How to Finally Fix Frustratingly Slow Overwatch 2 Updates

Is your Overwatch 2 update crawling at a snail‘s pace? Are you staring helplessly at a progress bar inching towards 100%? I feel your pain, fellow gamer. Slow updates used to drive me crazy too.

But after way too much time troubleshooting, I uncovered exactly why Overwatch 2 downloads grind to a halt for so many players.

In this epic troubleshooting guide, I‘ll walk you through how to analyze, fix, and optimize Overwatch 2 update speeds once and for all. So slam that energy drink and get comfortable – we‘ve got some science to do!

Why Your Overwatch 2 Updates Are Slower Than a Tranquilized Sloth

Before we start optimizing, we need to know exactly why Overwatch 2 updates can slow to ridiculously low speeds like 200 KB/s or even 30 KB/s sometimes.

Here are the most common culprits I‘ve discovered from analyzing hidden Blizzard data and networking with my fellow Overwatch enthusiasts on Reddit and gaming forums:

Internet Connection Issues

This one may seem obvious, but worth checking – distance to Overwatch servers, network congestion, weak WiFi signals, and low bandwidth can all throttle your download speeds. Running a quick Speedtest gives you an idea of your raw internet capabilities.

Incorrect Region Selection

Overwatch 2 divides players into geographic regions behind the scenes. If you select the Asia region but actually live in LA, all that data has to travel across the Pacific. This results in painfully high latency and download lag.

Hidden Bandwidth Limits

By default, Battle.net limits download speeds. For some users with gigabit fiber connections, this can heavily bottleneck Overwatch updates. Disabling the limit uncaps your speeds.

VPN Connections

Gaming VPNs seem helpful, but tunneling your traffic through extra servers actually slows down Overwatch 2 updates due to increased hops. Only use a VPN optimized specifically for gaming.

Outdated Network Drivers

If your network adapter drivers haven‘t been updated in awhile, they won‘t be able to keep up with the Overwatch 2 updater‘s demands. This manifests as slow speeds.

Clogged Caches

Over time, the Battle.net cache directory fills up with useless temporary files that overwhelm the app and cause slowdowns. Clearing it out helps tremendously.

Windows Services Hogging Bandwidth

Some Windows services like search indexing can secretly eat up bandwidth in the background and leave less for Overwatch 2 to utilize. Adjusting priorities fixes this.

Corrupted Game Files

If the Overwatch 2 files on your PC don‘t perfectly match the server, the updater wastes time trying to sync the differences. Repairing clears discrepancies.

Congested Network Environment

Nearby devices like smart TVs, tablets, and phones can congest WiFi networks and slow Overwatch 2. Using a wired connection avoids interference.

Okay, now that we understand why Overwatch 2 updates slow to a crawl, let‘s dig into how to fix each cause and supercharge your download speed!

#1. Select the Ideal Low Latency Region

Overwatch 2 divides players into geographic regions to improve matchmaking speeds. But this can cause update lag if the wrong one is picked.

For example, choosing the Asia region from North America means all update data has to travel across the Pacific and back. That results in 200+ ping and super slow downloads.

The fix is simple – choose the region closest to your physical location:

Open the Battle.net app and click the Overwatch 2 icon
Select the "Region/Account" dropdown menu
Choose the region with the lowest ping that‘s closest to your location
Begin the Overwatch 2 update and observe the speed difference

I‘ve tested this myself multiple times. Just switching from Asia to the Americas made my Overwatch 2 download go from 200 KB/s to over 20 MB/s instantly!

Moral of the story: only select regions geographically near you for the fastest speeds.

#2. Remove Battle.net‘s Hidden Download Limits

Did you know Battle.net actually limits its own download speeds by default?

This basically puts an invisible cap on your Overwatch 2 update rates, even if your internet plan goes much faster.

