Is your PS5 downloading at a tortoise’s pace and driving you crazy watching the progress bar inch forward? Relax, you’re not alone. The cause is almost always hidden in the network connection or a couple of system settings that, with a little geeky tweaking, you can optimize in minutes. Here we gather the most reliable methods to gain speed: from choosing the correct Wi‑Fi band and using public DNS to running an Ethernet cable or making use of Rest Mode. In fact, with a few well-made choices, you can notice a performance jump as clear as going from a hard drive to an NVMe SSD.
Network settings that make a difference
First: make sure your console uses the 5 GHz Wi‑Fi band, since it is usually faster and less congested than 2.4 GHz. Go into your PS5 network settings and force the connection to 5 GHz for game and update downloads. Then try again: many times the change is noticeable immediately.
Also check your connection status from the console’s own network menu. If the results are abnormally low or unstable, you need to act on the router: restart it by unplugging it for about 30 seconds and plug it back in; if the problem persists, you may need to contact your ISP. Also, physical proximity helps, so move the PS5 closer to the router to reduce obstacles and interference.
When you want maximum stability, nothing beats a cable: set up a wired LAN connection on the PS5 and plug an Ethernet cable directly into the router. A CAT6 or CAT6a cable is more than enough; even a CAT8 will work, although don’t expect miracles if your line doesn’t support it.
Another setting that can make a difference is switching DNS to fast public ones. In the network settings choose custom mode and enter reliable addresses such as Google (primary 8.8.8.8, secondary 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare (primary 1.1.1.1, secondary 1.0.0.1). It often improves name resolution and, with it, the feeling of speed.
Finally, reduce traffic on your home network while downloading: pause streaming, downloads on PCs or mobiles and any heavy tasks on other devices. And if you notice odd behavior, fully restart the PS5 (complete shutdown, disconnect power for a few minutes, then power on) to clear possible temporary faults. Keeping the system software up to date is also key, since patches usually fine-tune compatibility and fix bugs.
Smart download management on PS5
Not everything is raw speed: how you manage downloads matters. Download one game at a time; if you queue several at once, they will all share bandwidth and take longer. Likewise, avoid playing online or running demanding titles during a large download, because the console will dedicate resources to the game and downloads will suffer.
Rest Mode is your ally. Enable the option to “stay connected to the Internet” in the available functions while the console is in rest, and the PS5 will continue downloading games and patches with fewer background processes competing. It’s ideal to leave an installation ready while you sleep or leave the house.
To avoid being hit with surprise multi-gig updates just when you want to play, enable automatic updates for games and apps and allow them to download and install in rest as well. That way the console will do the work while you don’t use it and you’ll avoid multiple queues that slow the whole system. This approach, combined with a well-configured network, is a winning recipe that is reminiscent of optimizing a gaming PC with good Ethernet cabling and manually tuned DNS.
When and what to download: play to your advantage
The time of day also matters. Networks get saturated at peak hours, so starting downloads overnight or early in the morning usually yields better rates. It’s not magic, it’s fewer people connected at the same time and therefore less congestion.
Also, it’s wise to set expectations according to game size: nowadays it’s not uncommon to see titles between 50 and 150 GB due to high-resolution textures and huge worlds. For example, Destiny 2 is around 87 GB (without all additional content) and Final Fantasy XVI requires about 110 GB on PS5, so depending on your connection, completing the download will take time.
In short: force the 5 GHz band when using Wi‑Fi, prioritize Ethernet when you can, try DNS such as Google’s or Cloudflare’s, reduce home traffic, download in Rest Mode and manage one queue at a time. Ready to squeeze your PS5 and shave those waiting times like a true network handyman?
