How Long Do Switch Games Take to Download? (How to Make Them Download Faster)

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Most Nintendo Switch games take about 20 to 40 minutes to download, but that is only a rough middle ground. Small games can finish in just a few minutes, while larger titles can take an hour or more if your connection is busy or unstable.

The real download time depends on game size, your internet speed, whether other devices are using the connection, and whether the Switch is paused in the middle of a download. Nintendo says download speed is mainly tied to the speed and stability of your internet connection, so the fastest fixes usually start with the network, not the console itself.

How long do Switch games usually take to download?

A small Switch game or free trial can finish in around 5 to 15 minutes. A typical full-size game in the 10GB to 15GB range often lands around 20 to 40 minutes on a decent home connection. Bigger titles can take longer, especially if your Wi-Fi is weak or other devices are using bandwidth at the same time.

As a simple rule, the bigger the game, the longer the wait. If you are downloading on a slower connection, the time can stretch quickly.

Game size	Typical example	Rough download time
Under 1GB	Small indie games, trials, updates	About 2 to 10 minutes
1GB to 5GB	Smaller eShop games	About 5 to 20 minutes
5GB to 10GB	Mid-sized games	About 15 to 35 minutes
10GB to 15GB	Many full-length Switch games	About 20 to 40 minutes
15GB+	Larger releases, heavy updates, DLC packs	About 40 minutes to over an hour

Those are estimates, not guarantees. If your network is under load, the same game can take much longer. If your connection is fast and quiet, it can finish faster than expected.

What actually slows a Switch download down?

When a Switch download feels slow, the usual causes are pretty ordinary:

• Your internet connection is slower or less stable than usual.
• Other devices are using bandwidth. Streaming video, cloud backups, and other downloads can all compete with the Switch.
• The Switch is on weak Wi-Fi. Distance from the router, walls, and interference can make a difference.
• The download is paused because software is open. Nintendo says some games and software pause downloads while they are being played.
• Storage is running low. If there is not enough available space, the download may stop or fail to continue.

If you are planning to keep a large digital library, a bigger Switch SD card helps with storage, but it does not make the internet connection itself faster. Storage keeps you from running out of room; it does not replace a slow network.

What to try first when your Switch download feels slow

Here is the fastest safe order to go through before you start changing router settings or trying random tweaks:

1. Stop other bandwidth-heavy activity. Pause streaming, other downloads, and large uploads on the same network.
2. Run Nintendo’s connection test. On the Switch, open System Settings, go to Internet, then run a connection test so you can see whether the console itself is getting a stable signal. Nintendo’s support pages recommend this as a first check.
3. Close the software if the download is stalled. If a game is open, some downloads can pause until the software is closed. Then check the update/download progress from the user page.
4. Restart the console if it is stuck. If the download is frozen at 0%, 99%, or not moving at all, a restart can clear a temporary hang.
5. Move closer to the router or reduce interference. This matters more than people expect on wireless connections.
6. Try a wired connection if your model supports it. Wired networking is usually more stable than Wi-Fi on Switch.
7. Leave it in sleep mode if you do not need the system right now. Nintendo says downloads can continue in sleep mode as long as the console stays connected and has enough available storage.

Wired, docked, or wireless: what actually helps?

Docking the Switch alone does not magically speed up downloads. What matters is whether docking lets you use a wired internet connection or simply keep the system out of your hands while it downloads.

Nintendo’s wired setup guide is the useful part here. The official wired connection guide explains the differences:

• Nintendo Switch OLED: the dock includes a built-in LAN port.
• Original Nintendo Switch: you need a USB LAN adapter for wired internet.
• Switch Lite: you can use a licensed accessory that supports a USB LAN adapter.

If your network is stable over Wi-Fi, wired may not look dramatically faster every time. But if your Wi-Fi is crowded or inconsistent, wired often helps make downloads more reliable.

For readers comparing hardware options and storage needs, the storage side of the equation matters too. A larger Switch Lite storage setup can make large downloads easier to manage, especially if you buy digitally.

Sleep mode downloads: what Nintendo supports

Sleep mode is useful, but it is not magic. Nintendo says downloads can continue while the console is in sleep mode if the system remains connected and there is enough storage available. That makes it a good option for overnight downloads or times when you are not actively using the system.

Community reports often line up with that advice: when a home network is busy during the day, leaving the Switch alone overnight can feel faster simply because the connection is less crowded. That is a practical pattern, not a guaranteed rule.

If you are trying to decide whether you can keep using the system without a connection for other things, the broader answer depends on the task. The basics are covered in Nintendo Switch without internet, which is useful if your downloads happen on a flaky connection or in a travel setup.

For a deeper look at sleep behavior, see Nintendo sleep mode downloads. The important takeaway is simple: sleep mode can help downloads continue, but it does not override weak internet or full storage.

Common mistakes that make Switch downloads seem broken

• Assuming the dock itself makes downloads faster. The dock is only helpful if it gives you wired internet or a better setup.
• Leaving a game open in the background. Some software pauses downloads while it is being played.
• Ignoring storage warnings. A download that looks slow may actually be waiting on free space.
• Changing MTU or DNS first. These tweaks sometimes help, but community results are mixed and Nintendo does not list them as a universal fix.
• Testing one download during a busy household rush hour. Network congestion can make a fast internet plan look much slower than it really is.

Optional tweaks to try last

If the official fixes do not help, some players experiment with router settings, MTU, or DNS changes. Those can work on certain home networks, but they are not guaranteed. In practice, the results are mixed: one Switch may improve, another may get no better, and some setups even get worse.

That is why the safer order is to start with bandwidth, connection testing, software closure, storage, and wired networking before you touch advanced settings. If the problem is your ISP or a congested home network, no MTU value is going to fix everything.

Troubleshooting quick check

1. Is the game still open? Close it and check the download again.
2. Is there enough free storage on the system or microSD card?
3. Does the Switch connection test show a weak or unstable result?
4. Are other devices streaming, gaming, or downloading at the same time?
5. Can you try the same download in sleep mode or on a wired connection?
6. If other devices are also slow, contact your internet provider.

If the Switch is the only device that is slow while everything else on the network looks normal, the issue is usually the console’s Wi-Fi conditions, local interference, or a paused/stuck download rather than the game itself.

FAQ

Do Nintendo Switch games download faster in sleep mode?

They can continue downloading in sleep mode if the console stays connected and has enough available storage. Sleep mode is useful, but it is not a guaranteed speed boost by itself.

Does docking the Switch make downloads faster?

Not by itself. Docking only helps if it lets you use wired internet or keeps you from actively using the system while the download runs.

Is MTU 1500 the best way to speed up Switch downloads?

No. MTU changes are an optional experiment, not a guaranteed fix. Results are mixed, and Nintendo does not list MTU as a standard solution for slow downloads.

Why does my download stop when I start playing a game?

Some games and software pause downloads while they are being played. If that happens, close the software and check the download progress again.

Bottom line: if a Switch game is small, it may finish in minutes. If it is a bigger title, 20 to 40 minutes is a reasonable expectation on a decent connection. When downloads run slower than that, the best fixes are usually the boring ones: clear bandwidth, check the connection, close open software, make sure there is free storage, and use wired internet if your Switch model supports it.