parallel downloading” in the search box.
3. Select Enabled from the dropdown menu.
4. Click Relaunch to restart Chrome.

This technique can make Chrome download files about 3 seconds faster for each 350MB of file size, though your results will vary based on your hardware and connection speed.

7. Clean out Browser Junk

Chrome collects digital clutter over time, which weighs down its performance. Clearing this backlog often provides an immediate speed boost:

1. Click the three dots in the top-right corner, then Delete browsing data.
2. Select All time from the time range dropdown.
3. Check Cached images and files.
4. Click Delete data.

8. Flush DNS Cache

If clearing the browser cache doesn’t boost the download speed in Chrome, try flushing the DNS cache as well.

1. Launch the Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Execute the following command in the Command Prompt window.

   ipconfig /flushdns

   

Now, clear the host cache in Chrome.

1. In the Chrome address bar, type chrome://net-internals/#dns and press Enter. This will take you to the DNS page on the Net Internals site.
2. Click the Clear host cache button.
3. Close all tabs in Chrome and restart the browser. This will force all DNS lookups to be performed afresh, which may take a few seconds longer than usual but will clear any cached DNS entries.

That’s it!

9. Disable Graphics Acceleration

Graphics acceleration sounds like it should make things faster, but it sometimes backfires due to driver problems:

1. Click the 3-dot icon > Settings > System.
2. Toggle off Use graphics acceleration when available.
3. Click Relaunch to apply changes

Consider turning this feature off if you notice display glitches, performance issues, or problems with video playback. Your CPU might handle tasks more reliably than your graphics hardware in some situations.

10. Update Chrome to the Latest Version

Running an outdated version of Chrome is like trying to run a race with weights on your ankles. Outdated browsers might suffer from performance issues, including slow download speed. Chrome checks for updates automatically, but you can manually verify:

1. Click the three dots > Help > About Google Chrome.
2. Chrome will automatically check for and install any available updates.
3. Click Relaunch if prompted.

Now, try downloading the file to check if the download speed has increased.

11. Switch to Google DNS

Your DNS server works like the Internet’s phone directory, converting website names into IP addresses. Google’s DNS servers are some of the fastest and most reliable available, often improving overall connection speeds.

To use Google DNS:

1. Open Settings > Network & Internet on your Windows PC.
2. Then select Ethernet and click the Edit button next to DNS Server Assignment.
3. Set 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 as your primary and secondary DNS servers
4. For IPv6 connections, use 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844

The difference can be dramatic – one user reported their Mac App Store download speed jumped by 10x after switching to Google DNS. Your computer finds web addresses faster, which means downloads start quicker and often run at higher speeds.

12. Get a Proper Download Manager

If the above tips do not help increase download speed in Chrome, consider using a download manager. Download managers supercharge Chrome by splitting files into pieces and downloading them simultaneously. Better yet, they can resume interrupted downloads instead of starting over.

Several quality options stand out:

• Chrono Download Manager: The first full-featured download manager for Chrome that completely replaces Chrome’s default download behavior. It organizes files in a clean table view and supports batch downloads.
• Free Download Manager: Accelerates downloads by splitting, downloading, and merging files.

You’ll notice the biggest improvements with large files – that’s where these managers really shine. A 2GB game that might take 20 minutes in Chrome could download in half the time with a good download manager.