why microsoft store download speed so slow ?

Hello Tushar,

The painfully slow download speeds in the Microsoft Store on Windows—crawling at 1-2 MB/s or stalling mid-file like at 1.22 GB for hours, while Steam or Epic Games fly at full speed—stems from Windows' Delivery Optimization system throttling background downloads to conserve bandwidth, corrupted Store cache, or metered connection settings that cap data usage for "savings." Microsoft Store uses Microsoft's content delivery network (CDN), which can route inefficiently or hit server-side limits, unlike Steam's optimized P2P or direct servers, but local tweaks resolve most cases without hardware changes. Here's how to diagnose and fix it step by step; many users see speeds jump to match their full connection after these.

Initial Checks

Test your raw internet speed: Open Command Prompt (search "cmd") and run speedtest or visit fast.com in Edge—note the download rate (e.g., 100 Mbps). If Store is 1-2 MB/s (8-16 Mbps), it's throttled; if lower, contact your ISP.

Close background apps: Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) > End tasks for antivirus, VPNs, or other downloaders—VPNs especially throttle Store traffic.

Wired vs Wi-Fi: Switch to Ethernet if on Wi-Fi; routers prioritize gaming traffic but cap Store.

Step-by-Step Fixes

1. Clear Microsoft Store Cache

Corrupted cache causes stalls and slowdowns—resetting it flushes temp files without losing apps.

Press Win + R > Type wsreset.exe > Enter. A blank Command Prompt opens, then Store launches automatically (wait 30-60 seconds).

Test a download: Library > Downloads > Resume or start one. If stuck, pause/resume the file.

This fixes 40-50% of slow/stuck issues by rebuilding the download queue.

2. Remove Bandwidth Limits in Delivery Optimization

Windows caps Store downloads (tied to updates) at 20-50% by default to "save data"—this explains why Steam (separate system) is faster.

Settings (Win + I) > Windows Update > Advanced options > Delivery Optimization > Advanced options.

Under Download settings:

Uncheck "Limit how much bandwidth is used for downloading updates in the background" (or set to 100%).

  Uncheck "Limit how much bandwidth is used for downloading updates in the foreground" (or 100%).
  
  Under Upload settings: Set percentages to 100% or disable limits.
  
  Restart PC > Test Store download—speeds often double or more.
  

For foreground (active downloads), also check Background Intelligent Transfer Service: Services.msc (Run > services.msc) > BITS > Properties > Startup type: Automatic > Start if stopped.

3. Disable Metered Connection

Metered mode treats Store like mobile data, throttling to ~1-5 MB/s and causing stalls.

Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi (or Properties for Ethernet) > Your network > Toggle off "Metered connection."

If on mobile hotspot, switch to unlimited Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Restart network: Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset > Reset now (re-enters Wi-Fi password).

4. Run Troubleshooters and Reset Store App

Built-in tools detect CDN/proxy issues or app glitches.

Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Run "Windows Store Apps" and "Network Adapter."

For Store reset: Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft Store > Advanced options > Reset (keeps data) or Repair first.

If stuck mid-download: Library > Click the stalled app > Pause > Cancel > Restart download.

PowerShell re-register (admin): Get-AppxPackage *WindowsStore* | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

5. DNS and Server Tweaks

Store routes to distant Microsoft servers—faster DNS reduces latency stalls.

Settings > Network & internet > Properties (your connection) > Edit IP settings > Manual > IPv4 > DNS:

Preferred: 8.8.8.8 (Google), Alternate: 8.8.4.4.

  Or Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1.
  
  Flush DNS: Admin CMD > `ipconfig /flushdns` > Restart.
  
  Change Store region (temp): Settings > Time & language > Region > Country: Try US/UK > Restart Store. Revert after.
  

Disable proxy: Settings > Network & internet > Proxy > Off for automatic/manual.

6. Advanced: Antivirus and Updates

Pause real-time protection: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings > Off (temp) > Test download.

Update Windows: Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates—October 2025 patches fixed Store throttling bugs.

If on VPN: Disconnect—some providers cap Microsoft traffic.

Why Slower Than Steam/Epic?

Throttling: Store shares bandwidth with updates; Steam uses isolated, P2P-assisted downloads.

Servers: Microsoft's CDN can overload regionally; Steam has global mirrors.

No Stalls: Store queues multiple files, pausing if one fails—pause/resume often unsticks.

After these, speeds should hit 80-100% of your connection (e.g., 10-50 MB/s on 100 Mbps). If stuck (e.g., always at 1.22 GB), delete temp files: Run > %temp% > Delete all (skip locked). For persistent issues, check Event Viewer (search it > Windows Logs > Application) for "DeliveryOptimization" errors. Share your speed test result or error if it lingers.

Best regards,

Jerald Felix