What causes "Why Is Proton Drive So Slow? Uploads and Downloads"?

Per-file client-side encryption (slowest with thousands of small files) Deeply nested folder structures VPN server congestion Older app versions before the 2026 SDK speed-ups Pausing and resuming, which restarts transfers

How do I fix "Why Is Proton Drive So Slow? Uploads and Downloads"?

1. Update to the latest app: Install the latest desktop or mobile app Proton's 2026 updates claim up to 70% faster web downloads and 60% faster iOS uploads 2. Try the web app for large batches: Open drive.proton.me in a current browser Upload or download the batch there and compare speed with the desktop app 3. Zip many small files: Compress folders with thousands of small files into a few archives Upload the archives instead of the individual files 4. Change VPN server: Connect to a closer or less busy VPN server Or disconnect the VPN during the initial upload 5. Let active transfers finish: If the Activity tab shows progress, wait instead of pausing Pausing cancels the current transfer and restarts it later

// troubleshooting guide · proton drive

Why Is Proton Drive So Slow? Uploads and Downloads

Status: Ongoing
platforms:: Windows, macOS, Web, iOS, Android
updated:: November 15, 2026
reports:: 4
Method: how we research

RUNBOOK · proton-drive/slow-upload5 FIXES

// quick answer

Proton Drive encrypts every file on your device before upload, so many small files, deeply nested folders, VPN routing and old app versions make transfers slow. Update the app, upload big batches as fewer larger files or via the web app, and don't pause transfers that are progressing.

Most likely fix: Update to the latest app

How to fix it

// try these in order, the most common fix is first

FIX 1Update to the latest app
1. 01Install the latest desktop or mobile app
2. 02Proton's 2026 updates claim up to 70% faster web downloads and 60% faster iOS uploads
Did this fix it?
FIX 2Try the web app for large batches
1. 01Open drive.proton.me in a current browser
2. 02Upload or download the batch there and compare speed with the desktop app
Did this fix it?
FIX 3Zip many small files
1. 01Compress folders with thousands of small files into a few archives
2. 02Upload the archives instead of the individual files
Did this fix it?
FIX 4Change VPN server
1. 01Connect to a closer or less busy VPN server
2. 02Or disconnect the VPN during the initial upload
Did this fix it?
FIX 5Let active transfers finish
1. 01If the Activity tab shows progress, wait instead of pausing
2. 02Pausing cancels the current transfer and restarts it later
Did this fix it?

Symptoms

Uploads crawl at a few KB/s, the desktop app adds items to the queue one by one, downloads in the Windows app are much slower than in the browser, or phone photo uploads take hours.