To make your Xbox Series S download faster, close any game you are currently playing and pause other downloads in your queue. These two actions alone can immediately boost your download speed by freeing up bandwidth and system resources.
Close the game you're playing to make your Xbox Series S download faster
When a game is actively running, your Xbox Series S throttles download speeds to prioritize gameplay performance. This means your download will crawl along in the background while you play. To stop this, quit the active game. Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide, highlight the game tile, press the Menu button, and select “Quit.”
Pause other running downloads in your queue
If you have multiple games or updates downloading at the same time, your console splits its bandwidth between them. This can make each download slower. To give your target game full priority, navigate to the “Manage downloads” section. Press the Xbox button, go to Profile & system > Settings > System > Updates & downloads, then select “Queue” and “Manage downloads.” From here, pause any other active downloads. Your chosen game will then use the entire available connection, which can dramatically speed up the process. This same principle of eliminating competition for bandwidth will also make your PS5 games download faster.
Switch to a wired Ethernet connection
Wi-Fi is convenient, but a wired connection is more stable and often faster for downloads. To set this up, plug one end of an Ethernet cable into a LAN port on the back of your router. Plug the other end into the Ethernet port on the back of your Xbox Series S console. Once connected, press the Xbox button to open the guide, go to Profile & system > Settings > General > Network settings, and select “Test network connection” to confirm the wired link is active. This direct connection reduces interference and packet loss, making your download speeds more consistent and often significantly faster.
Restart your Xbox and network hardware
Sometimes temporary network glitches or a clogged router cache can slow your downloads. A simple power cycle clears these issues. To do this, turn off your Xbox Series S completely and unplug its power cord. Also unplug your modem and router. Finally, plug your Xbox back in and turn it on. This refreshes the entire network path and can resolve hidden slowdowns that affect your download speed.
Change your DNS settings to a faster server
Manually setting a faster public DNS can improve routing. On your Xbox, press the Xbox button, go to Profile & system > Settings > General > Network settings, select “Advanced settings,” then “DNS settings” and choose “Manual.” This change can reduce latency in finding the best download server, potentially boosting your overall download speed.
Enable instant-on power mode for background downloads
You can make your Xbox Series S download games even when it’s turned off by using the instant-on power mode. This keeps the console in a low-power state while staying connected to the internet. To set this, press the Xbox button, go to Profile & system > Settings > General > Power mode & startup, and select “Instant-on.” Make sure “Stay connected to the internet” is enabled. Then, when you queue a download and turn off your console, it will continue downloading in the background. This is perfect for overnight or while you’re away, so your game is ready when you return.
Free up storage space by removing unused games
If your internal drive is nearly full, the console can slow down during the final stages of installation as it struggles to write data. To prevent this, remove games or apps you no longer play. Press the Xbox button, go to Profile & system > Settings > System > Storage > Manage storage, select a game you want to remove, and choose “Uninstall.” Freeing up ample space ensures the write process runs at full speed, which helps your download complete faster, especially for large titles. This same principle applies if you want to make PlayStation download faster, adequate free storage is key to avoiding write-speed bottlenecks, and you can also make games download faster on PC by clearing drive space to prevent similar slowdowns.
