Google Chrome was launched in 2008 and has since gained a reputation as one of the best browsers, providing a fast internet surfing experience. The browser uses the latest technology in internet connectivity and is, therefore, able to provide the exact services internet users would want in a browser including downloads from any site, extensions, add-ons, plus much more.
However, perfection in technology is in most cases unattainable and this goes for Chrome as well. System bugs and issues are known to slow down the operation of the browser together with download speed. This article is aimed at showing you what you need to do to ensure faster download speeds when using Chrome.
But first, let us try to determine why your downloads are slow.
Download speed is affected by various factors that could be caused by the browser itself or external factors. Below are some of the reasons why your download speed in Google Chrome could be dragging.
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1. Slow internet service provider
Bad internet days, we have all been there. Weirdly enough the internet will choose to be slow on the day you have a deadline to beat or when you already are in a bad mood. Slow internet is frustrating and has been known to (from personal experience) be a leading cause of depression.
So how do you fix this?
What is even more painful is the fact that there is little to nothing you can do if your internet service provider is generally slow. There are ways like Chanel bonding that can increase internet speed but they are not always effective. So, unless you are willing to and can change your internet service provider your hands are mostly tied.
2. Damaged internet wire or cable
Contrary to popular belief, the internet is not just a place of one’s zeros and code. Rather it is a combination of soft and hardware. This means there is a physical component comprised of wires, cables, routers, and much more. So yes, a damaged wire or cable will most likely affect your internet and download speed.
The remedy is simple, fix the cable for a short-term solution or better still replace it.
3. Viruses or malware
A virus is a piece of malicious software used to steal data, cripple systems, and also facilitate the loss of data. Some of these viruses function over the internet and if your computer or browser is affected by this software, they will compete for bandwidth which will, in turn, slow down performance and internet speed.
Ensure you always scan your computer using a competent ant-malware or anti-virus. This will rid your system of all viruses and improve download speed.
How else can you fix your Chrome download speed?
1. Updating Chrome
Older versions of Chrome have non-functioning features that can affect download speed. By default, Google always sets up patches to fix these broken features that you can get when you update your browser.
To check if your browser is up to date,
- Open Chrome
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner of your screen
- Go to Help > About Google Chrome.
- From here you will be able to see if your browser is up to date or requires updating.
2. Clearing browsing data
Browsing data, temporary files and cookies are known to slow down the downloading process if they accumulate within the browser. Clearing them therefore may help you speed up your download process.
To clear browsing data:
- Press CTRL + H.
- Click on Clear browsing data.
- Select all options, including the cookies and cached data.
- Tap on Clear data.
3. Enabling parallel downloading
Parallel Downloading works by dividing a big file into smaller files and downloading them at the same time. This will decrease the load on the download servers and in turn, speeds up the download process. After the download is done, Chrome combines the smaller files into the final download to get the initial bigger file.
Follow these steps to enable parallel downloading.
- Open a new tab.
- Go to the Chrome flags area.
- Search for parallel downloading and toggle it on.
4. Closing unused tabs
All open tabs are in some way competing for resources when online. This means that the tabs you are using are in a virtual fistfight with those you are not using. Therefore if you are downloading a file irrespective of the size, close the unused tabs to free up some RAM to fasten your download process.