Steam Downloads Slow on VPN?
Here's the Fix
Key Takeaways
VPNs route Steam traffic through distant servers, cutting download speeds significantly
Steam's CDN is location-aware — VPN makes it pick the wrong server
Split tunneling routes Steam direct while your VPN protects everything else
Why Steam Downloads Are Slow on VPN
Steam's CDN picks download servers based on your IP location. When you're connected to a VPN, your traffic exits from the VPN server's location — potentially hundreds of miles from you. Steam sees the VPN server's IP and picks a CDN node near it, not near you.
On top of the wrong server selection, every byte of your download gets encrypted and decrypted by the VPN. For small web requests, this overhead is negligible. For a 50GB game download, it adds up fast.
- •
Wrong CDN server — Steam picks a node near your VPN server, not you
- •
Encryption overhead — every packet encrypted/decrypted adds latency
- •
VPN server congestion — shared bandwidth with other VPN users
- •
Corporate VPN bandwidth caps — IT often throttles non-work traffic
How Much Speed Are You Losing?
The easiest test: pause your Steam download, disconnect VPN, resume, and compare. Steam's built-in download graph makes the difference obvious.
- •
VPN on: 3-8 MB/s typical (varies by VPN server load)
- •
VPN off: 15-50+ MB/s on a fast connection
- •
Game updates, Workshop content, and patches are all affected
A game that takes 20 minutes to download without VPN can take over an hour with VPN connected.
Quick Fix: Disconnect VPN for Downloads
The obvious fix — disconnect VPN, download your game, reconnect. It works, but has real downsides:
- •
All your traffic is exposed while downloading
- •
Can't access work resources during the download
- •
Must remember to reconnect VPN afterward
- •
Some corporate VPNs require IT to reconnect or auto-reconnect unpredictably
If you're on a corporate VPN, disconnecting may lock you out of work tools until you reconnect.
Better Fix: Route Steam Outside Your VPN
Split tunneling lets you keep your VPN connected for work apps while routing Steam traffic directly through your regular internet connection. No VPN overhead, no wrong CDN server.
Install SplitTunnel on your Mac
Find Steam in your app list and set its routing to "Direct"
Steam downloads now use your real connection at full speed
Work apps (Slack, email, browser) stay on VPN automatically
Games launched from Steam inherit the direct route — no need to configure each game individually.
What Gets Routed Direct
When you route Steam direct, everything under the Steam process tree bypasses the VPN:
- •
Steam store, library, and community features
- •
All games launched from Steam
- •
Game updates and patches
- •
Steam Workshop downloads
- •
Steam voice chat and Remote Play
Multiplayer Benefits Too
Routing Steam direct doesn't just fix downloads — multiplayer games also benefit. Your game traffic connects directly to game servers without the VPN detour, meaning lower ping and less jitter.
Verifying Full Speed
After setting up SplitTunnel, verify it's working:
Connect your VPN as normal
Open Steam and start a download
Check the download speed in Steam (Settings → Downloads)
Speed should match your non-VPN baseline
Confirm work apps still route through VPN (check your IP in a browser)
Frequently Asked Questions
Stop Waiting for Downloads
Route Steam direct while work apps stay on VPN. Full speed, full protection.
7-day free trial · Cancel anytime