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# Easy Way to Improve DNF Download Speed on Fedora
- URL: https://mishelshaji.com/easy-way-to-improve-dnf-download-speed-on-fedora/
- Published: 2026-05-03T07:00:21.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-03T07:00:21.000Z
- Description: If you’ve recently installed Fedora, you might notice that the default package manager, DNF, can feel a bit slow even with a fast internet connection. This issue often comes down to two major reasons: Mirror selection and number of parallel downloads.
- Author: Mishel Shaji
- Tags: Fedora, Linux

If you’ve recently installed Fedora, you might notice that the default package manager, DNF, can feel a bit slow even with a fast internet connection. This issue often comes down to two major reasons: Mirror selection and number of parallel downloads.

By enabling parallel downloads and selecting the fastest mirrors—you can significantly cut down the time spent waiting for updates.

## Method 1: Editing the Config file

### Step 1: Enable Parallel Downloads (Biggest Speed Boost)

By default, DNF downloads packages sequentially (one after another).  
Parallel downloads allow multiple packages to download simultaneously—like opening multiple lanes at a supermarket checkout.

#### How to enable it (Config file method)

Open the DNF config file:

```shell
sudo nano /etc/dnf/dnf.conf
```

Add this under `[main]`:

```
max_parallel_downloads=10
```

👉 You can adjust the number:

- `5` → safer for slower networks
- `10` → good default
- `15+` → faster but heavier on bandwidth

#### Why this works

When you run a large update (like a system upgrade), you often have hundreds of small files to download. Downloading them one by one creates a "bottleneck." By allowing **Parallel Downloads**, your computer uses more of your available bandwidth to grab those files in groups, leading to a much faster overall experience.

---

### Step 2: Enable Fastest Mirror

A mirror is a server that hosts Fedora packages. Some are faster depending on:

- Your geographic location
- Server load
- Network routing

### Enable fastest mirror

Add this to `/etc/dnf/dnf.conf`:

```
fastestmirror=true
```

### What it does

- Tests available mirrors
- Chooses the most responsive one for your system

### ⚠️ Important note (from real-world discussions)

- Sometimes it helps a lot
- Sometimes it may not improve speed (or even slow things slightly)
- Results depend on your network and region

👉 Tip: Try it both ON and OFF to see what works best for you.

---

## Using `dnf config-manager` (Recommended Modern Way)

Instead of manually editing files, Fedora now recommends using commands.

### Enable parallel downloads:

```shell
sudo dnf config-manager --save --setopt=max_parallel_downloads=10
```

### Enable fastest mirror:

```shell
sudo dnf config-manager --save --setopt=fastestmirror=True
```

### Why this method is useful

- Cleaner and safer
- Easy to revert changes
- Works well with newer DNF versions

---

## Refresh Mirrors (Important Step)

After making changes, refresh DNF:

```shell
sudo dnf clean all
sudo dnf makecache
```

This forces DNF to:

- Re-evaluate mirrors
- Use updated settings

With these simple tweaks, your Fedora system will stay updated and ready to go in a fraction of the time!