Steam stuck in offline mode

[Wintermutant]

Hey all,

I'm getting this error message whenever I try to start the Steam client that says

"Steam - Error

Unable to connect to the Steam network. 'Offlin... Mode' is unavailable because there is no Steam login information stored on this computer.

You will not be able to use Steam until you can connect to the Steam network again.

Click here to check the status of the Steam network

[OK]"

Please help me - how do I get it out of offiline mode.

Things to note:

1) I have no acess to the Steam menu to do anything other than hide or quit Steam, SO PLEASE DON'T TELL ME TO CHANGE USERS, OR SWITCH TO ONLINE MODE IN THE MENU, as this is precisely what I cannot do and why the error makes no sense.

2) I have uninstalled and reinstalled Steam many times, including deleting the library files. The only thing that has changed is that now it gives me the option to create a new account, login to PS3 for the first time, or login to an existing account. Choosing the third option reproduces the error

3) my computer is full updated

4) when I click to check the status of the Steam network, I get a site with user statistics that seems to indicate everything is peachy keen

5) I have started a support ticket, but no reply as of yet

6) I can log in to the Steam website just fine

7) When I click [OK], the app just shuts down to repeat the error if I open it again and try to

[Wintermutant]

No tips? Anyone? There are so many forum threads on similar topics but none of the solutions listed there have helped me at all. Someone, please - there's no way to play any of my games and I'm getting very frustrated.

[dimension jumper]

i found 1 solution but i don't know if it works

[Do the Roar]

weird

[henryg]

I don't think that I've encountered this exact message before. I'm going to do some research on it tomorrow and will post back here as soon as I have more information.

[Gezus]

Today I went online for the first time in a couple of months. I installed the updates then thought I would go back to offline mode. After restarting to go in to offline it now says (Steam Error.. Could not connect to Steam Network) I don't want to connect! Steam is completely retarded.

[sofia_drawsmore]

I've got the exact same problem. Tried deleting various files, but so far, nothing works. It started doing this right after that last update, and it's been doing this for the past few days since, so I can only assume that's the problem. Anyone have a solution yet for OS X?

[Mr. Horrible]

I have the same problem on a mac. I think all the problems derive from me not having login info stored

[bridie1]

I have the same problem after installing steam for the first time ever. I imagine it's something to do with our internet connection settings... but I wouldn't have the foggiest what. I'm surprised there is not a guide on connecting in the faqs tbh. Just bought a game and cannot play it!

[sofia_drawsmore]

I'm not sure how or why, but switching from my stable, wired home network, to my heavily unstable tethered phone network seemed to fix things. I just hope when I reconnect to my stronger network I can download my games.
EDIT
Nope, still can't download them.

[henryg]

We are still investigating this connectivity bug and hope to release a fix soon. Using a different ISP temporarily (coffee shop WiFi, office VPN, etc) may let you log in once as a workaround, at which point Steam should be working for you again.

EDIT: this does not appear to be working. Sorry for the false hope.

[ej_favier]

Getting exactly the same error message and issue, though running on Windows

[Wintermutant]

OP here - still having this issue. Would really love to be able to play the games that I paid for ... the response to my support ticket was entirely unhelpful.

[DomBobomb]

Hmmm, that's weird.
You're having 0 other internet issues (eg. Adium, Chrome, Safari, Skype)?

What are the security and firewall policies (if you know them), as the Steam Client requires a few;

UDP 27000 to 27015 inclusive (Game client traffic)
UDP 27015 to 27030 inclusive (Typically Matchmaking and HLTV)
TCP 27014 to 27050 inclusive (Steam downloads)
UDP 4380

Dedicated or Listen Servers
TCP 27015 (SRCDS Rcon port)

Steamworks P2P Networking and Steam Voice Chat
UDP 3478 (Outbound)
UDP 4379 (Outbound)
UDP 4380 (Outbound)

BUT.

Let's start easy first. If you can open the Console Log (~/Applications/Utilities/Console.app), hit Clear Display at the top of the window (it just clears the current console messages), and launch Steam.

You should see several notes if there are issues connecting. If you can post those logs in here, it should shed some light on this issue.

[n.sparer]

I am having exactly the same issue. Cannot connect because no log-in data stored although full internet access (can log-in wiht steam online) - no way of playing! I tried several problem solving suggestions (e.g. new registry, re-install, firewall off, etc.) no chance. Where the bugfix?

[renaud]

same for me here