How to Configure Internet Explorer to Have More Than Two Download Sessions

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The information in this article applies to:

  •  Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 2000

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 2000

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 2000

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows XP

This article was previously published under Q282402

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY

This article describes how to configure Internet Explorer to have more than two download sessions.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To comply with current Internet standards (Request for Comments 2068), Internet Explorer limits the number of simultaneous downloads to two downloads, plus one queued download. This configuration is a function of the browser. However, as connection speeds increase, and the number of total connections that are allowed to Internet servers increase, the two-connection limit may be restrictive. To increase the number of simultaneous connections that are allowed to 10, follow these steps:

1.             Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).

2.             Locate the following key in the registry:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings

3.             On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following registry values:

"MaxConnectionsPer1_0Server"=Dword:0000000a
"MaxConnectionsPerServer"=Dword:0000000a

4.             Quit Registry Editor.

This procedure is for informational purposes only. Changing the maximum number of connections beyond two is a violation of Internet standards; Microsoft does not recommended this procedure for use outside closed networks.