Can’t figure out why you cannot download game updates on Steam?
Steam is one of the largest online video game distribution services. It offers almost all major titles for the PC, including Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, Dota 2, CS:GO, and many more.
With Steam, you can purchase games for your computer conveniently and manage them on a single platform. Updating your games is also more manageable when you buy them from Steam, as they are delivered instantly.
However, the update feature on Steam is not always working.
Recently, there have been reports from some users who experience issues while updating their games on Steam.
If you’re one of them, keep reading.
Today, we will show you what to do if you cannot download game updates on Steam.
Let’s jump right in!
1. Check Steam Servers.
Game updates on Steam are delivered from their servers. If you cannot download game updates on Steam, it may indicate an issue with the servers. To confirm this, you can visit third-party sites like Downdetector to view Steam’s status.
If Steam’s servers are down, the only thing you can do is wait for their team to fix the problem.
However, if there are no reported problems with Steam, you can try the solutions below to address the issue on your end.
2. Check Your Internet Connection.
When downloading an update or any file, a stable internet connection is required to avoid issues. If you cannot download game updates on Steam, the problem may be coming from your network connection.
To confirm this, run a test on your network using Fast.com to measure your current upload and download bandwidth.
If the result shows that your connection is the problem, reboot your modem or router to refresh the link between your router and your internet service provider.
After the restart, perform another speed test to check if the problem is solved. If not, get in touch with your ISP and ask them to fix their service.
3. Re-Login to Your Account.
Before changing your Steam settings, we suggest that you reset your user data first. A bug or glitch may have caused your data to corrupt, which explains why you cannot download updates or games from the platform.
Follow the guide below to sign out your account on Steam:
- First, launch Steam on your computer.
- After that, click on your Profile on the top-right corner of your screen.
- Now, click on Log Out of Account.
- Lastly, hit the Log Out button on the dialog box that appeared to confirm your action.
After signing out your account, wait for at least 2 minutes before logging back in.
Go back to your Steam Library afterward and try updating a game to check if the problem is solved.
4. Check Your Download Region.
If you cannot download game updates on Steam, we suggest checking your download region settings and ensure that it is set to the correct region. You may be connecting to a server that is not dedicated to your area, which can cause delays and interruptions.
Here’s how you can check your download region on Steam:
- On the main menu, click on the Steam button in the menu bar and select Settings.
- Next, go to the Downloads tab.
- Finally, click on Download Region and choose the correct server for your area.
Once done, try downloading the update again to see if the problem is solved.
5. Disable Download Restrictions.
Steam has a feature that allows you to restrict or enable downloads in a specific time frame. This is a great option to have to set your downloads and updates to run during the time you’re not playing.
See the steps below to disable this feature on Steam:
- On Steam, access the Settings and click on Downloads.
- After that, look for the Download Restrictions tab.
- Finally, uncheck the ‘Only Auto-Update Games Between’ option.
Go back to your library afterward and see if you can now update games on Steam.
6. Disable Bandwidth Limit.
Some games require a lot of bandwidth to download or update. If you have your bandwidth limiter enabled, we suggest turning it off before updating any game on Steam. This will ensure that Steam has access to the full capacity of your network.
Check out the steps below to disable the bandwidth limit on Steam:
- First, go to the Steam tab on the menu bar and access Settings.
- Next, click on the Downloads tab and look for ‘Limit Bandwidth To’.
- Lastly, uncheck this option on Steam to disable it.
After turning off your bandwidth limiter, go back to Steam Library and try updating your games.
7. Clear Download Cache.
If you’ve tried downloading updates several times already, your download cache probably got messed up. With this, we suggest clearing your download cache before attempting to update your games again.
Here’s what you need to do:
- On your Steam account, access the Settings.
- After that, go to the Downloads tab.
- Finally, click the Clear Download Cache button at the bottom of the window.
Once done, go back to your library and see if your games are now updating.
8. Contact Steam Support.
If you still cannot download game updates on Steam, we suggest contacting their team.
Go to Steam Support and contact their customer support to report the issue you’ve been experiencing. Include your account details, the game you’re trying to update, and the screenshot of the error to make it easier for their team to assess the situation.
That ends our guide on what to do if you cannot download game updates on Steam. If you have questions, please leave a comment below, and we’ll do our best to answer them as soon as possible.
If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂
