Why your PS5 downloads slowly and what you can actually change

PS5 read speed depends on three things: your internet connection, how the PS5 connects to your router, and what else is using your network at that moment. Most slow downloads happen because the PS5 is on Wi-Fi instead of ethernet, or because other devices are streaming video or downloading files while you're trying to get a game. You can fix the first problem in minutes. The second requires you to pause or stop other activity.

The PS5 will show you the speed it's actually getting during a read. Go to Settings, then Network, then Connection Status. The read speed shown there is what matters — not your plan's advertised speed. If that number is below 10 Mbps, the PS5 itself has a connection problem. If it's above 10 Mbps but still feels slow, the issue is usually that you're downloading a very large file (most PS5 games are 50 to 150 GB) and the math is just working against you.

Key Takeaways

  • Connect your PS5 with an ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi — this is the single fastest fix and takes five minutes.
  • Check Settings > Network > Connection Status to see the actual read speed your PS5 is getting right now.
  • Pause or stop other devices using your network (streaming video, video calls, other downloads) while the PS5 downloads.
  • Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in — this fixes most temporary slowdowns.
  • If your read speed in Connection Status is below 10 Mbps, your PS5 has a connection problem; above 10 Mbps means the file is just large.

Use an ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi

An ethernet cable connects your PS5 directly to your router with a physical wire. This is faster and more stable than Wi-Fi because the signal doesn't have to travel through air and walls. Most PS5 downloads will be 2 to 3 times faster on ethernet than on Wi-Fi, and the speed will be more consistent.

You need a standard ethernet cable (Cat5e or Cat6 — both work fine) long enough to reach from your router to where your PS5 sits. These cost $10 to $20 at any hardware store or online. Plug one end into the ethernet port on the back of your PS5 (next to the power port) and the other end into any available port on your router. The PS5 will automatically detect the connection. Go to Settings > Network > Connection Status to confirm it switched to ethernet.

If you cannot run a cable to your PS5, a mesh Wi-Fi system (like Eero, Netgear Orbi, or TP-Link Deco) placed closer to the PS5 will improve Wi-Fi speed more than moving the router. A single mesh node costs $60 to $150 and covers a larger area with stronger signal than most routers alone.

Stop other devices from using your network

Every device on your network shares your internet speed. If someone is streaming Netflix in 4K, on a video call, or downloading files on another computer, your PS5 gets less bandwidth. Pause or stop these activities while you read a game.

Check what's connected by logging into your router's admin page (usually 192.168.1.1 in a web browser, though the exact address is on your router's label). Look for connected devices and what they're doing. Ask anyone else in your home to pause streaming or downloads. If you have smart home devices, security cameras, or a Ring doorbell, these can also use bandwidth — they usually don't take much, but every bit matters during a large read.

Restart your router

Routers sometimes slow down or drop connection after running for days or weeks. Unplugging it for 30 seconds clears its memory and often restores speed. This fixes most temporary slowdowns.

Unplug the power cable from the back of your router. Wait 30 seconds (count it out). Plug it back in and wait two to three minutes for it to fully restart — you'll see lights on the front stop blinking and settle into a steady pattern. Then check your PS5 read speed again in Settings > Network > Connection Status.

Move your PS5 closer to the router if you use Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi signal gets weaker the farther you are from the router and the more walls between them. If your PS5 is in a different room or on a different floor, moving it closer to the router — even temporarily during a read — will increase speed.

If moving the PS5 isn't practical, move the router itself to a more central location in your home, or place it higher up (on a shelf rather than on the floor). Avoid putting the router inside a cabinet, closet, or behind a TV, as these block signal. If you're stuck with Wi-Fi and the PS5 is far from the router, a mesh system is the most reliable fix.

Check your internet plan speed

Your internet service provider (ISP) advertises a maximum speed, but you rarely get that speed in practice. Call your ISP or log into your account online to see what speed tier you're paying for. If it's below 50 Mbps, PS5 downloads will be slow no matter what you do — a 100 GB game will take 20+ hours on a 50 Mbps connection.

Most ISPs offer faster plans. If you read games regularly, 200 Mbps or higher will make a noticeable difference. A 100 GB game takes about 4 hours on 200 Mbps and about 2 hours on 400 Mbps. If your ISP doesn't offer faster speeds in your area, that's a limitation you can't fix from the PS5 side.

Pause the read and resume it

Sometimes a read gets stuck at a slow speed. Pausing it and resuming can reset the connection. Go to your PS5's Downloads section, highlight the game, press Options, and select Pause. Wait 30 seconds, then select Resume.

This won't always help, but it takes 10 seconds and occasionally fixes a read that's been crawling. If the speed is still slow after resuming, the problem is your network connection or your ISP, not the read itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a PS5 game read take?

A 100 GB game takes about 10 hours on a 25 Mbps connection, 4 hours on 200 Mbps, and 2 hours on 400 Mbps. The exact time depends on your actual read speed (check Settings > Network > Connection Status), not your plan's advertised speed. Very large games like Call of Duty can be 150+ GB, so expect proportionally longer downloads.

Will a VPN slow down my PS5 downloads?

Yes, VPNs add a small amount of overhead and usually reduce read speed by 10 to 20 percent. If you use a VPN on your PS5, disable it while downloading games. Most people don't need a VPN on a gaming console anyway — it's mainly useful on phones and computers when using public Wi-Fi.

Can I read a PS5 game faster by putting the console in rest mode?

Yes. Rest mode lets the PS5 read in the background without running the display or other systems, which can free up processing power. Put the PS5 in rest mode (hold the power button for three seconds and select Rest Mode) and the read will continue. Some users report slightly faster speeds this way, though the difference is usually small.

What's the difference between read speed and internet speed?

Internet speed is what your ISP advertises (like "300 Mbps"). read speed is what your PS5 actually gets right now, which is usually lower due to distance from the router, other devices using the network, or network congestion. Check your PS5's actual read speed in Settings > Network > Connection Status — that's the number that matters for how fast your games will read.