Unexplained slow download speeds, I have tried everything I can think of

[Crovalicious]

I am getting download speeds of ~ 1MB/s when downloading games on steam.

Common issues that do not apply to me:

1) Computer hardware:

a) Relevant specs:
i7-13700KF @ 3.4 GHz
32 GB memory
1 TB SSD
Windows 11 Home

b) When downloading both CPU and disk usage stay between 6-10 percent according to the task manager

c) I have a wired connection (LAN cable), so WiFi connectivity is not an issue


2) General ISP issues (Unless there is something specific with Steam)

a) ISP: Verizon FIOS

b) Location: NYC (Manhattan)

c) Browser based speed test says I should be getting around 50 MB/s

d) The accuracy of the speed test results are further supported by the fact that other applications (i.e. Epic Games Launcher) download at ~45 MB/s consistently

f) I am not using a proxy server

g) contacted support for my ISP, they could not identify any issues, but were generally unhelpful because I am not renting a router from them, so who knows


3) Solutions that have not been effective:

a) Steam client settings:

a1) My steam client settings do not throttle downloads, download while streaming is disabled
a2) I have changed my download server both to other US regions, as well as servers outside the United States with a smaller load.
None of these steps has had any effect.

b) computer settings:

b1) Steam is whitelisted on the standard Windows Defender firewall. I do not have any third party security software installed on the computer
b2) I have flushed the DNS cache
b3) all metered connection and throttling options in Windows network settings are disabled
b4) I have disabled ipv6 in windows network settings (not sure if this step was relevant but it kept coming up in forum posts about internet speed issues)
None of these steps have had any effect

c) router:

c1) Factory reset my router
c2) disabled QoS
c3) I have tried connecting my computer directly to the ONT, bypassing the router entirely
none of these steps have had any effect

So, does anyone have any recommendations on further steps that I could take to address this issue? I have a very basic understanding of computers. All of the solutions I have tried so far has just been following step by step guides from the internet, so I am very open to suggestions.

Thank you for reading

[Crovalicious]

I forgot to mention a couple of things:

1) The download speed will occasionally spike to ~ 20MB/s but it is so brief that it doesn't really impact the overall speed of the download.
2) I did clear the Steam download cache, but forgot to list it in the steps above.

[CHOP RICE!! CHOP RICE!!]

im kind of having a similar problem. But my games just stay at 0 bytes per sec and not download or update at all, tried all sort of things still cant download games

[CHOP RICE!! CHOP RICE!!]

i had that same problem slow download speed about a week or 2 ago, and fixed it by switching over to the 5ghz version of my wifi, try it if you have 2 versions of ur wifi maybe that can work

[Yujah]

Not a Windows user so FWIW but try disabling Microsoft Defender AV "Realtime Protection". Mind you, even if only to see if indeed that's it; it should not need to be disabled. Could not tell you where in Windows 11 but Google will be able.

[Crovalicious]

I'll give that a whirl, obviously not a permanent fix, but it could be, like, a clue.

[En Oh]

try a different time of day or night, maybe. there are bandwidth 'rush hours' just like w/highway traffic. bottlenecks on steam's end and wherever you're at. I'm in rural VA w/cable internet. my max download speed is around 25 MB/sec, but few sites download that fast for me in reality. 15 MB/sec is average, steam hits that occasionally, sometimes it goes really slow. also remember that some downloads are compressed and unpacked in parts during which your network activity will seem to stop, but it's just breaking while your PC writes to the drive.