The Nintendo Switch is quite popular and loved by many, but one thing annoys us all: downloading new games can take ages. Here is how to increase the download speed on your Nintendo Switch.
An issue that many users have had with the Nintendo Switch is the download speed, which is especially annoying when downloading a big game like Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom. But what if I told you that there is an easy trick to boost up your Switch and you never knew about it? This trick is super easy and quick, but many people have missed it. Luckily you found us, because we're going to let you in on the secret of the Switch Download Turbo. Here is how to boost your download speed.
How To Increase Your Nintendo Switch Download Speed
Adjust The MTU Value
Games like Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Animal Crossing are quite big and downloading them can take up a lot of time that we all would rather spend on playing. Luckily, there is an easy trick how you can get your Nintendo Switch to download faster. Here's what to do:
- Go to your system settings
- Switch to the internet settings
- Select connection settings
- Click on "MTU Value"
- Manually increase the value from 1400 to 1500
When you're done, the download speed should be a little snappier than normal. If it's not, try out the following solution strategies:
Examine / Reset Your Network Connection
The first step when experiencing slow download speed on the Switch is to examine your network connection. A slow download could be the result from an unstable or wrongly configured network. Verifying the stability of your connection and restarting both your router and Switch might increase your download speed.
Checking the status of Nintendo's online services can also help identify any wider issues affecting your download capabilities.
Download The Data During Less Busy Hours
Although the Nintendo Switch automatically selects the best server for downloads, network traffic can vary greatly. Attempting downloads during less busy hours, when fewer users are online, can lead to faster download speeds due to reduced congestion.
Limit Network Traffic Usage From Other Devices
Excessive network usage by other devices can impact your Switch's download speed. Ensure that streaming services, large downloads, or updates on other devices are paused during your Switch download sessions. Limiting competing network traffic can significantly enhance download speeds.
Nintendo Switch Download Speed May Also Be Globally Throttled
If, after implementing these strategies, your download speed is still not as fast as expected, it's possible that Nintendo is limiting download speeds at the moment, especially during times of high network demand. The release of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom marked one of those moments; on release day, we experienced slow download speed on multiple Switch devices, no matter if it's been the OLED model or the vanilla Switch, and no matter which Wi-Fi we used.
Conducting a speed test can help determine if the issue lies with your network or if it's a broader limitation (just open up Google, type in "Speedtest" and click on the widget in the results). While this might mean accepting slower downloads during peak times, these tips should generally help optimize your download speeds. Hopefully, the Nintendo Switch 2 will step up in terms of high download speeds.