How to Fix Slow Download Speeds on Epic Games Launcher

Download games from Epic faster with this easy guide

Co-authored by Glenn Carreau Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: November 7, 2025 Fact Checked

Fixing Slow Download Speeds

|

Reasons Epic Games is Slow

|

Video

You’re about to install a new game through the Epic Games Launcher and absolutely itching to play it…but the download is taking forever. What’s up with that? We can explain! Downloads via the Epic Games Launcher can sometimes be slowed down due to settings within the app, issues with your local network (or computer), or even problems in the Epic Games servers. But don’t worry: there are lots of different ways to troubleshoot and, potentially, get a much better download speed in no time. In this guide, we’ll walk you through each fix (and explain why it’ll help).

Why Is Epic Games Downloading So Slow?

Downloads can be slowed due to certain settings in your Epic Games Launcher, as well as a bad internet connection, issues with your local network, or Epic Games server issues. Ways to fix this include editing the Epic Games INI file, enabling unlimited download speeds, or clearing the Epic Games cache.

Section 1 of 2:

Fixing Slow Download Speeds on Epic Games Launcher

In some cases, the Epic Games servers might be having issues—in which case, they’ll usually be reported on the Epic Games status page. Check the page before doing any intensive troubleshooting to make sure the problem isn’t on Epic Games’ end.
2
Change the Engine.ini file’s commands. According to some players, adding commands to the Launcher’s Engine.ini file can facilitate better download speeds. Don’t be intimidated: it’s actually quite straightforward! Here’s how to edit the file:^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Press the Windows logo key + R on your keyboard and type %localappdata% into the Run dialog box. Then, press Enter.
- Open the following folders: EpicGamesLauncher → Saved → Config → Windows.
- Right-click the Engine.ini file and select Edit with Notepad (or any notepad app).
- The file might be empty, or it might have text already. Regardless, copy and paste the following lines into the file:
  - [HTTP]
  - HttpTimeout=10
  - HttpConnectionTimeout=10
  - HttpReceiveTimeout=10
  - HttpSendTimeout=10
  - [Portal.BuildPatch]
  - ChunkDownloads=3
  - ChunkRetries=20
  - RetryTime=0.5
- When you’re done, press Ctrl + S to save your edits and close the file. Then, try your download again!
Advertisement
3
Set the Epic Games Launcher’s throttle speed to Unlimited. An unlimited throttle speed can help increase the rate of your downloads through the Epic Games Launcher! In the Launcher, click your profile icon (in the top right corner of the window) and navigate to Settings. Scroll down and tick the box next to Throttle Downloads, then type 0 in the box below to set the speed to unlimited.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- When you’re done, close and restart the Epic Games Launcher. Your download speed should improve after.
4
Clear the Epic Games cache. To clear the cache, press the Windows logo key + R on your keyboard and type %localappdata% into the Run dialog box. Then, press Enter and navigate to EpicGamesLauncher → Saved. In this folder, look for folder(s) labeled webcache_4147 or webcache_4430. Delete them to clear the Epic Games cache!
- This can get rid of temporary files that might be slowing down your downloads.
5
Close all running background applications. Running other applications while downloads are in process can really slow them down—so, if possible, close out of other programs until it’s just the Epic Games Launcher running, and let it be until your download is complete.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Similarly, if you have other devices connected to your Wi-Fi network, try disconnecting those, too!
A wired internet connection can really speed up your Epic Games downloads. Try connecting your computer to your router or switch via Ethernet cable if you have one available. Or, if there are multiple wireless networks available, switch to a different network to see if your internet connection is any better.^{[4]
X
Research source}
7
Test your internet speed. Check if your internet is running normally, or if it’s slower than usual. This can rule out any problems on your internet provider’s end (rather than yours). On Google, type internet speed test into the search field and select RUN SPEED TEST at the top of the page. After, just review the results! You can also follow our guide to checking internet speeds.
- If your internet is slow, you can try a few troubleshooting methods to get it running faster.
- For instance, try unplugging your router for a few minutes, then plugging it back in.
- Move closer to your router if you’re using Wi-Fi to ensure the connection is as strong as possible.
- Turn off other devices on the same Wi-Fi network (like smart TVs, phones, and tablets) to reduce traffic.
8
Change your download region in the Epic Games Launcher. Epic Games has servers dedicated to different regions—and if your region’s server has higher traffic at the moment, your download might be slower. Try switching to any download region with less traffic to speed up your download! Just do the following:^{[5]
X
Research source}
- In the Epic Games Launcher, navigate to Settings → Downloads.
- Scroll to Download Region and select a region with less traffic (or one closer to you).
- Retry your download and see if it’s any faster.
9
Disable your firewall and antivirus software (temporarily). If you have antivirus software or firewalls running, it might be limiting—or even outright blocking—your Epic Games downloads in an attempt to stop potential threats. Try disabling both applications to see if your download is able to complete.
- On Windows Defender, navigate to Windows Security → Firewall & Network Protection and click Allow to let an app (like Epic Games Launcher) through the firewall.
- If you’re using a third-party antivirus program (like McAfee or Norton), open your settings for that program and disable Real-Time Protection.
- When your download is finished, remember to re-enable your antivirus and firewall software!
10
Flush your DNS. Flushing your computer’s DNS cache basically clears away old, sometimes corrupted address records (without touching anything essential) to improve performance. Thus, it can improve download times, too! To flush your DNS, do the following:^{[6]
X
Research source}
- In the Windows search menu, type CMD and right-click on Command Prompt.
- Select Run as Administrator.
- Type netsh winsock reset into the prompt and press Enter.
- Restart your computer and open a new Command Prompt (the same way you did before).
- Type ipconfig /release into the new prompt.
- Let the information load, then type ipconfig /flushdns into the prompt.
- Close the command prompt and reopen the Epic Games Launcher to start your download.
11
Change your network’s DNS server. To change your DNS server, access your PC’s Control Panel (with the view mode in Category) and navigate to Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center. Click on your internet connection, then click the Properties button. In this new window, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) in the list, then Properties again. Finally, select Use the following DNS server addresses and enter the following values:^{[7]
X
Research source}
- For Preferred DNS server, type “8.8.8.8” (this is Google’s DNS server)^{[8]
  X
  Research source}
- For Alternate DNS server, type “8.8.4.4”
- Finally, tick the box to Validate settings upon exit and select OK. You’re all set!
- Changing your network’s DNS server can improve overall internet performance and download speeds.
12
Disable any proxy server you might be using. Proxy servers don’t always play nice with Epic Games’ services. First, find out if you have a proxy server running: click the Start icon at the bottom of your screen and type Proxy Settings, then select Proxy Settings (System Settings). You’ll see Manual Proxy Setup marked as ON if you’re running a proxy server.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- To turn it off, simply switch Manual Proxy Setup from ON to OFF.

