How to Fix Steam Downloads That Keep Stopping or Pausing [8 Tested Solutions]

Steam download randomly stopping can turn a simple game update into a frustrating ordeal. Whether your Steam game stops downloading at 99%, freezes at 0%, or just pauses without warning, this issue often comes from conflicts with third-party software, outdated network drivers, or even your system’s time settings.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the most effective fixes to keep your Steam downloads running smoothly without unexpected stops or stalls.

How do I fix the Steam download if it’s stopping?

1. Close superfluous programs

1. Right-click on your Windows Taskbar, then select Task Manager on that menu.
2. Close all programs listed under apps by selecting them and pressing the End Task button.
3. Note that some third-party programs might also be listed under Background processes. So, close any programs listed under Background processes also.

2. Clear Steam’s download cache

1. Hit the Windows key, type Steam, then open the desktop app.
2. From the upper-left corner of the window, click on Steam.
3. Now, go to Settings.
4. Navigate to the Downloads tab.
5. Press the Clear Download Cache button.
6. Click OK to confirm.

3. Sync the system clock with a time server

1. Press the keyboard shortcut Windows + Q.
2. Enter the keyword date and time in the search box, then click on Change the date and time.
3. Click on Add clocks for different time zones from the right window pane.
4. Click on the Internet Time tab, then press the Change settings button.
5. Select the Synchronize with Internet time-server option, select a server from the drop-down menu, and click Update now.
6. Click OK to close the window.

This Steam download error can be due to system time and set time zone dependencies. Users can fix that by adjusting the system time to sync with a server. Follow the guidelines above to do that.

4. Update network drivers

1. Press the Windows key, type Device Manager, then open the first result.
2. Expand the Network adapters section.
3. Right-click on your network driver, then click ok Update driver.
4. Choose to Search automatically for drivers.
5. You’ll be notified whether or not are any available drivers to update.

Steam might not always be compatible with antiquated network drivers. So, users should check if they need to update their network drivers.

You can also speed up the process by using a reliable driver updater. I recommend PC HelpSoft Driver Updater because it scans your PC for outdated drivers and quickly finds the latest driver versions from a massive database.

⇒ Get PC HelpSoft Driver Updater

5. Stop the DiagTrack Service

1. Right-click the Taskbar, then select Task Manager. Or right-click on the Windows menu and select Task Manager.
2. Select the Services tab.
3. Then right-click the DiagTrack service and select Stop.
4. After that, hit the Windows key, type Steam, and open the app.

6. Adjust Steam’s Bandwidth Setting

1. Use the Windows + S hotkey to open Windows Search.
2. Search for Steam and open it.
3. From the top-left corner of the window, click on Steam.
4. Navigate to Settings.
5. Click on the Downloads tab.
6. Checkmark the Limit bandwidth to option.
7. Type a bandwidth that’s comparable to your connection speed.
8. Click on Ok.

If setting a bandwidth limit didn’t help, it might be that Steam’s download limit feature isn’t working properly. In that case, you’ll need to troubleshoot the bandwidth cap directly.

7. Reinstall Steam

1. Use the Windows + E hotkey to open File Explorer.
2. In the middle search bar, type This PC, then hit the Enter key.
3. Navigate to Local Disk (C:).
4. Access Program Files / Program Files (x86).
5. Open the Steam folder.
6. Right-click on steamapps, select Copy, then choose another folder to copy steamapps to.
7. Press Windows + R.
8. Input appwiz.cpl in the opened text box, and click on OK.
9. Select Steam and click Uninstall (or Change/Remove).
10. Restart Windows before reinstalling Steam.
11. After that, open the Steam download page, then click on Install Steam.
12. Open the software’s setup wizard to add it to Windows.

8. Change download region

1. Open Steam and click Steam in the top-left corner.
2. Select Settings (or Preferences on Mac).
3. Click on the Downloads tab.
4. Under Download Region, click the dropdown menu.
5. Select a different region. Many Steam users on Reddit swear by Frankfurt, Germany.
6. Click OK and restart Steam.
7. Try downloading your game again.

To maintain a stable connection that matches your Steam download region, consider using a VPN like ExpressVPN. By connecting to a VPN server in or near Frankfurt, your network traffic aligns with your Steam settings, reducing interruptions caused by routing mismatches or ISP interference.

Why is my Steam download slow?

The Steam download is sluggish for various reasons, most notably because of a server-side problem. Thus, switching the download region sometimes is beneficial.

Also, it may be a generally poor internet connection. This will mean both Steam and other elements running on the network will be slow.

To solve the issue, investigate any local causes, such as faulty cache files or excessive disk utilization.

Also, if Steam appears idle and doesn’t show download progress, this guide on fixing the Steam download not showing progress issue can help restore visibility.

Other steam download problems

If you get a Steam Corrupt Disk error, try recreating the download folder and redownloading. Low disk space can also cause issues, free up space or add storage.

Downloads may fail if the Steam service isn’t working properly. If downloads drop to zero bytes, your internet connection might be the problem. Clearing Steam’s download cache often helps.

Try disabling “Automatically detect settings” and flushing your DNS to fix stalled downloads

• Content servers unreachable on Steam – This one seems to be reported by worldwide users. If it happens to you, you’ll get the following message: Content servers unreachable Steam download error. Fortunately, we’ve compiled a series of solutions that will fix it in minutes.
• Steam download goes on and off – In this case, downloads stop for no reason and eventually resume automatically. Different issues could cause this behavior, so we recommend checking our dedicated fixing guide to discover them.
• Steam download is slow – A big reason for that is the plethora of games and huge titles in the app library. In these terms, you’ll need to follow specific steps. If you ever face this annoying issue, make sure you verify some practical solving methods.
• Steam download stops at 99 – This is usually a network failure during downloads.
• Steam download keeps pausing at 100 – A poor internet connection may trigger this.
• Steam downloads stuck at 0 bytes – downloads may fail if the Steam service isn’t working properly. If downloads drop to zero bytes, your internet connection might be the problem.

Some users might need to reinstall the Steam client to fix its downloads stopping. Remember that users lose game data if they don’t back up the Steamapps subfolder.

If you have any other problems with Steam downloads, sound off in the comments section below.