How to Fix Friends Chat Not Working on Steam

Can’t figure out why friends chat is not working on Steam? 

Steam is a game distribution platform developed by Valve. Its main purpose is to provide digital copies of PC games to consumers. Steam also offers DRM, matchmaking servers, and social networking services. 

Each player on Steam has their own profiles, which they can customize. Players can also view and comment on other profiles similar to how social media applications work. 

Besides, Steam also features a built-in chat app so you can communicate with your friends. 

Unfortunately, if you are here, friends chat is probably not working on Steam. 

Based on what we know, this issue on Steam is usually caused by offline or faulty servers. However, slow network connections, corrupted files, and outdated software could also be the reason behind this problem. 

Today, we will show you what to do if friends chat is not working on Steam. 

Let’s get right into it!

1. Check Steam Servers. 

As we’ve mentioned, faulty servers are the most common reason friends chat is not working on Steam. To confirm this, you can use third-party sites like Downdetector to view the current status of Steam’s servers. 

If there’s an ongoing issue with Steam, the only option you have for now is to wait. 

On the other hand, you can proceed to the following method below to address the issue on your end if Steam’s servers are working fine. 

2. Restart Steam. 

If you can’t send or receive messages from your friends, the first thing you should do is restart Steam. Temporary errors may have occurred on the Steam app, which causes friends chat or other features not to work. 

Log out of your Steam account and close the desktop app for a few seconds. After around 5 to 10 seconds, re-access your Steam account and see if the built-in chat app is now working. 

3. Restart Windows. 

If restarting Steam did not work, you can try restarting your entire system. Windows may have run into an error related to network connectivity, which causes online applications such as Steam to malfunction. 

Follow the steps below to restart Windows: 

1. First, press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start Menu. 
2. Next, go to the Power Options tab. 
3. Lastly, click on the Restart button to reboot your system. 

Once done, go back to Steam to check if friends chat is now working. 

4. Check Your Network Connection. 

Another reason why friends chat is not working on Steam is if your network is running slow. Since Steam is an online platform, you’ll need to connect to a stable internet connection to avoid issues during use. 

To check if your network is the problem, run a test on your browser using Fast.com to measure your network’s current upload and download bandwidth. 

If you’ve confirmed that your network is the culprit, reboot your modem or router. Unplug your router from the wall outlet and let it rest for 5 to 10 seconds before reconnecting it to the power source. 

Re-run the test afterward to check if the problem is solved. If not, contact your ISP’s customer support and ask them to fix their service. 

5. Run Steam As Admin. 

Steam may not have the proper permissions to access your network, which causes some of its features to malfunction. If friends chat is not working on Steam, run the app as an administrator to grant it full access to your system. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. On your computer, locate the Steam app from the desktop. 
2. After that, right-click on Steam and choose Properties. 
3. Finally, go to Compatibility and enable ‘Run this Program as an Administrator’. 

Go back to your account afterward to check if friends chat is still not working on Steam. 

6. Turn Off VPN. 

Virtual private networks or VPNs are third-party applications that provide security to your home or local network. They mask your default IP address to hide your location online and filter your data to protect sensitive information. 

Unfortunately, some VPNs are not efficient enough to do this process and could cause delays to your internet connection. 

If friends chat is not working on Steam, disable your VPN and see if the problem goes away. 

On the other hand, you can also try switching to a reputable VPN provider such as PureVPN. Compared to other services in the market, PureVPN uses high-speed servers worldwide to ensure fast, safe, and reliable internet connection. 

7. Delete Steam Cache and Cookies. 

Similar to web browsers, Steam uses temporary data called caches and cookies to improve its performance. Unfortunately, caches and cookies can accumulate over time and slow down your system. 

They can also get corrupted, and some features on the Steam app may not work. To fix this, follow the guide below to clear Steam’s caches and cookies: 

1. First, launch the Steam app and log in to your account. 
2. After that, click on Steam on the menu bar and choose Settings. 
3. Now, access the Web Browser tab and click on Delete Web Browser Cache. 
4. Lastly, click the Delete All Browser Cookies button to complete the process. 

Once done, go back to your account and check if the problem is solved. 

8. Check Your Firewall Settings. 

Windows Defender Firewall could be blocking Steam from accessing your network, which causes the friends chat feature not to work. To rule this out, make sure that Steam is allowed through your firewall. 

Check out the steps below to change your firewall settings: 

1. First, press the Windows + S keys on your keyboard and search for ‘Windows Defender Firewall’. 
2. Next, open Windows Firewall and click on ‘Allow an App or Feature Through Windows Defender Firewall’.
3. After that, look for Steam on the list of programs installed on your computer. 
4. Lastly, ensure that it’s allowed to connect to your Private and Public Networks. 

Go back to Steam afterward and check if the chat feature is now working. 

9. Reinstall Steam. 

If friends chat is still not working on Steam, there might be a problem with Steam’s installation files. In this case, we suggest that you just reinstall the entire app from your system to ensure that you have the latest working copy. 

Follow the steps below to uninstall applications on Windows: 

1. On your computer, access the Control Panel. 
2. Now, click on Uninstall a Program and look for Steam on the list. 
3. Finally, right-click on Steam and choose Uninstall. 

After removing Steam, go to their official website and re-download the installer. 

Once done, log in to your Steam account to check if the issue is fixed. 

10. Report the Problem to Steam. 

If none of the solutions above fixed the issue with the friends chat on Steam, we suggest you take the matter to the professionals. 

Visit Steam Support and contact their team to report the issue regarding the built-in chat app on their platform. Provide your account details and all other necessary information that may help Steam resolve the matter faster. 

This ends our guide for fixing friends chat if it’s not working on Steam. For your questions and other concerns, please leave a comment below, and we’ll do our best to answer them. 

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