Soggow May 9, 2020 @ 6:45am
Download speed drops to 0
The title explains the problem, Steam is downloading "steamworks common redistributables" and the downlaod speed starts from 30 KB/s and slowly drops to 0. Before that I was trying to download a workshop item (a wallpaper for Wallpaper Engine) and I had this problem. I tried some things:
  • Change download server: did nothing
  • Delete download cache: did nothing
  • Disable and re-enable network adapter: did nothing
  • Reset firewall exceptions (Windows Defender): did nothing
  • Disable firewall (Windows Defender): something interesting happened. When i disabled it for the first time the download speed went up pretty quickly and I was able to download the package, but when I tried to download the workshop item (the same wallpaper of the original problem) I had the same issue; after that, enabling and disabling firewall didn't affect the download.

Of course doing all of that I restarted Steam and my computer several times.

I followed the instruction on the Troubleshooting Network Connectivity steam page and the Using a Firewall with Steam page but couldn't get anything done. I'm having this problem since 4/5 days ago. I don't think the problem is my connection because my brother doesn't have issues and we are using the same network/wifi.

I hope someone can help me, so thank you and sorry for the grammar mistakes (I'm european); I'll edit the text if you point them out :)

Edit: I bought a game and couldn't download it, so I tried to use my phone as a hotspot with my mobile data plan and it worked! Since my phone has an option to use the hotspot with the wifi I tried to use it and it worked as well!!! Of course the wifi my phone was connected to is the same I use on the computer. At this point I don't know anymore what the problem is... That way I downloaded the game, the file I had the original problem with, and another game. I still can't download the workshop item but I think that's a different problem.

Solution
For the workshop item, I deleted 2 folders:
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\workshop\downloads
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\downloading\431960
Where 431960 is the Program ID (in this case Wallpaper Engine). Then I checked the file's integrity, to do so use right click on a program/game, click "properties", go into "local files" tab and click the option.
After that I just waited for the download to finish, even if it stopped and restarted itself and with the speed going up and down. I let it go through the download even with 0 download speed and 0 disk usage and after a while it would resume by itself.
Last edited by Soggow; May 11, 2020 @ 5:39am
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Showing 1-15 of 19 comments
Sr. Xyz May 9, 2020 @ 8:45am 
Try to disable automatic proxy detection. You can do this in your default browser options or through your operating system's internet settings.
Soggow May 9, 2020 @ 10:43am 
Originally posted by Sr. Xyz:
Try to disable automatic proxy detection. You can do this in your default browser options or through your operating system's internet settings.
It was already disabled
Sr. Xyz May 9, 2020 @ 10:50am 
So try to enable it.
crunchyfrog May 9, 2020 @ 10:51am 
The key here is most likely that firewall, because you point out your brother uses the same connection and has no issues, it can't be that.

Easiest way to try and fix it? Try to get rid of or deactivate Windows Defender and get another firewall.
Soggow May 9, 2020 @ 10:54am 
Originally posted by Sr. Xyz:
So try to enable it.
I tried this as well, nothing changed. Thanks for the help tho!
Soggow May 9, 2020 @ 11:01am 
Originally posted by crunchyfrog:
The key here is most likely that firewall, because you point out your brother uses the same connection and has no issues, it can't be that.

Easiest way to try and fix it? Try to get rid of or deactivate Windows Defender and get another firewall.
Yeah but the download speed went up only the first time I disabled it, maybe it was luck beacuse that was the only time it worked. I tried again right now, but even with the firewall disabled nothing changed. Perhaps I'm missing something...
Thanks for helping btw!
crunchyfrog May 9, 2020 @ 11:04am 
Originally posted by Soggow:
Originally posted by crunchyfrog:
The key here is most likely that firewall, because you point out your brother uses the same connection and has no issues, it can't be that.

Easiest way to try and fix it? Try to get rid of or deactivate Windows Defender and get another firewall.
Yeah but the download speed went up only the first time I disabled it, maybe it was luck beacuse that was the only time it worked. I tried again right now, but even with the firewall disabled nothing changed. Perhaps I'm missing something...
Thanks for helping btw!

Yes, I think you might be missing something. I've had issues with Windows Defender in the past. Most of the time it works fine, but some people when they seem to get issues, they tend to hang around.

The bottom line is this, I've never been convinced that Defender gets COMPLETELY disabled, and there's probably somthing ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ up in the settings.

So, if you can disable it as best as you can (or remove it - I'm not sure if you're able to these days) and try another it would at least discount the idea or prove it.
NMSL May 9, 2020 @ 11:39am 
OK
Soggow May 9, 2020 @ 11:45am 
Originally posted by crunchyfrog:
Originally posted by Soggow:
Yeah but the download speed went up only the first time I disabled it, maybe it was luck beacuse that was the only time it worked. I tried again right now, but even with the firewall disabled nothing changed. Perhaps I'm missing something...
Thanks for helping btw!

