How to Fix ‘Connecting to Steam Account’ Error on Steam

Do you encounter a ‘Connecting to Steam Account’ error on Steam?

While Steam is one of the largest game distribution platforms for PC, it’s not flawless and occasionally runs into error messages. One of the most common issues on Steam is the ‘Connecting to Steam Account’ error. 

If this error occurs on your PC, you’ll be stuck with the ‘Connecting to Steam Account’ message on Steam, and you won’t be able to access your game library. 

This can be really frustrating, especially if you just want to relax for a while after a long day at the office or school.

Based on what we know, this issue on Steam is primarily caused by a problem with the servers. However, it can also be due to your network connection, system configuration, or installation files. 

Today, we will show you what to do if you keep seeing the ‘Connecting to Steam Account’ error on Steam. 

Let’s get right into it!

1. Check Steam Servers. 

Before changing your system settings, we suggest that you identify first whether the problem is coming from your end or Steam’s servers. You can do this by visiting third-party websites that provide information about Steam’s status, such as Downdetector. 

If there’s an issue with Steam, the only thing you can do is wait for their team to fix the problem. 

However, if there’s nothing wrong with Steam’s servers, it means that the issue is on your system or network. 

Proceed to the next method to start troubleshooting the issue. 

2. Restart Your PC. 

Although this may sound very simple, restarting your operating system does a lot of things. This will allow your computer to reload all of its resources and eliminate any temporary errors that may have occurred during use. 

This also reloads your application files, which may not be initialized correctly the first time, which causes the ‘Connecting to Steam Account’ error. 

Here’s how you can restart your system: 

1. First, access the Start Menu on the Taskbar. 
2. Next, open the Power Options tab. 
3. Lastly, click on Restart. 

After restarting your system, go back to Steam and try accessing your account. 

3. Check Your Network Connection. 

Another reason why Steam is taking too long to connect to your account is if your network is running slow. Being an online platform, Steam requires a stable internet connection to function. 

To verify if this is the case, perform a test on your browser using Fast.com to measure your network’s current upload and download speed. 

If the test indicates that your network is the problem, restart your modem or router. Unplug your router’s power cable from the outlet and let it rest for around 5 to 10 seconds. After that, reconnect the power cable to restart your router. 

Re-run the test after your router has initialized and check if your network is now running correctly. If not, contact your service provider and ask them to fix the issue. 

4. Allow Steam on Your Firewall. 

Windows Defender Firewall is a built-in security tool on Windows that controls the network activity of applications. If you can’t connect to your Steam account, your firewall may be blocking Steam from accessing your internet. 

To fix this, make sure that Steam is allowed through your firewall. See the steps below to guide you on the process: 

1. On your computer, press the Windows + S keys and look for ‘Windows Defender Firewall’.
2. After that, open Windows Defender Firewall and click on Allow An App or Feature Through Windows Defender Firewall. 
3. Now, locate the Steam app from the list. 
4. Finally, ensure that Steam is allowed to access both your Private and Public Networks. 

Restart Steam afterward and try accessing your account again. 

5. Turn Off VPN. 

VPNs could also be the culprit why you experience connectivity issues on Steam. While virtual private networks provide security, they can also disrupt your network’s flow, causing online applications such as Steam to malfunction. 

To fix this, we recommend turning off your VPN before accessing Steam. 

If you’re not comfortable going online without protection, you can also switch to other providers such as PureVPN. Unlike other services, PureVPN uses high-speed servers worldwide to keep your connection fast and secure. 

6. Run Steam As Admin. 

Steam may not have the proper permission to access your network, which causes the ‘Connecting to Steam Account’ error. To fix this, run Steam as an administrator to bypass any restrictions set by Windows. 

See the steps below to run Steam as an administrator all the time: 

1. First, right-click on Steam on your desktop and select Properties. 
2. After that, go to the Compatibility tab. 
3. Lastly, enable the ‘Run this Program as an Administrator’ option and click OK. 

Try accessing your Steam account afterward to check if the problem is solved. 

7. Delete Steam Files. 

If you still see the ‘Connecting to Steam Account’ error on Steam, you can try deleting the files on your Steam folder except for steam.exe, steamapps, and userdata. 

To do this, navigate to Local Disk (C:) > Program Files (x86) > Steam. 

Now, remove all the files and folders that you see except for the steamapps and userdata folder and the Steam.exe file. 

Relaunch Steam afterward and see if you can now access your account. 

8. Reinstall Steam. 

If that didn’t work, we recommend reinstalling the Steam app on your computer. This will ensure that you have the latest working copy of Steam installed on your system. 

Follow the steps below to remove Steam from your computer: 

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows + S keys and look for ‘Control Panel’. 
2. Next, open the Control Panel and click on Uninstall a Program. 
3. After that, look for Steam on the list of apps installed on your computer.
4. Finally, right-click on Steam and choose Uninstall. 

After deleting Steam, go to their website and download the installer. 

Once you’ve reinstalled Steam, try accessing your account to see if the problem is solved. 

9. Report the Problem to Steam. 

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

Visit Steam Support and contact their team to ask for assistance regarding the issue you’ve been experiencing. Your account may have an issue that needs attention from their end, or you need to download a file provided by Steam to resolve the problem. 

Provide all necessary details to your report to make it easier for Steam to assess the situation. 

This ends our guide for fixing the ‘Connecting to Steam Account’ error on Steam. If you have other questions, please let us know in the comment section, and we’ll do our best to answer them as soon as possible. 

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