Game Download Time Calculator
Enter a game's size and your connection speed to estimate exactly how long the download will take before you can play.
Big games mean big downloads — and a 24 GB open-world title can take anywhere from a few minutes on fast Wi-Fi to over an hour on a weak signal. Enter the game size and your connection speed (or pick a typical one) to estimate how long you will be staring at that progress bar before you can play.
Game Download Time Calculator
Estimate assumes ~85% real-world efficiency (overhead, throttling). Apple also pauses cellular downloads over 200 MB unless you allow large downloads in Settings.
Tips for faster, cheaper game downloads
- Use Wi-Fi for anything large. iOS blocks App Store downloads over 200 MB on cellular by default. You can allow them in Settings, but a 20 GB game can blow through a data cap fast.
- Speed is in megabits, size is in gigabytes. One gigabyte equals eight gigabits, which is why a "fast" 100 Mbps line still needs a couple of minutes per gigabyte.
- Free up space before you start. A failed install near full storage wastes the whole download. Check first with our storage calculator.
- Prefer small but brilliant games? Our under-1 GB and under-500 MB lists download in seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to download a 20GB game?
At a fast 100 Mbps it takes roughly 25–30 minutes including real-world overhead; on a slow 10 Mbps connection the same game can take over four hours. Use the calculator above with your real speed for an exact estimate.
Why won't my large game download on cellular?
iOS blocks App Store downloads over 200 MB on mobile data by default to protect your data plan. Go to Settings › App Store › Mobile Data and choose 'Allow Large Downloads', or connect to Wi-Fi.
Is the estimate exact?
It is a close estimate that assumes about 85% efficiency to account for network overhead and throttling. Actual time depends on server load, signal strength, and whether other devices share your connection.