Can’t figure out why you see a ‘content servers unreachable’ error on Steam?
As Steam grows in popularity among PC gamers, we can expect problems when Steam’s servers can’t keep up with the volume of users using the platform. Although Steam has done a great job in keeping its servers prepared for more users, bugs and errors are simply inevitable.
If you’re here, you probably see a ‘content servers unreachable’ error on Steam.
Usually, this error message occurs when there’s a large volume of users accessing Steam at the moment, and the servers can’t keep up. However, it’s also possible that your installation files got corrupted or your network is running slow.
When this occurs, you may have a hard time launching games on your computer, or some features on the platform such as the Steam Store and the built-in chat app may not work.
Fortunately, this issue on Steam is pretty common, and troubleshooting should take no time.
Today, we will show you how to fix the ‘content servers unreachable’ error on Steam.
Let’s get right into it!
1. Check Steam Servers.
Before spending time tweaking your system configuration, the first thing that you should do is identify where the problem is coming from. You can do this by visiting third-party sites such as Downdetector, where you can view Steam’s current status.
If there’s an issue with Steam, you don’t have to do anything on your end and let their team handle the situation.
However, if Steam’s services are working fine, it means that the issue is coming from your end. In this case, proceed to the following method below to address the problem on your computer.
2. Restart Your Computer.
Your system may have run into temporary errors, which causes connectivity issues to your applications. If you see the ‘content servers unreachable’ error on Steam, restart your system to reload its resources.
Follow the step-by-step guide below to restart Windows:
- First, press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start Menu.
- After that, go to the Power Options tab.
- Lastly, click on Restart to reboot Windows.
Once done, go back to Steam and check if the problem is solved.
3. Check Your Network Connection.
Steam could be struggling to communicate with its servers because your internet connection is running slow. Being an online platform, Steam needs a stable network connection to function correctly.
To check if your network is the problem, run a test using Fast.com to measure its current upload and download speed.
If the test indicates that your connection is the problem, reboot your modem or router to refresh the link with your ISP’s servers. Disconnect your router from the power source and wait for 5 to 10 seconds before plugging it back in.
Once your router has restarted, perform another test to check if your network is now running correctly. Contact your service provider if the issue persists and ask them to fix their service.
4. Turn Off Your VPN.
VPNs are third-party applications that protect your online data from hackers and other harmful entities. They redirect your data to their servers to filter sensitive information and change your IP Address to hide your location.
Unfortunately, some VPNs can also cause delays and interruptions to your network, which causes connectivity issues.
If you are using VPNs, please turn them off before using Steam.
On the other hand, you can switch to a much reliable provider such as PureVPN if you’re not comfortable going online without protection. PureVPN uses high-speed servers to keep your network fast and reliable while protecting your online data.
5. Turn Off Proxy Servers.
Similar to VPNs, Proxy Servers also give additional protection to your network. While they work better than VPNs, they can still cause problems to your internet. If you keep seeing the ‘content servers unreachable’ error on Steam, disable your Proxy Server.
Here’s how you can do this on Windows:
- First, go to the Start Menu and search for ‘Internet Options’.
- Next, access Internet Options and go to Connections.
- After that, click on LAN Settings.
- Lastly, make sure that Use Proxy Server is turned off, then enable Automatically Detect Settings.
After disabling your Proxy Server, go back to Steam and check if the problem is solved.
6. Reset Your Configuration.
You can try flushing your configurations if you keep seeing the ‘content servers unreachable’ error on Steam. This will roll back any changes to Steam’s settings to ensure that everything is in order.
See the steps below to flush your Steam configuration:
- On your keyboard, press the Windows + R keys to open the Run Command.
- Now, type ‘steam://flushconfig’.
- Finally, click the OK button to execute the command.
Once done, restart Steam and observe if you would still encounter the ‘content servers unreachable’ error on Steam.
7. Reinstall Steam.
If the ‘content servers unreachable’ error message still occurs on your computer, you may have to reinstall Steam. Some of its installation files may have gotten severely corrupted and are no longer fixable.
Follow the guide below to reinstall Steam on your computer:
- First, access the Start Menu on your computer.
- After that, look for the Control Panel and click on Open.
- Now, click on Uninstall a Program.
- Lastly, right-click on Steam and select Uninstall.
After removing Steam from your system, go to their official website to download the installer.
Use Steam as you normally would and observe if the ‘content servers unreachable’ error would still occur.
8. Report the Problem to Steam.
If none of the solutions above worked, it’s time that you seek the help of the experts.
Visit Steam Support and contact their customer service to report the issue you’ve been experiencing on the platform. Provide your account details, the screenshot of the error, and the feature you’re trying to access before the error occurs.
This will help their team diagnose the issue and provide the best possible solution for your concern faster.
That sums up our guide for fixing the ‘content servers unreachable’ error on Steam. If you have questions or other concerns, please leave a comment below, and we’ll do our best to answer them.
If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂
