Steam is the biggest video game marketplace in the world for PC users. It is home to millions of video games, and players can choose from both free and paid ones. However, even though it may be worth billions of dollars, its users still complain about different errors from time to time. One of them is the ‘No internet connection’ error in Steam, which prevents users from accessing the store.
- The Steam ‘No internet connection’ error prevents users from accessing the application.
- It appears due to several reasons, such as poor internet connection, outdated drivers, and more.
- To fix the error, you need to power cycle your router, update your network drivers, update Steam, launch the application as an administrator, use TCP protocol, and more.
How To Fix Steam’s No Internet Connection Error
Thankfully, the issue is temporary and can be fixed through several methods.
Check Your Internet Connection
Obviously, you first need to check whether the problem is at your end or not. If your internet connection is unstable or not working properly, you will constantly get the error on Steam. Therefore, it will be wise to perform an internet speed test. This will let you know if there is something wrong with your connection.
Power Cycle Your Internet Router
The error is linked directly to network issues, so you must power cycle your internet router. For those wondering, this is totally different from a regular restart, as it requires you to perform some additional steps.
- First, turn off your internet router by using its power button on the back.
- Then, remove the power cable from both the router and power outlet.
- Once everything is removed, wait for two to three minutes, and then plug it back in.
- Press the button to turn on the router, and try connecting to Steam again.
Open Steam As An Administrator
Sometimes, the error occurs if you’re not using Steam as an administrator.
- Open the folder where you installed Steam. This is usually located in the C drive.
- Right-click on the application’s icon.
- From the menu that will appear on your screen, click on ‘Run as administrator.’
Run as administrator – Image Credits [eXputer] - Wait for the application to start and see if the issue has been solved.
Alternatively, you can type ‘Steam‘ in the Windows Search Bar and wait for its icon to appear. Then, you can right-click on it and select the ‘Run as administrator‘ option.
Use A Wired Connection
A lot of internet connection problems can be solved by using an ethernet cable to connect your PC and internet router. A wired connection is proven to be more stable and fast and also causes fewer issues. The error may be caused due to a weak WiFi connection, so you can try using a wired one to see if it fixes the Steam ‘No internet connection’ error. Yes, we know, the ethernet cable will ruin the overall clean look of your PC. But you will have to do it if you want to access Steam.
Update Steam
A lot of users have a habit of using an outdated version of Steam, which is a bad habit. A newer version of the application is always more stable. Furthermore, the developers introduce fixes for bugs and glitches that were present in the previous versions through new updates. Therefore, if a bug is causing the ‘No internet connection’ error in Steam, you need to update the application to make it go away.
Troubleshoot Your Internet Connection Through Command Prompt
The Command Prompt is easily one of the most useful applications, as it helps you with fixing almost any issue you encounter on your PC. It can also troubleshoot your internet connection if you give it the right commands.
- Go to the Windows Search Bar.
- Type ‘Command Prompt.’
- Open the application.
- Type the following commands:
ipconfig/release
ipconfig/all
ipconfig/flushdns
ipconfig/renew
netsh winsock resetCommand Prompt – Image Credits [eXputer]
It is important to remember that you must enter each command one by one. Furthermore, you need to press enter after each command. Otherwise, they won’t work. Once you’re done with them, restart your PC and try using Steam again.
Make Sure Your Network Drivers Are Up To Date
If you haven’t updated your network drivers in the past few months, we recommend you do it right now. An outdated version of the drivers will keep causing different issues and will prevent you from connecting to the online services of applications.
- Type Device Manager in the search bar and open it.
- Find Network Adapters and click on it to see a list of options.
- Right-click on your network adapter’s name and select ‘Update Driver.’
Update network drivers – Image Credits [eXputer]
The system will automatically download and install the latest version of the drivers for you. Keep in mind that it can take several minutes for the process to get complete, so be patient.
Try Disabling Windows Firewall
We know, you always want to keep your Windows Firewall up and running to keep your PC protected from various threats. However, this Firewall can sometimes cause different issues and can prevent you from accessing daily life applications. Some users have managed to fix the issue by temporarily disabling their Firewall, so you should try it too.
- Type ‘Windows Defender Firewall” in the search bar and click on its icon.
- A new menu on the screen will pop up, and you must select ‘Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off‘ from the left side.
Windows Defender Firewall Settings – Image Credits [eXputer] - Now, click on the ‘Turn off‘ option for both networks, and click OK.
Turn off both networks – Image Credits [eXputer]
Once done, launch Steam again to see if the issue has been fixed. Whatever the case is, make sure to turn on the Firewall after a few minutes.
Change Steam’s Internet Protocol
What some of you don’t know is that you can actually change the internet protocol for Steam from UDP to TCP. This can help fix various issues, including internet connection problems.
- Right-click on Steam’s icon and access its Properties.
- Go to the Shortcut tab.
- Find the ‘Target:‘ box.
- Go to the end of the text, and type -tcp at the end.
- The text will read as “:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe” -tcp.
Using TCP protocol – Image Credits [eXputer]
After ensuring the text has been placed correctly, close the Properties and launch Steam again.
Reinstall Steam
There are some chances that the error is not caused by your internet connection or Steam servers but due to corrupt files. If this is the case, you need to delete Steam and reinstall it, as this is the only way to repair corrupt files.
Did We Help Fix Your Steam No Internet Connection Error?
This was everything you needed to know about how to fix the Steam ‘No internet connection’ error. We hope that our guide has helped you solve the error. Errors like these often pop up here and there but make sure that you update your steam client every now and then to avoid them. If you’re facing any other issue and would like to get solutions, check out other error fix guides we’ve covered so far.
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