Steam download goes to 0 bytes [BEST SOLUTIONS]
- Steam is the preferred game distribution software for the majority of gamers. Having surpassed 20 million users and over 30000 games, it is head and shoulders above the competition.
- Even though it is so popular, and despite Valve's best efforts to patch any issues, some users are still experiencing problems with their download speeds dropping to 0 bytes. If you're one of them, have a look at our guide and you'll have it running in no time.
- For more coverage of issues, fixes and guides about Steam, head over to our dedicated page where we regularly post articles about Steam.
- If you're having any issues with software, then the best place to look is our troubleshooting portal where we discuss the best fixes for any problem.
Some Steam users reported experiencing an issue regarding game/update downloads suddenly dropping to 0 bytes. Sometimes it is better just be patient and wait for the download to resume. However, if the problem persists after a prolonged period of time, you probably should do something about it.
To resolve this issue, use the steps below.
Why does my download speed keep dropping on Steam?
1. Check internet connection
- Open your internet browser and check to see if web pages load quickly and without interruption.
- Hard reset on your router/modem.
- Try using a wired connection (LAN) instead of Wi-Fi.
- Pause the download and resume it after a couple of seconds.
2. Clear download cache
- Press the Steam button in the top left corner and open Settings.
- Go to the Downloads section > Press Clear download cache.
- Press OK and re-attempt starting the download.
Has this worked but your download speed on Steam is slow? We have a fix for that as well!
3. Disable the Automatically detect settings option
- Open your web browser.
- Click the Three dots icon in the top right corner > open Settings.
- Scroll down and click Advanced to expand more options.
- Under the System section, click Open proxy settings.
- Go to the Connections tab > click LAN settings.
- Uncheck the box next to Automatically detect settings > press OK.
- Restart Steam and attempt starting the download to see if it works.
4. Flush the Steam config and DNS
- Press the Windows logo key + R on your keyboard > type steam://flushconfig in the Run box.
- Select OK in the Steam question box that pops up.
- Press the Windows logo key + R on your keyboard > type cmd in the Run box.
- Type ipconfig /flushdns in the Command Prompt and press Enter.
- Log back into Steam and see if this fixed the issue.
5. Disable Diagnostics Tracking Service
- Press the Windows logo key + R on your keyboard > type taskmgr in the Run box and hit Enter.
- Select the Services tab.
- Find the service named DiagTrack > right click on it and select Stop.
- Restart Steam and try to attempt starting the download again.
6. Disable the internet flow control of your Ethernet
- Press the Windows logo key + R on your keyboard > type devmgmt.msc in the Run box and hit Enter.
- Expand the Network adapters section > right click on your Ethernet network adapter and select Proprieties.
- Select the Advanced tab > choose Flow Control > select Disabled as the Value option.
- Save the changes and try re-attempting the download in Steam.
We hope that at least one of our solutions helped you solve the Steam download issue. If you found this article helpful, leave a comment in the comment section below.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in June 2019 and has been since revamped and updated in March 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.