Facing really slow download speeds on Battle.net? You’re not alone. It’s one of those weird glitches where the app seems to have a bandwidth throttling bug, slowing down your downloads to a crawl even if you haven’t set any limits. Sometimes, it’s just server overload or regional issues, but sometimes this comes down to how Battle.net handles internet traffic. Honestly, it can be super frustrating because it’s kind of unpredictable—one day it speeds up, the next it’s dead slow. So, here’s a collection of things that might help get those speeds back up, even if it looks like the app is “stuck” at a snail’s pace.
Most fixes revolve around tweaking your app settings, changing network preferences, or messing around with DNS/region stuff. It’s kind of a typical dance, but worth trying if you just want to get those game downloads moving. Don’t expect miracles; sometimes it works on one setup but not another. Still, these are what’ve helped me and others when nothing else seems to do the trick.
How to Fix Slow Download Speeds on Battle.net
Setting Very High Bandwidth Limit to Bypass Throttling
Why it helps: On some setups, Battle.net puts a cap on how much data it allows to be downloaded at once, but this cap can be hidden and glitchy—causing that slow speed issue. Cranking the limit way up tricks the app into thinking it’s got all the bandwidth it needs, which can actually bump up the speed.
When it applies: If your download is throttled even if you haven’t set any limits, or if your speed is randomly slow across multiple updates.
What to expect: Faster download speeds, hopefully more stable connection, and no more throttling bug.
Note: Sometimes you need to restart the app after making changes for it to kick in.
- Open Battle.net, click the Battle.net icon in the top-left corner, then pick Settings.
- Go to the Downloads section, then scroll down to Download Limits.
- Change both Latest Updates and Pre-release Content to Unlimited by entering 9999999 in the bandwidth limit box. This is like telling it you have endless bandwidth, no restrictions here.
- Hit Done and restart the Battle.net app.
Switching and Reverting Download Region
Why it helps: When everyone’s downloading during big updates, servers in your region can get overloaded. Switching to a different server might connect you somewhere less busy, boosting your speeds. Sometimes, switching back resets things even more.
When it applies: When your downloads are painfully slow during peak hours or after a recent update.
What to expect: Usually notable improvement, or at least some relief.
- Open the Battle.net app, hit Settings (click the gear icon if it’s there), and look for the Region setting.
- Select a different region (say, switch from North America to Europe or Asia).Pause your download and let it connect to the new server.
- Once it’s synced, switch back to your original region (or try another if it’s still slow).
- Resume download and see if speeds are better. Often, on one of these swaps, it magically improves.
Changing Your DNS to Speed Things Up
Why it helps: Default DNS servers from ISPs can be slow or unreliable, especially if they’re far away or overloaded. Using fast, public DNS like Cloudflare’s can cut down those delays in resolving servers, giving your download a smoother ride.
When it applies: If your DNS is slow or your connection feels jittery, or if switching regions didn’t help much.
What to expect: Quicker server lookups, smoother downloads, maybe even some stability.
Important: Be aware that changing DNS involves your network settings. It’s not super hard, but just follow closely.
- Click the Start button, then go to Settings (the gear icon).
- Navigate to Network & Internet, then click on Advanced network settings > Change adapter options.
- Right-click your active network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet), choose Properties.
- Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Select Use the following DNS server addresses and enter:
- 1.1.1.1 in the Preferred DNS
- 1.0.0.1 in the Alternate DNS
Click OK.
- For IPv6, double-click Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) and enter:
- 2606:4700:4700::1111
- 2606:4700:4700::1001
- Close everything and reboot your PC. Relaunch Battle.net, and see if it’s faster now.
Use a VPN to Bypass Routing Issues
Why it helps: Sometimes your ISP routes traffic through congested or inefficient paths, leading to slow downloads that can’t be fixed with config tweaks. A VPN reroutes your connection through a different, often less crowded, path—sometimes it’s just enough to unleash better speeds.
When it applies: If changing DNS or regions didn’t help, and you’re okay with a little extra step.
What to expect: Potential speed boost and maybe fewer disconnects. It’s not guaranteed, but often worth a shot.
- Launch your VPN app and connect to a nearby server optimized for gaming or streaming—think Los Angeles or Frankfurt, depending on your region.
- Once connected, restart Battle.net and resume your download. The rerouted path can help dodge some regional throttling or overload issues.