How to Fix Cannot Purchase Games on Steam Store

Wondering why you cannot purchase games on Steam Store?

In the modern world of PC gaming, players prefer to have digital copies of games instead of the classic CD installers that you purchase at local stores. Aside from convenience, digital copies will surely last longer than traditional discs. 

Unfortunately, digital game distribution platforms are also not perfect, and problems could occur from here and there. 

One of the largest game distribution platforms for PC is Steam. It offers most triple-A titles from various developers, indie games, and some of the best ESports games. 

If you’re here, it’s safe to assume that you cannot purchase games on Steam Store. 

Based on what we know, server-related issues are the common cause of this problem in the Steam Store. However, it’s also possible that your current payment option is unavailable, or there are corrupted data on your account or computer. 

To help you out, we’ve decided to make a guide on what to do if you cannot purchase games on the Steam Store. 

Let’s dive right in!

1. Check Steam Servers. 

One of the main reasons you cannot purchase games on the Steam Store is if the servers are down. You can verify this by using third-party sites like Downdetector, where you can view the current status of Steam’s services. 

If there’s an issue on their side, the only thing you can do for now is wait for them to fix the problem. 

On the other hand, proceed to the following method below if there’s nothing wrong with Steam’s servers to troubleshoot the issue on your end. 

2. Restart Steam. 

Before making advanced changes to your settings, we suggest restarting Steam first. This will ensure that all its resources are correctly loaded on your system and clear any temporary errors. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. First, press the Windows + X keys on your keyboard and click on Task Manager. 
2. After that, go to the Processes tab and look for the Steam app. 
3. Lastly, click on Steam and hit the End Task button to stop it from running. 

Once done, wait for a few seconds before relaunching Steam. Go back to your account afterward and see if you can now purchase games from the store. 

3. Check Your Network Connection. 

When purchasing from the Steam Store, you’ll need a stable internet connection so that Steam can communicate with the servers to process the transaction you just made. However, if you have a slow or unstable network, Steam may have difficulty connecting to its servers. 

To check if your network is really the problem, run a test using Fast.com to measure your current upload and download speed. 

If the result indicates that your connection is running slow, reboot your modem or router to re-establish the link with your internet service provider. Unplug your router from the wall outlet and allow 5 to 10 seconds to pass before plugging it back in. 

Once done, perform another speed test on your network to check if the problem is solved. If not, contact your ISP and ask them to fix their service. 

4. Check Your Payment Method. 

Another reason why you cannot purchase games on Steam Store is if your payment method is not set up correctly. You may have used the wrong card details or provided incorrect credentials for your bank account. 

To fix this, check your payment method and try re-adding it to your account. Here’s what you need to do: 

1. First, go to Steam’s official website using any browser you prefer. 
2. After that, log in to your account and click on your Profile. 
3. Now, select the Account Details option. 
4. Under Store & Purchase History, locate your current payment method and hit the Delete button. 
5. Lastly, refresh the Steam Store and re-add your payment method. 

After checking your payment method, go back to the Steam Store and see if you can now purchase games. 

5. Cancel Previous Transactions. 

When you encounter errors while purchasing Steam games, the transactions are saved to your account, and they’ll be marked as pending. In this case, we suggest canceling your purchases that did not push through before buying another game. 

See the steps below to guide you on the process: 

1. First, launch Steam on your PC and access your account. 
2. Next, click on your Profile and choose Account Details. 
3. In the Purchase & History tab, click on View Purchase History and locate the game you want to purchase. 
4. Lastly, click on Cancel This Transaction and select Cancel My Purchase to complete the process. 

Once done, go back to Steam Store and try making another purchase. 

6. Try Purchasing Through the Website. 

You can also try buying your games through Steam’s website. There might be an issue with the dedicated desktop app at the moment, which causes your purchases to fail. 

Here’s how you can purchase games through Steam’s website: 

1. Using any browser, visit Steam’s official website and access your account. 
2. After that, look for the game you want to buy. 
3. Finally, click on Add to Cart and choose Purchase for Myself.

If the transaction pushes through, go back to the dedicated desktop app to download your new game. 

7. Turn Off VPN. 

VPNs are third-party apps that protect your online data from hackers and other harmful entities. They work by masking your default IP address and filtering your data to hide your online activity and footprint. 

However, this process can introduce delays to your network, which can cause issues to websites and online applications. 

If you cannot purchase games on the Steam Store, turn off your VPN first.

On the other hand, you can also try switching to other VPN providers if you’re not comfortable browsing the internet without protection. We suggest checking out PureVPN for your alternative VPN service. 

Unlike other VPNs, PureVPN keeps your network fast and reliable while protecting your online data. 

8. Report the Problem to Steam. 

If none of the solutions above worked for you, we recommend taking the matter to the experts. 

Visit Steam’s Support page and get in touch with their team to ask for assistance regarding the issue you’ve been experiencing on the Steam Store. Provide your account details, the game you’re trying to purchase, and other necessary information to help their team assess the situation faster.

This ends our guide on what you should do if you cannot purchase games on the Steam Store. For your questions and other concerns, please let us know in the comment section, and we’ll do our best to help you out. 

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