Steam download stopping? Fix it with these solutions
- Steam is the largest game distribution platform in the world, but it seems like its download is sometimes stopping due to several reasons.
- One of the most efficient solutions to try is clearing Steam's download cache.
- You should also try to update your related network drivers.
- If Steam download is stopping, make sure you adjust Steam Bandwidth Settings.
Some Steam users have discussed an issue on forums in which the download starts and stops randomly. One user stated:
Downloads used to be continuous, but now stop and start intermittently. Making a 30 min download about 4-6 hours.
Thus, this issue greatly slows down Steam downloads. Fortunately, this error can be easily solved by following the steps below.
What to do if Steam download is stopping due to disk write error?
This issue can occur if you’re having problems with a Corrupt Disk error in Steam. To fix this you might have to recreate the active download folder and then try to download the game again.
The issue can also occur if there’s not enough disk space for Steam to install the games. If that’s the case, you might have to remove certain games and files or expand your storage.
If Steam is not downloading games, it’s possible that the service component is not working properly, so we encourage you to check it.
Why is my Steam download stopping?
There are a few potential factors behind Steam download starting and stopping. It can be due to conflicting third-party software, system time and time zone discrepancies, certain Windows services, or antiquated network drivers.
So, there isn’t necessarily one resolution that is guaranteed to fix this problem for all users. However, these are a few of the methods that worked in several cases, so do not hesitate to try them.
What can I do if Steam download is stopping?
- Close superfluous programs
- Clear Steam’s download cache
- Sync the system clock with a time server
- Update network drivers
- Stop the DiagTrack Service
- Adjust Steam’s Bandwidth Setting
- Reinstall Steam
1. Close superfluous programs
- Right-click on your Windows Taskbar, the select Task Manager on that menu.
- Close all programs listed under apps by selecting them and pressing the End Task button.
- Note that some third-party programs might also be listed under Background processes. So, close any programs listed under Background processes also.
First, users should check that there aren’t any superfluous programs running when Steam is open. That will minimize the chances of potential third-party software conflicts. Users can do that with the Task Manager as follows.
You can also disable your antivirus by right-clicking the antivirus utility’s system tray icon and selecting a disable or turn-off option on its context menu.
Alternatively, users can temporarily remove the antivirus utility from the system startup by clicking Task Manager’s Start-up tab, selecting the antivirus software, and click Disable. Then the software won’t start with Windows.
2. Clear Steam’s download cache
- Hit the Windows key, type Steam, then open the desktop app.
- From the upper-left corner of the window, click on Steam.
- Now, go to Settings.
- Navigate to the Downloads tab.
- Press the Clear Download Cache button.
- Click OK to confirm.
3. Sync the system clock with a time server
- Use the following keyboard shortcut to open Cortana: Windows + Q.
- Enter the keyword date and time in the search box, then click on Change the date and time.
- From the right window pane, click on Add clocks for different time zones to open the window in the shot directly below.
- Click on the Internet Time tab, then press on the Change settings button.
- Select the Synchronize with Internet time-server option, select a server from the drop-down menu, and click Update now.
- Click OK to close the window.
As mentioned, this Steam download error can be due to system time and set time zone dependencies. Users can fix that by adjusting system time to sync with a server. Follow the guidelines above to do that.
4. Update network drivers
- Press on the Windows key, type Device Manager, then open the first result.
- Expand the Network adapters section.
- Rigt-click on your network driver, then click ok Update driver.
- Choose to Search automatically for drivers.
- 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.
5. Stop the DiagTrack Service
Users have said that stopping the DiagTrack service fixed Steam download stopping issues. To stop this service, do the following:
- Right-click the Taskbar, then select Task Manager.
- Select the Services tab.
- Then. right-click the DiagTrack service and select Stop.
- Thereafter, hit the Windows key, type Steam, and open the app.
6. Adjust Steam’s Bandwidth Setting
- Use the following hotkey to open Windows Search: Windows + S.
- Search for Steam and open it.
- From the top-left corner of the window, click on Steam.
- Navigate to Settings.
- Click on the Downloads tab.
- Checkmark the Limit bandwidth to option.
- Type a bandwidth that’s comparable to your connection speed.
- Click on Ok.
7. Reinstall Steam
- Use the following hotkey to open File Explorer: Windows + E.
- In the middle search bar, type This PC, then hit the Enter key.
- Navigate to Local Disk (C:).
- Access Program Files / Program Files (x86).
- Open the Steam folder.
- Right-click on steamapps, then select Copy, then choose another folder to copy steamapps to.
- Now, use the following keyboard shortcut: Windows + R.
- Input appwiz.cpl in the opened text box, and click on OK.
- Select Steam and click Uninstall (or Change/Remove).
- Restart Windows before reinstalling Steam.
- Thereafter, open the Steam download page, then click on Install Steam.
- Open the software’s setup wizard to add it to Windows.
What other Steam download problems should I be aware of?
It is true that Steam download might sometimes stop, but there are several other related problems you should know, in order to prevent any of them:
- Content servers unreachable on Steam – This one seems to be reported by worldwide users. If it will ever happen 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 a matter of minutes.
- Steam download goes on and off – In this case, downloads stop for no reason and eventually resume automatically. This behavior could be caused by different issues and to discover them, we recommend checking our dedicated fixing guide.
- Steam download is slow – A big reason for that is the plethora of games and huge titles included in the app library. In these terms, you’ll need to follow specific steps. If you’ll ever face this annoying issue, make sure you verify some useful solving methods.
Some users might need to reinstall the Steam client to fix its downloads stopping. Just remember that users will also lose game data if they don’t back up the Steamapps subfolder.
Users can copy the Steamapps folder and reinstall Steam as follows.
If you have any other problems with Steam downloads, sound off in the comments section below.
Frequently Asked Questions
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It could be a Steam issue or a problem with your connection. This guide shows you how to fix Steam downloads and get them running again. You can also increase your download speeds on Steam for a better experience.
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You can stop Steam from downloading game updates in several ways, as shown in our guide.
