Steam is one of the most used video gaming platforms for both paid and free games.
Despite its massive popularity and plethora of new features, connectivity issues are common for Steam users.
So, while using your favorite gaming platform, if you encounter “No internet connection” error, here is the complete guide to fix it.
What To Do When Getting Steam Internet Connection Error?
When there is no connection on Steam, follow the methods given below to re-establish the connection.
1) Check Your Internet Connection
If there is a connectivity issue on Steam, ensure that you have a stable internet connection. If your internet speed is slow then also you can get such errors.
To check the speed of the internet, you can visit this site.
If the internet speed is low, then you can restart the router once and connect your service operator.
2) Check The Steam Server Status
You should also check the Steam server status page and find out if there is any server outage.
If the Steam servers are under maintenance, wait until the server becomes up and running again.
If there is no issue on the server side, run Steam as an administrator.
3) Open Steam As An Administrator
Steam can sometimes need administrative privileges to run.
So, if there is no connection to Steam, try to run Steam as an administrator.
To do that, follow the steps given:
- Right-click on the Steam desktop icon.
- Expand its Properties.
- Go to the Compatibility tab & check the checkbox for Run this program as an administrator.
If Steam still has no connection, run the network troubleshooter.
4) Run Windows Internet Connections Troubleshooter
To get rid of connectivity issues on Steam, you can run the in-built Windows internet connections, troubleshooter.
This should fix the issue and help in reestablishing the connection.
Here is how to run the troubleshooter:
- Press Win + I keys to open Settings.
- Click on System> Troubleshoot.
- Next, click on Other Troubleshooters.
- Find Internet Connection and click on the Run button next to it.
Finish the process following the on-screen instructions.
Now try to launch Steam and see if the problem is fixed. If the problem persists, update the network drivers.
5) Update The Network Drivers
An outdated network driver can be the reason for no connection on Steam.
So, always keep the network drivers updated to avoid such issues. Follow the given steps to update your network drivers.
- Right-click on Windows Start Menu and select Device Manager.
- Go to the Network Adapters section and expand it.
- Right-click on your network driver.
- Click on the Update driver option.
- Next, click on Search automatically for the drivers option.
Follow the instructions given on-screen to finish the process.
Once done, open Steam and see if there is a connection. If the issue persists, then flush the DNS.
6) Flush DNS
Flushing DNS can clear all the IP addresses & the DNS records from the cache.
Sometimes the cache becomes corrupted and cause connectivity issues on Steam.
So, clear the DNS and reset Winsock to see if this can resolve the issue. Here are the steps to do so:
- Type CMD in the Start Menu and right-click on Command Prompt.
- Click on the Run as administrator option.
- Next, copy & paste the following commands, one after another, in the elevated Command Prompt window. Then press Enter each time:
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh int ip reset
netsh winsock reset
Once you finish running all the commands, close the Command Prompt window and launch Steam. If there is still no connection, change the DNS Settings.
7) Change DNS
Change the DNS server settings to fix the connectivity issue on Steam.
Follow these steps to change the DNS settings. Follow these steps:
- Press Win + R to launch Run utility.
- Type or copy & paste ncpa.cpl in the Run command box & press Enter.
- Right-click on your network services and open its properties.
- Now open Internet Protocol Version 4 [TCP/IPv4] & expand its Properties.
- Under Use the following DNS server addresses, change the Preferred DNS Server address to 8.8.8.8. Then change the Alternate DNS Server address to 8.8.4.4.
- Save the changes by clicking on OK. You can also try other free DNS servers. Now after you have saved the changes, open Steam. If the issue persists, disable Firewall.
8) Disable Firewall
Firewall can conflict with Steam and cause connectivity issues. So, you can disable Firewall temporarily. But make sure to enable it soon after, as your device is vulnerable to malicious attacks without them.
To disable Firewall, follow these steps:
- Type Windows Defender Firewall in the Windows Search Menu and choose the top option.
- Click on the option for Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off from left side.
- Next, click on the buttons next to Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) option. Do this for both private and public settings.
If you use another antivirus program for your device, then make sure to disable that too.
9) Close Some Background Programs
Sometimes the services running in the background interferes with Steam and cause connectivity issues.
You can close the unnecessary programs running in the background to fix the problem.
Here is how to do it:
- Right-click on the Windows Start menu button and click on Task Manager.
- Go to the Processes tab. Look for any unnecessary processes.
- Right-click on each process and click on the End Task button.
Once done killing all the unnecessary tasks, check if the problem is fixed. If the issue persists, then reinstall Steam.
10) Reinstall Steam
If none of the above methods could resolve the connection error, reinstall Steam.
If the previous installation file is broken or corrupted, it will be fixed with a fresh installation.
Here is how to reinstall Steam:
- Open Run utility. Enter appwiz.cpl in the Run command box and press Enter.
- Click on the Uninstall or change a program. Find Steam and right-click on it.
- Select Uninstall. Follow the instructions provided on the screen to finish the uninstallation process.
- Now, download Steam from its official website only; this time, you should not have a problem.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
Below are some questions frequently asked questions by Steam users who encounter connectivity errors on Steam.
- Why is there no connection on Steam?
Steam can show no connection due to poor internet connection, outdated network drivers, Firewall, or third-party interference.
- What network connection reset does?
A network reset helps to remove and reinstall the network adapters on your System.
It returns most of the other networking components to its factory default settings.
- How can I turn Steam back online?
To turn Steam back online, click on the
Steam option on your Steam app. Then select the “Go online” option. Click on “Okay,” and Steam should restart on online mode.
Wrap Up
The above methods should fix Steam’s no connection error with ease. For any related queries, ask us in the comments section, and we shall revert ASAP.