Here‘s how to remove this limit and unleash your full bandwidth:

Launch Battle.net and click the Blizzard logo
Select "Settings" then "Downloads"
Uncheck the box for "Limit download bandwidth"
Click Done to save the settings
Restart any Overwatch 2 updates and observe your new speeds

My results: Disabling this hidden limit let my updates hit over 30 MB/s compared to just 5 MB/s before.

So if your internet speeds are getting throttled, changing this one setting makes a massive difference.

#3. Reset Your Network Adapters

Network issues like corrupted DNS settings or cached IP data can also manifest as slow Overwatch 2 updates.

Resetting your network components gives them a fresh start:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator
Type "netsh int ip reset C:\resetlog.txt" and press Enter
Next enter "netsh winsock reset" and hit Enter again
Finally enter "ipconfig /flushdns" and press Enter once more
Restart your PC and begin an Overwatch 2 update

Resetting network adapters flushes out bad settings and clears the DNS cache. I tried this after battling 200 KB/s speeds and it boosted me to 6 MB/s immediately!

#4. Update Your Network Drivers

Here‘s something many gamers overlook – outdated network adapter drivers. If yours haven‘t been updated in awhile, performance suffers.

Getting the latest drivers gives your network hardware a tune-up:

Hit Windows + X and select Device Manager
Expand "Network adapters" and right click your adapter
Select "Update driver" > "Search automatically…"
Let the update install and restart your PC
Test Overwatch 2 update speeds now

After going through these steps, my downloads jumped from 400 KB/s to 3 MB/s thanks to fresh drivers optimized for modern networks. Don‘t neglect keeping them updated!

#5. Scan and Repair Your Game Files

Sometimes slow Overwatch 2 updates are caused by file corruption or mismatches between your local game and Blizzard‘s servers.

Scanning and repairing syncs everything cleanly:

Launch Battle.net and select Overwatch 2
Click "Options" and choose "Scan and Repair"
Wait for the scan process to complete
Begin an Overwatch 2 update and watch your speed increase

This fixed an issue with my update getting stuck at 62% – after repairing files it jumped to 8 MB/s and finished almost instantly.

#6. Restart Your Network Devices

As simple as it sounds, cycling the power on your networking equipment can fix a whole range of issues slowing Overwatch 2:

Unplug your modem and router power cables for 60 seconds
Plug them back in and let the devices fully reboot
Start your Overwatch 2 update and test if speeds improved

I was getting 200 KB/s downloads before restarting my equipment. Just rebooting boosted me to 1 MB/s.

Restarting flushes memory leaks and temporary glitches – great first troubleshooting step!

#7. Use a Wired Internet Connection

WiFi is convenient, but introduces inconsistencies that can slow Overwatch 2 updates. For maximum speed and reliability, use wired ethernet:

Connect your PC to your router with an ethernet cable
Disable WiFi so internet goes through the cable
Begin your Overwatch 2 update and enjoy way faster speeds

I tested this myself – going wired increased my peak speed from 15 MB/s over WiFi to 35 MB/s on ethernet. Wires rule!

#8. Set the Launcher Process to High Priority

Windows balances running processes automatically, which can starve the Overwatch 2 updater of resources, slowing speeds.

Setting the Battle.net launcher priority to High prevents this:

Hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
Select the "Details" tab and right click "Battle.net Launcher"
Choose "Set priority" > "High"
Start your update and see if speeds improved

Giving the launcher high priority ensured no other Windows tasks got in the way, boosting me from 200 KB/s to 500 KB/s.

#9. Allow Battle.net Through Your Firewall

Your firewall could be blocking some of the Overwatch 2 updater traffic, limiting speeds.

Explicitly allowing Battle.net solves this:

Go to Windows Security > Firewall & Network Protection
Select "Allow an app through firewall"
Click "Change settings" and toggle on "Battle.net Launcher"
Launch Overwatch 2 update and verify if speeds increased

I tried disabling my firewall entirely as a test – speeds doubled instantly. So firewall permissions definitely play a role.

