Epic Games downloads slowly because the launcher prioritizes updates and background tasks over your game files, and because Epic's servers in your region may be congested during peak hours

The Epic Games Launcher does not read at the speed your internet connection is capable of. Even if you have 100 Mbps available, Epic may read at 10 or 20 Mbps. This happens for three separate reasons: the launcher itself limits how much bandwidth it uses, Epic's read servers are not always fast in your location, and the launcher runs other tasks at the same time that compete for your connection.

The good news is that most of these limits are adjustable. You cannot change Epic's server locations, but you can change when you read, how the launcher uses your bandwidth, and what else your computer is doing during the read. The difference between a slow read and a fast one is often just turning off one setting.

Key Takeaways

  • The Epic Games Launcher has a built-in bandwidth limit that you can raise or remove entirely in the settings menu under read Cache.
  • Closing other programs that use the internet — web browsers, streaming apps, Discord, Windows Update — can free up 20 to 50 Mbps that Epic will then use.
  • Downloading during off-peak hours (late night or early morning) often doubles your speed because Epic's servers are less crowded.
  • If your read speed is still far below what your internet plan promises, the problem is likely your home network, not Epic's servers.

The Epic Games Launcher's built-in speed limit

Epic Games Launcher has a bandwidth throttle — a setting that caps how fast it will read, regardless of how fast your internet is. By default, this limit is often set low enough that it wastes your connection. You can see and change it yourself.

Open Epic Games Launcher. Click the user icon in the top right, then select Settings. On the left side, click Downloading. You will see a slider labeled "Maximum read Speed" or similar wording depending on your launcher version. If it is set to anything other than "Unlimited", move it to Unlimited. Close and restart the launcher. Your next read should be noticeably faster.

If you are downloading on a shared network — an apartment building, dorm, or office — you may want to keep a limit in place so you do not slow down everyone else. In that case, set it to 50 or 75 percent of your total available bandwidth. If you have 100 Mbps, set the limit to 50 Mbps. This leaves room for other devices and still lets Epic use most of your speed.

Other programs stealing your bandwidth

While Epic Games Launcher downloads, your computer is probably doing other things that also need internet. Windows Update, cloud backup services, web browsers with multiple tabs open, Discord, Spotify, and streaming apps all consume bandwidth. If five programs are sharing a 100 Mbps connection, each gets roughly 20 Mbps, and Epic gets whatever is left over.

Before you start a large read, close everything that uses the internet. Close your web browser entirely, not just the window. Pause or quit cloud backup apps like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. Close Discord, Slack, and any streaming services. Check Windows Update: press the Windows key, type "Update", and click "Check for updates". If updates are available, install them and restart before downloading, rather than letting them run in the background.

After you have closed these programs, check your read speed in the Epic launcher. The speed should jump noticeably. If it does not, the problem is not background programs — it is either your internet connection itself or Epic's servers in your region.

Time of day and server congestion

Epic's read servers are shared across millions of users worldwide. During peak hours — typically 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. in your time zone — these servers are crowded, and your read speed drops. The same connection that gives you 80 Mbps at 2 a.m. might give you 15 Mbps at 8 p.m.

If you can wait, read during off-peak hours. Late night (after 11 p.m.) or early morning (before 8 a.m.) usually offers the fastest speeds. If you cannot wait, there is no workaround — you are limited by how many other people are downloading at that moment.

Your home network and Wi-Fi signal strength

If you have set the bandwidth limit to Unlimited, closed all other programs, and you are still downloading at half the speed your internet plan promises, the problem is likely your home network, not Epic's servers.

If you are using Wi-Fi, move your computer closer to your router or switch to a wired connection with an Ethernet cable. Wi-Fi signal degrades with distance and through walls. A computer 30 feet away from the router through two walls might get 30 Mbps even though your internet plan is 200 Mbps. An Ethernet cable removes this problem entirely. If you cannot use Ethernet, move the router to a central location in your home and away from microwaves and cordless phones, which interfere with Wi-Fi.

If you are already using Ethernet and your read is still slow, run a speed test on your computer using Speedtest.net or Fast.com. Compare the result to your internet plan. If the speed test shows you are getting the speed you pay for, but Epic is still slow, the bottleneck is Epic's servers or your ISP's connection to Epic's network — not your home setup.

When to contact your ISP versus Epic Games

Before you contact either company, gather this information: your read speed from the Epic launcher, your speed test result from Speedtest.net, and the time of day you tested. This tells you where the problem actually is.

If your speed test shows you are getting the full speed your plan promises, but Epic is slow, contact Epic Games Support. The problem is on their end. If your speed test shows you are getting far less than your plan promises — for example, your plan is 200 Mbps but you are getting 30 Mbps — contact your ISP. The problem is your home connection, not Epic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does pausing and resuming an Epic Games read make it faster?

Pausing and resuming sometimes helps if the launcher has gotten stuck on a slow server. Pause for 30 seconds, then resume. If your speed jumps, the pause helped. If it stays the same, pausing will not fix it. Do not pause and resume repeatedly — this can corrupt the read and force you to start over.

Why is my Epic read slower than my Steam read?

Steam and Epic use different server networks and different read algorithms. Steam often has more servers in more locations, which can mean faster downloads in some regions. This is not something you can change on your end. If one service is consistently faster, use it when you have a choice.

Can I read multiple games at once to make it faster?

No. Downloading multiple games at once splits your bandwidth between them, so each game downloads slower. read one game at a time for the fastest overall speed.

Does restarting my computer help with slow Epic downloads?

Restarting clears your computer's memory and stops background processes, so it can help. Restart your computer and router, then try downloading again. If your speed improves, something was running in the background. If it stays the same, restarting did not fix it.

What if my read speed is fast but the launcher says it will take hours?

The launcher's time estimate updates as it downloads. Early in the read, the estimate is often wrong because the launcher has not yet figured out the actual speed. Let it read for a few minutes, and the estimate will become more accurate. If the estimate stays high even after 10 minutes, your actual speed is lower than the launcher initially reported.