SharePoint Document Issues

Fix Slow SharePoint Downloads on Home Internet Connection

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user experiences drastically reduced download speeds (around 400 KB/s) when downloading files from company SharePoint sites on a fast home fiber connection, despite other services like Google Drive downloading at normal high speeds.

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Downloading company files from SharePoint while working remotely on a home internet connection.
Observed behavior: SharePoint downloads are capped at unusually slow speeds on a 250/250 Mbps fiber connection at home, whereas the same downloads are fast from other locations.

Before you start

Ensure that your device is not currently downloading large background updates and temporarily pause any active VPN connections to see if they are throttling your SharePoint traffic.

Solution 1Recommended

Isolate Browser and Site Variables

Rule out browser-specific caching issues, extensions, or site-specific throttling by testing different environments.

Sometimes, browser extensions or corrupted cache files can significantly impact download speeds for specific enterprise sites. Testing in a clean browser environment helps identify if the issue is local to your current browser setup.

Test Private Browsing Mode

Open your web browser and launch a new Incognito or Private Browsing window. Log into your SharePoint account and attempt the download again.

Try an Alternative Browser

If the issue persists in private mode, open a completely different web browser (e.g., Edge, Chrome, or Firefox) to download the file and compare the speeds.

Verify with Colleagues

Ask your colleagues if they are experiencing similar slow download speeds from their home networks to determine if this is a widespread company tenant issue.

Site-Specific Slowdowns: If only one specific SharePoint site is slow while others are fast, the issue may lie with the site's server-side configuration or location.

Solution 2

Diagnose Network Routing, VPN, and ISP Issues

Identify if your local Internet Service Provider or company VPN is bottlenecking traffic to Microsoft's SharePoint servers.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Work seamlessly with your documents offline using WPS Office

While network issues might interrupt your SharePoint access, having a reliable desktop office suite ensures your productivity never stops. WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office that lets you edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with ease.

1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website, download the free installer, and complete the quick installation process.
2. Open Your Downloaded Files: Once your SharePoint files finish downloading, right-click the document and select 'Open with WPS Office'.
3. Edit and Save Locally: Make your necessary edits offline and save the file. You can upload the modified document back to SharePoint once your network speed improves.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats.Lightweight software with fast launch times even on older devices.Edit downloaded documents offline without relying on a continuous high-speed internet connection.Familiar user interface for a seamless transition.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is SharePoint slow but other cloud services like Google Drive are fast?

This happens because different services use different data centers and routing paths. Your ISP might have an excellent direct connection to Google's servers but a poor or congested routing path to Microsoft's SharePoint servers in your region.

Can my company VPN cause slow SharePoint downloads?

Yes. If your VPN forces all internet traffic through a centralized company server with limited bandwidth, or if it performs deep security inspections on incoming files, it can severely slow down large cloud downloads.

How do I check if the issue is with my browser?

Open a Private or Incognito window, log into SharePoint, and download the file again. This bypasses your browser cache and disables most extensions, helping you determine if the browser itself is causing the bottleneck.

Document & File Issues