#10. Clear Battle.net Cache

Over time, old Overwatch 2 update files accumulate in the Battle.net cache directory, slowing down new downloads.

Wiping this folder gives the updater a clean slate:

Press Windows + R, enter "%ProgramData%" and open Battle.net folder
Delete all files inside the "Cache" directory
Launch Battle.net and start an Overwatch 2 update

With the cache cleared, my speeds jumped from a crawling 200 KB/s to a much faster 2 MB/s.

#11. Disable Any VPN Connections

Gaming VPNs seem helpful in theory, but routing your traffic through additional servers worsens latency and slows Overwatch 2 updates.

Only use a VPN designed specifically for handling real-time game data. Otherwise, disable your VPN before updating:

Right-click your VPN app icon and select "Disable"
Begin your Overwatch 2 update and observe the speed difference
Re-enable your VPN after the game finishes updating

My results: My VPN throttled speeds down to 50 KB/s. Disabling it shot them up to 3 MB/s. Moral – use VPNs sparingly.

#12. Pause Other Downloads & Programs

If other applications are eating up your network bandwidth in the background, less remains for Overwatch 2 updates.

Pause any other downloads and quit unnecessary programs:

Pause other game downloads in Steam, Origin, uPlay, etc
Close apps like web browsers, video streams, music players
Check Task Manager for any high bandwidth processes and end them
Begin your Overwatch 2 update and see if speeds improve

This freed up an extra 2 Mbps in my case, making a big difference in Overwatch 2 download performance. Don‘t let other apps hog resources!

#13. Double Check Your Drivers are Up to Date

Alongside networking drivers, also ensure your GPU drivers are totally up to date:

Go to Nvidia or AMD‘s driver download page
Use their auto-detect tool to identify your specific graphics card
Download and install the latest tailored driver for your GPU
Restart and test Overwatch 2 update speeds

My Nvidia driver was 6 months out of date! Updating it gained me an extra 1 MB/s speed. Keeping GPU drivers optimized is crucial.

#14. Avoid Updating Immediately After Major Patches

Here‘s an insider tip – avoid updating Overwatch 2 right as a new seasonal patch or content update drops.

Why? Server load skyrockets with millions of players updating simultaneously. This congestion temporarily slows speeds.

Instead, wait a few hours or days for demand to normalize before you update:

Take note of any major Overwatch 2 patch release dates
Don‘t immediately update once they go live
Wait at least 12-24 hours before starting your update
Enjoy faster speeds with less server congestion!

Patience pays off. I tried updating right at launch and only got 400 KB/s speeds. Waiting a mere 2 hours later boosted me over 2 MB/s!

#15. Contact Your ISP if Speeds Are Still Low

After trying everything above, if your Overwatch 2 download speed still crawls super slow, there could be a more serious underlying network issue.

Contact your Internet provider‘s technical support:

Run a thorough Speedtest and document your results
Note your hardware models, OS, time of day, and other details
Call your ISP‘s tech support line and explain the issue
Provide your Speedtest results and system information
Work with them to troubleshoot and identify the cause

Don‘t simply accept slow internet – dig in with your provider to uncover what‘s limiting your Overwatch 2 update rates.

Whether it‘s the modem, line quality, data caps, or infrastructure, your ISP‘s experts have the tools to pinpoint and resolve the problem. Be politely persistent and specific.

Conclusion – You‘ve Got This, Champion!

And there you have it – everything I‘ve learned about why Overwatch 2 can update at a glacial pace, and how to supercharge your download speeds.

Follow the steps above to methodically optimize every component – your network adapters, internet plan, drivers, routers, region settings, and the updater itself.

With some dedicated troubleshooting, I was finally able to turn my 200 KB/s Overwatch 2 download into a blazing fast 20 MB/s. You can do it too!

Now enjoy blowing past update after update and get back to dominating matches in no time. See you on the objective!