How to Boost Your PlayStation 5 Download Speed
There’s nothing worse than sitting down to play a new game, only to discover you’ve got a 100GB+ download waiting for you. 
While your PS5 can't magically make your internet connection faster than your broadband allows, there are several things you can do to make sure you're getting the best possible download speeds from your connection.
Here are some of the best ways to speed up your PS5 downloads.
1. Use an Ethernet Cable
If your PS5 is connected through Wi-Fi, one of the biggest improvements you can make is switching to a wired Ethernet connection.Connect your PS5 directly to your router using a LAN cable. A wired connection is generally more stable and less susceptible to interference than Wi-Fi, and PlayStation itself recommends using a wired connection where possible.
Go to:
Settings → Network → Settings → Set Up Internet Connection → Set Up Wired LAN
If running a cable isn't practical, don't worry — there are still plenty of other things you can try.
2. If You're Using Wi-Fi, Improve the Signal
Try to position your PS5 as close to your router as reasonably possible.Walls, furniture and other electronics can interfere with Wi-Fi signals. PlayStation recommends moving the console closer to the router and removing potential sources of interference if you're experiencing connection problems.
If your router supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, try connecting your PS5 to the 5GHz network when you're reasonably close to the router. It can provide higher speeds, although its range is generally shorter.
3. Pause and Resume a Slow Download
Sometimes a download can appear to slow down or get stuck.Try:
PS Button → Downloads/Uploads → Select the Download → Pause → Resume
This can cause the connection to be re-established and may help if the download has temporarily slowed down.
It's not a guaranteed speed boost, but it's a quick thing worth trying.
4. Download Games While Your PS5 Is in Rest Mode
Your PS5 can download games and updates while in Rest Mode, provided you've enabled the appropriate internet connection settings.Go to:
Settings → System → Power Saving → Features Available in Rest Mode
Enable:
Stay Connected to the Internet
You can also enable automatic downloads under your update settings. PlayStation confirms that PS5 can download updates while in Rest Mode when the console is configured to remain connected to the internet.
So if you're downloading a huge game overnight, Rest Mode can be a convenient option.
5. Stop Other Devices Using Your Internet
Your PS5 isn't necessarily the only device competing for your bandwidth.If someone else is:
- Streaming Netflix or 4K video
- Downloading a large file
- Gaming online
- Uploading videos
- Using cloud backups
- Downloading another game
For the fastest possible download, try temporarily reducing heavy internet usage elsewhere in your home.
6. Restart Your Router
It sounds obvious, but restarting your router can sometimes resolve connection problems.Turn your router off, wait several minutes, and then turn it back on.
PlayStation's own troubleshooting guidance recommends restarting the router when experiencing certain PS5 network connection problems.
7. Try Changing Your DNS
Your PS5 allows you to manually configure DNS settings.You can find the option under:
Settings → Network → Settings → Set Up Internet Connection → Your Network → Advanced Settings → DNS Settings
You can experiment with public DNS services such as Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS.
However, it's important to understand that changing DNS doesn't automatically increase your broadband bandwidth. DNS primarily affects how your device finds internet services, so the benefit can vary considerably depending on your network.
PlayStation itself lists changing DNS as a possible troubleshooting step for some connection problems.
8. Check Your Internet Speed
Before changing lots of PS5 settings, find out what speed you're actually getting.On your PS5:
Settings → Network → Connection Status → Test Internet Connection
Compare the result with the download speed you're paying your internet provider for.
If your home internet connection is significantly slower than expected, the problem may not be your PS5 at all.
9. Check PlayStation's Network Status
Sometimes your internet connection is perfectly fine and the problem is somewhere else.PlayStation recommends checking its service status when you're experiencing connection or download problems.
If PlayStation services are experiencing an outage or maintenance, there may not be anything you can change on your PS5 to fix the situation.
10. Don't Forget the Simple Things
Before blaming your broadband, try the basics:Restart your PS5.
Restart your router.
Use Ethernet if possible.
Stop other large downloads.
Move your PS5 closer to the router if you're using Wi-Fi.
Check your internet connection speed.
Check PlayStation Network status.
These simple steps can often make a bigger difference than constantly changing advanced network settings.
So What's the Biggest Difference?
If you're looking for the quickest checklist, try these in order:
Ethernet cable
Reduce other network traffic
Use 5GHz Wi-Fi if Ethernet isn't possible
Restart your router and PS5
Try downloading in Rest Mode
Test your connection speed
Experiment with DNS if you're having connection issuesAnd remember: if your internet package only provides a certain maximum speed, changing PS5 settings won't magically exceed that connection.
Sometimes the slow download isn't your PS5 at all — it can be your home network, ISP, Wi-Fi environment, or PlayStation's servers.
What's Your PS5 Download Speed?
How fast does your PS5 normally download games?Are you using Ethernet or Wi-Fi, and what's the fastest download speed you've managed to get?
Share your speeds below and let's see who has the fastest setup!