How To Fix Slow Download Speed On Android (2026)

Downloads on your Android phone are crawling, whether you are on Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Slow downloads usually come from the connection, the router or the Play Store rather than a broken phone, so most of them are fixable in minutes.

Work through the fixes below in order, because each one is quicker and safer than the next.

Why are downloads slow on Android?

Symptom	Likely cause	Go to
Slow on Wi-Fi only	Router or Wi-Fi signal	Fix 2, Fix 3 and Fix 6
Slow on mobile data only	Weak signal or carrier limits	Fix 3, Fix 8 and Fix 10
Slow on both	Phone glitch or a stuck setting	Fix 1, Fix 4, Fix 5 and Fix 12
Only Play Store downloads are slow	Play Store, storage or date settings	Fix 7
Slow only in the background	Data Saver or restricted background data	Fix 9

Fix 1: Run a speed test first

Run a speed test over Wi-Fi and again over mobile data so you know which connection is slow.

Any speed test app or website works, and a few repeat tests give a better picture than one.

Speeds depend on your plan, how many devices share the network and which apps use data at the same time.

If the results match the plan you pay for, contact your internet provider or mobile carrier about a faster plan.

Fix 2: Restart your router

Google lists restarting the router as a basic step for connection problems.

Unplug the router from power.
Wait 30 seconds.
Plug it back in and wait another 30 seconds for the lights to come back.

If Wi-Fi is still slow, move closer to the router, since weak signal bars mean slow downloads.

Fix 3: Switch networks

Switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data shows which side has the problem.

Open Settings and go to Network & internet (some phones say Connections).
Turn Wi-Fi off and mobile data on, then test the download.
Reverse it: mobile data off and Wi-Fi on.

Google also suggests trying the same Wi-Fi network on another device, and a different network such as a friend’s, to learn whether the phone, the network or the provider is at fault.

Broadband Wi-Fi is usually steadier than cellular, so use it when you can.

Fix 4: Restart your phone

Google says a restart alone can fix a bad connection.

Hold the Power button and tap Restart, or tap Power off and turn the phone back on.

Fix 5: Toggle airplane mode

Airplane mode forces the phone to reconnect to the network from scratch.

Go to Settings then Network & internet (or Connections) then Airplane Mode.
Turn it on and wait 10 seconds.
Turn it off and test again.

Fix 6: Forget and re-add the Wi-Fi network

Google lists removing and re-adding the network as a fix for Wi-Fi problems on Pixel phones.

Go to Settings then Network & internet then Internet then Saved networks.
Select the network and tap Forget.
Go back to Internet and tap Add network.
Enter the network name and security details, then tap Save.

Other phones may label these menus differently, so look for Wi-Fi under Connections if you do not see Internet.

Fix 7: Check Play Store downloads

If only Play Store downloads are slow, Google lists six basic checks.

Check	Where
Free storage (Google flags under 1 GB)	Settings > Storage
System update	Settings > System > Software update > System update
Date and time	Settings > System > Date & time, with “Set time automatically” on
Close and reopen Play Store	Swipe up from the bottom, hold, then swipe the Play Store card up

If a Play Store update caused the slowdown, touch and hold the app, tap App info, tap More, then Uninstall updates.

To reinstall the update, open Play Store, tap your profile picture, then Settings, About, and Update Play Store.

If you cannot open the store, see our Play Store sign-in fix.

Fix 8: Check mobile data and signal

Look for a data indicator such as 4G or 5G near the signal bars, and note that Wi-Fi can hide it, so turn Wi-Fi off to check.

Turn mobile data off and on again under Network & internet then Mobile data.

If no indicator appears, move to a spot with better coverage or go outside.

Fix 9: Review Data Saver

Google says Data Saver limits background mobile data for most apps, while apps you are actively using can still use data.

Go to Settings then Network & internet then Data Saver.
Turn it off to test.
Or open Unrestricted data and enable the apps you need.

Some phones use different menus, so check your manufacturer if the path differs.

Fix 10: Let the phone switch to mobile data

If Wi-Fi is weak, Pixel phones can move to mobile data on their own.

Go to Settings then Network & internet then Adaptive connectivity and turn on Auto-switch to mobile network.

Google warns this may increase your mobile data use.

Fix 11: Rule out a problem app

Google suggests starting the phone in safe mode and testing Wi-Fi there.

If the connection is fast in safe mode, uninstall recently downloaded apps one at a time and test after each one.

If it is still slow in safe mode, the cause is more likely the network than an app.

Fix 12: Reset network settings

This clears saved Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth pairings, so keep your Wi-Fi passwords handy.

Phone	Path
Samsung Galaxy	Settings > General management > Reset > Reset network settings > Reset settings
Pixel	Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Bluetooth & Wi-Fi, then Reset settings

Samsung says files, photos and apps are not affected, but you may need to re-enter APN details for your carrier.

Menu names can differ between Android versions.

Fix 13: Contact your carrier or provider

Google says to contact your mobile carrier for cellular problems and your internet provider or Wi-Fi network host for Wi-Fi problems.

Ask whether there is an outage, a data throttle on your plan or a faster plan available.

If texting also fails, see our Android picture messages fix.

Quick reference: the fixes in order

Fix	Time	Risk
1. Speed test	2 minutes	None
2. Restart router	2 minutes	None
4. Restart phone	2 minutes	None
5. Airplane mode	1 minute	None
9. Data Saver	1 minute	None
12. Reset network settings	5 minutes	Saved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth pairings removed