Sometimes, you have no option but to limit the download speed on your internet browser. The speed limit hits when you are on a low-quality network provider or in an area where high-quality internet is not accessible. By downloading a file, it gets transferred to your local disk. But, downloading multiple files simultaneously would lead to bandwidth issues. In technical terms, this limitation is called “Concurrent Connection Limits”. Each operating system has its limiting value. More severe concurrent connection limitations exist in older operating systems than in more recent ones. For modern operating systems (such as Windows and macOS), the value is around 20 connections. Note that this limitation is only applied to the desktop and mobile operating systems to provide stable TCP/UDP connections. For server operating systems though, there is no limitation on the number of concurrent connections. This is the way sometimes the server cannot provide high-quality service when it is overloaded.

If you are experiencing this issue and are a Google Chrome user, you have come to the right place. This post explains how you can easily limit the download speed of Google Chrome.

Limit Download Speed

Google Chrome is packed with a ton of hidden features. One of its features includes limiting download speed. This means you would not need to download any extra program to limit download speed. You can use Google Chrome directly to get files, or you can install a download manager extension. The benefit of having a download manager over the default download manager of your browser is to protect against network glitches and recovery options these extensions provide. For instance, the “Live Stream Downloader” extension can improve the stability of the downloading by writing segments directly to the user disk, and it can improve the quality by repairing the broken TCP connection pipes. Whether you are using a browser extension, or you are using the built-in one, you can follow these steps to limit the speed of the browser:

  • Open Google Chrome and click the three dots.
  • Next, look for More Tools and click Developer Tools (Ctrl + Shift + I is the shortcut).
  • Click the three vertical dots from the top-right corner and choose Settings from the menu.
  • Choose the Throttling tab for accessing Network Throttling Profiles.
  • Choose Add custom profile to create a new custom profile.
  • When creating a profile, you will have to enter the download speed limit in kilobyte per second. Users also have the option to limit upload speed. It is important that you do not exceed the maximum bandwidth. Consider performing a speed test before entering the speed to stay on the safe side.
  • All you have to do is enter the rates in accordance with your preference and enter a profile name to create the profile. A pro tip to consider is choosing Slow for the profile name for slow internet speed and the profile name “Fast” for ensuring maximum download speed. It will make your life a whole lot easier.
  • Click Add to finish the process.

You get to limit the download speed of Chrome by following these steps. This feature helps developers test their websites on different network conditions. It is possible to have multiple profiles for different network speeds. Please note that the speed limit also affects how the web pages load. It is not limited to your downloading jobs. If you prefer to only limit the downloading speed, use the above extension. Follow the steps on the download manager’s interface. This way, the speed limit only applies to the downloader, and you can browse the internet at normal speed.

Important Facts

To master working with Chrome DevTools , you require some practice. Initially, you might feel confused. This is why it makes sense to understand how things work before you make any changes. For instance, you must choose a download profile before downloading any file. Here is how you can use the feature correctly.

  • Isolated Tabs: It would allow you to use the profile only on the tab you use. You do not have to worry about the downloading limit applying to other tabs. Since every tab would be isolated, you will get to set the download speed manually.
  • Avoid Quitting Dev Tools: Before you exit Dev Tools, you have to wait for the download to be complete. Otherwise, Chrome would simply revert to the original settings.

As a side note, it is recommended to start manipulating the preferences on a separate browser profile. So even if you have configured something that breaks things, you can switch back to the original and delete the test one. For instruction on how to create a new profile visit Use Chrome with multiple profiles documentation.

External Resources

Conclusion

After you have read this post, you will know how to limit download speed on the Google Chrome browser. You can also apply the limitation on only a single browser tab or extension window. It is easier than you think!