Yes, I think you might be missing something. I've had issues with Windows Defender in the past. Most of the time it works fine, but some people when they seem to get issues, they tend to hang around.

The bottom line is this, I've never been convinced that Defender gets COMPLETELY disabled, and there's probably somthing ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ up in the settings.

So, if you can disable it as best as you can (or remove it - I'm not sure if you're able to these days) and try another it would at least discount the idea or prove it.
I'll try that tomorrow and let you know!
Soggow May 9, 2020 @ 4:06pm 
@crunchyfrog I have an update on the situation. Today I bought Dead Cells and couldn't download it, so I tried to use my phone as a hotspot with my mobile data plan and it worked! Since my phone has an option to use the hotspot with the wifi I tried to use it and it worked as well!!! Of course the wifi my phone was connected to is the same I use on the computer. At this point I don't know anymore what the problem is... That way I downloaded Dead Cells, the file I had the original problem with, and another game. I still can't download the workshop item but I think that's a different problem.
crunchyfrog May 9, 2020 @ 4:20pm 
Originally posted by Soggow:
@crunchyfrog I have an update on the situation. Today I bought Dead Cells and couldn't download it, so I tried to use my phone as a hotspot with my mobile data plan and it worked! Since my phone has an option to use the hotspot with the wifi I tried to use it and it worked as well!!! Of course the wifi my phone was connected to is the same I use on the computer. At this point I don't know anymore what the problem is... That way I downloaded Dead Cells, the file I had the original problem with, and another game. I still can't download the workshop item but I think that's a different problem.

That is indeed a help, and it still makes me think that something COULD be wrong with the firewall, but trying to look at this again, I want to ask - have you updated your network card drivers?

Also, when you've had problems were you using wifi then? If you were, did any change happen through using a network cable instead?
Soggow May 9, 2020 @ 4:32pm 
Originally posted by crunchyfrog:
Originally posted by Soggow:
@crunchyfrog I have an update on the situation. Today I bought Dead Cells and couldn't download it, so I tried to use my phone as a hotspot with my mobile data plan and it worked! Since my phone has an option to use the hotspot with the wifi I tried to use it and it worked as well!!! Of course the wifi my phone was connected to is the same I use on the computer. At this point I don't know anymore what the problem is... That way I downloaded Dead Cells, the file I had the original problem with, and another game. I still can't download the workshop item but I think that's a different problem.

That is indeed a help, and it still makes me think that something COULD be wrong with the firewall, but trying to look at this again, I want to ask - have you updated your network card drivers?

Also, when you've had problems were you using wifi then? If you were, did any change happen through using a network cable instead?
Unfortunately I can't use an ethernet cable because the router is too far from my room. I'm using an old USB wifi adapter and I always used it and it worked fine; actually, that is what I'm using to connect the computer to my phone. I will try to update drivers or just replace it with a new one if the "antivirus test" doesn't go well.
crunchyfrog May 9, 2020 @ 4:55pm 
Originally posted by Soggow:
Originally posted by crunchyfrog:

That is indeed a help, and it still makes me think that something COULD be wrong with the firewall, but trying to look at this again, I want to ask - have you updated your network card drivers?

Also, when you've had problems were you using wifi then? If you were, did any change happen through using a network cable instead?
Unfortunately I can't use an ethernet cable because the router is too far from my room. I'm using an old USB wifi adapter and I always used it and it worked fine; actually, that is what I'm using to connect the computer to my phone. I will try to update drivers or just replace it with a new one if the "antivirus test" doesn't go well.

It's a shame you can't get the PC to the router as it might speed up the troubleshooting here.


But anyway, report back when you know more.
Soggow May 11, 2020 @ 4:54am 
Tried a different antivirus than Windows Defender but the download didn't work. I tried Avira (Free version) and disabled everything I could on Windows Defender dashboard and Control Panel. Do you think it might be a good try changing the USB wifi adapter?
Soggow May 11, 2020 @ 5:29am 
I tried to just let the download go through and weird things happened, things like the download literally pausing itself and then restarting after 20-30 seconds, the speed went up again after several minutes after going down to 0 bytes/sec (and no Disk usage, so that's strange). I just waited and in the end the download finished. I actually don't know what to say anymore... I also downloaded the workshop item I had the problem with originally. Thanks again @crunchyfrog for helping!!!
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Date Posted: May 9, 2020 @ 6:45am
Posts: 19