Other
Background Downloads
Track down and pause any downloads impacting your gameplay
Many programs are designed with convenient features to keep other installed applications up-to-date, so that you can play them whenever you want without needing to manually find that there is an update available, and then wait for that update to be downloaded and installed.
However, when playing online games these downloads can cause network congestion and compete with your game for CPU cycles.
Thus, it is recommended that you pause any such downloads until you are finished playing.
Some programs particularly prone to causing this issue for gamers can be found below.
Common Causes
Game Launchers
These programs will only seek to avoid downloads while you play games they manage - if they even do that much.
- Battle.net Desktop Application
- EA App / Origin
- Epic Games Launcher
- Steam
- Ubisoft Connect (AKA Uplay)
- Xbox App
Driver Packages
- AMD Adrenaline
- Nvidia App / GeForce Experience
Gaming-Related Applications
The following can abruptly begin downloading mod updates or firmware patches at any time.
- CurseForge
- Logitech G Hub
- Overwolf
- Razer Synapse
- SteelSeries GG
System Updates, etc.
- Microsoft Store
- Windows Update
Other
- Creative Cloud (Adobe)