Several factors outside of WeTransfer can affect your download speed. Start by measuring your connection, then work through the common causes below.
Run a speed test
Before doing any other troubleshooting, find out what speed you're actually getting:
- Visit speedtest.net or fast.com from the same device and network you're using to download.
- Run the test and note the download speed in Mbps.
- Convert to MB/s by dividing by 8. For example, 100 Mbps ≈ 12.5 MB/s, so a 1 GB transfer would take ~80 seconds at full speed.
- Compare against the size of the transfer you're trying to download. If the test result is much higher than what you're seeing in WeTransfer, the bottleneck is probably one of the items below — not your connection itself.
If your upload speed also feels slow, the same speed test will tell you. See the Upload speed is slow article for upload-specific fixes.
Common causes and fixes
- Network congestion: avoid downloading during peak hours. If others on your network are streaming or running large uploads, that will reduce your bandwidth.
- Shared connections: using WeTransfer across multiple devices or apps simultaneously will lower speeds.
- Router issues: restart your modem and router.
- Browser or extensions: try a different up-to-date browser or incognito mode. Disable extensions one by one.
- Antivirus or firewall: temporarily disable to test whether they're affecting speed.
- VPN: try disabling it. Or if you're not using one, installing a VPN can sometimes help if your ISP is throttling.
- Corporate or remote network: check with your IT department for restrictions.
- Your Internet Service Provider may be slowing your download activity. A VPN can bypass it, or contact your Internet Service Provider.
- Intercontinental transfers: if the transfer originated from a very different region, distance can affect speed.
- Outdated software: make sure your operating system and browser are up to date.