Top 8 Ways to Fix Steam Not Downloading Error

Steam is a haven for gamers, and the digital game distribution service adds millions of new users every month. You can search, buy and download games using the Steam client. While the Steam client receives regular updates, some unlucky users often have trouble downloading games on their Steam computer.

This is actually a two-way problem. One is where Steam will not download a new game to your system. The other is that Steam will not download updates for an installed game. Fortunately, both are fixable.

Since this error is related to downloading games or updates, you can double check if your internet connection is working properly. You can also restart the computer to check if something has changed. These are common solutions that can fix download errors like you are encountering.

Let’s start.

1. Go Offline

Check if you have accidentally enabled the setting to use Steam offline. If you haven’t, try using it and disable it after a few seconds. Select Go Offline from the Steam menu and wait a few moments for the settings to take effect. You will be prompted to restart Steam in a pop-up window. To approve.

Then go back and select Go Online.

2. Clear Download Cache

I’m not talking about your Windows or macOS computer cache. No, I’m talking about the Steam client cache and there is a way to clear it directly from within the app.

Stage 1: Open the Steam client and select Settings under Steam.

Step 2: Under the Downloads tab, you will find the Clear Download Cache button. Click on it and confirm in the following popup.

You do not need to restart your computer at this point. You won’t have to log back into the Steam client either, as the option is built right into the client.

3. Change Download Region

Steam has download servers all over the world and will automatically choose one based on your IP address. The one closest to you to provide optimal speeds. Changing the server location can help improve download speeds or fix download errors.

Stage 1: Open the Steam client again and go to Settings > Downloads. You can choose a new download location from the Download Region drop-down menu.

I suggest you choose a place closer to where you live. This will give you better download speeds. Try a few locations before moving on to the next method. Multiple servers may be affected.

4. Compatibility Mode

This is for running older games that are no longer compatible with the system you are running Steam on. Trying to run an old game?

Stage 1: Open Steam > Library and right-click on the game that is giving you trouble and select Properties. Can’t view the game in the library? Skip this step.

Step 2: Go to Local Files and click Browse.

Stage 3: You need to find the executable that launches the game. It should be in the primary game folder, but can also be in one of the subfolders. It is often called ‘game-name.exe’ or close. Double click to make sure it starts the game first. Right click and select Properties.

Step 4: Under Compatibility mode, select ‘Run this program in compatibility mode’ and select your operating system from the drop-down list. You can check the game requirements information to find the right operating system, or try a few new operating systems to find out.

Don’t forget to save the changes.

5. Verify Integrity of Game Files

Steam will download all the necessary game files to make sure your favorite game runs smoothly. These files can be corrupted by not being able to download updates via the Steam client. Steam knows this, so they offer a way to check the integrity of the files.

Stage 1: Open the Steam client and go to the Library where you will find all the games you have downloaded. Right click to select Properties.

Step 2: Under the Local Files tab, click on the ‘Verify Integrity of game files’ button to begin the process.

Steam will check for corrupt files and repair or redownload them. Check if you can download game updates via Steam.

6. Repair Library Folders

This is an extension of the solution above. At point 4, we checked the game files for errors. However, Steam downloads other files called Libraries that it uses to run that game. These files can also become corrupted.

Stage 1: Open the Steam client and go to Steam > Settings.

Step 2: Click on Steam Library Folders under the Downloads tab.

Stage 3: In the following popup, right-click on the Steam folder location where the files are saved and select Repair Library Folder.

7. Multiple Libraries

Some users have multiple steam libraries on different drives. It can be an external drive as they have limited space on the primary drive of their laptop or computer.

If that’s the case with you and Steam is not able to download a game to a drive, you should try renaming the other library folder.

8. Delete Package Folder

You will find the package folder inside the Steam primary folder. Close the Steam client. Make a backup of this folder on a separate drive and then delete the folder.

Steam will download the folder the next time you launch it. If not, you can always restore the backup folder. Now is a good time to check if Steam is downloading a game or a game update.

hot steam

Steam is a godsend for gamers all over the world. It’s the only game app I use on my computer. Despite the options, I didn’t feel the need to go anywhere else. Sure, there may be occasional bugs, but this is common to all apps and software. Did you find any other way to fix these issues? Share it in the comments section below.