Section 2 of 2:

Why is the Epic Games Launcher so slow?

If the Epic Games servers are overcrowded with users, encounter a problem, or are undergoing maintenance, there’s actually not much to do on your end but wait for the issue to resolve. It’s common for server problems to occur during popular events or larger game updates.
Rather than servers, the Epic Games Launcher could be the source of your problem, instead. If it’s running with outdated files or has corrupted files in its cache, that might interfere with downloads (causing slow speeds and stuck installations). Similarly, if your Epic Games Launcher’s settings aren’t properly modified, downloads might not be happening at optimal speeds.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that you need a strong internet connection to download games—especially big ones—quickly. So, if you have a weak Wi-Fi signal, a slow internet, or a network jam, your downloads might slow down.^{[10]
X
Research source}
4
There might be too much traffic on your network. Too many devices using the same network can also cause slow downloads. For instance, a single internet connection shared between several computers, smartphones, and smart TVs probably won’t have great download speeds compared to an internet connection that’s only being used to download content from Epic Games.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- This is especially true if multiple devices are streaming (or downloading) data.
Running several applications on the same device simultaneously can take up your system’s bandwidth, subsequently causing slower downloads. It’s better to attempt downloads from the Epic Games Launcher with only that program running.^{[12]
X
Research source}
Security software, while very helpful to have, often mistakes downloads (including games and other content downloaded from Epic Games) for potentially harmful files. If that happens, you’ll notice your downloads slow down considerably—or get blocked entirely.