Downloads take very long (Computer)

Maybe the computer itself is responsible for the slow download speed. In order to test this, try downloading the same file from another computer.

If the download time is shorter, your computer might be the problem (check out the computer is slow solutions or viruses/spywares/malware solutions). However, if the download speed is the same then try a different solution from the list.

Note: If you don't have another computer, ask a friend to borrow you his.

It's a good idea to clear the browser's cache from time to time, because every website you visit leaves some files behind. Those files (known as cookies, temp files, etc.) can slow your web browser down and decrease the download speed, which means that downloads will take very long unless you clean the browser's cache from time to time.

To learn how to clean the browser's cache, check out the don't know how to clear my cache solutions.

Every browser supports multi-tab browsing, i.e. it allows you to open as much tabs as you like and to return to the websites you previously visited without searching for them through the browser history.

Multi-tab browsing requires more of the device's RAM memory and if it doesn't have enough RAM memory, the browser's and the device's speed will slow down.

If you have browser tabs you don't intend to use, close them. The more they are, the more they decrease your download speed.

You can close them by clicking on the small X mark next to the tab's name or by moving the cursor over the tab's name and pressing the middle (spinning) mouse button.

If you are downloading files while you are browsing the net and you have many tabs opened in the background, they might be slowing down your internet speed and as a result, the download time increases.

This happens mostly because of the unused tabs that are running in the background and "draining" your internet connection. Too much open tabs can also slow down your computer. 

In order to increase the download speed, write down the names of the files you want to download and close your web browser. After a minute or two, open the web browser, enter the name of the files and start downloading them.

Note: If this solution doesn't work, maybe the internet connection itself is slow. In that case, check out the slow internet connection solutions to learn how to speed it up.

You probably ask yourself: "Why should I update the web browser?"

The answer is simple: to improve performance and to speed up downloading files, if possible.

To learn how to update the web browser, check out the don't know how to update my web browser solutions.

Maybe your downloads take very long because of a virus. Viruses are designed to harm you in every possible way (e.g. browsing the net without reaching the speed you pay for etc.). The solution is to remove them; however, there are some viruses which may bypass your antivirus. 

Check out the viruses/spywares/malware solutions to see how to scan for and remove viruses.

When you download a file from a website, you actually download it from the website's central server (the server where all the files a website offfers to visitors are placed).

If you can’t download a certain file from a website, it is possible that the website's central server is the problem. 

Try downloading the same file from a different website.