If you've recently bought a PS5 or PS5 Digital Edition, you might currently be trying to download some games to test out the new console. But have you been struck by slow download speeds?
Of course, watching every little decimal of gigabyte drip-feed itself onto your PS5 while you’re raring to play can be a maddening experience – especially if there are infuriating bandwidth interruptions. And the bigger the game, the longer you’ll be twiddling your thumbs in anticipation.
Even with the PS5's impressive SSD and general next-gen tech, it is not immune to slow downloads for some of these larger games such as Spider-Man: Miles Morales, or the equally huge PS4 games available via backwards compatible.
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So, here is everything you need to know to help your PS5 download games faster...
Close down games and apps
The first thing to do is to reduce the stress on your PS5 console, by properly closing down any open games and apps, which might be using up precious system resources in the background.
Remember, even though the PS5 console does let you play games while waiting for your download to complete, it’s best not to if speed is of the essence. This means that if you've just booted up your PS5 for the first time, don't be tempted to play Astro's Playground as you wait for Miles Morales or Demon's Souls to install!
You might also want to try giving your console a quick restart - this should clear out the cache, refresh your connection and potentially speed things up a bit (if you're lucky).
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Focus on one download at a time
Multiple simultaneous downloads can also slow down the time it’ll take for you to start playing your shiny new game.
In the spirit of focusing your console on the task at hand, it’s best to download one thing at a time.
This also applies to any game/app updates that might be eager to make their way onto your machine automatically.
Head to your download queue, then, and make sure you only have one download going on your PS5 at a time.
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Check your internet connection and download speed
It’s worth checking the strength of your wi-fi connection to root out any problems if you’re experiencing slower-than-expected download speeds.
You should be able to find, in your Network settings on the PS5, a way to test your current download speed and wireless signal strength.
You could also do this on your phone simply by googling the words 'test my download speed' and clicking where it says 'RUN SPEED TEST'. (You could also click that last link to go straight there!)
If your wireless strength and download speed are low, try moving your router nearer to your console if you can. Or move your PS5 closer to the router - whichever is easier for you!
You could even connect the PS5 to your router with an ethernet cable if they're close enough, which should dramatically improve the stability of your internet connection.
If the download speed seems low, try turning off any other home devices that might be using it (a streaming box or computer, for example). And if the speed is lower than your broadband package guarantees as a minimum, it might be worth contacting your provider.
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