Steamdeck stuck at “downloading content 0%” forever

[Ghost_Ship_Supreme]

Normally when I go off wifi, I can run any game I want, despite not being connected to wifi, including if I swap SD cards, switch between desktop and gaming mode, etc…

But this weekend I’ve been connecting to a cellular hotspot a lot to fix other problems, and now whenever I try to play a game it gets stuck in the downloading content screen when trying to launch a game…
I’ve tried restarting, shutting down, going into offline mode, and even connecting to cellular again to see if it actually downloads anything! (It doesn’t) attempting to play a game in offline mode gives the error “downloads disabled”
What gives?

This happened to all steam games… but somehow I got the long dark to launch suddenly, but I’m not sure what I did to do it…? All other games are still doing it.

[Mahjik]

If you are still having this problem, a few things to try. First, you'll need to connect back up to the internet (whether hotspot or whatever ISP you are using):

* Try to go to Desktop mode and start the downloads there.
* Pick a game, and force any Proton version. If that starts to download, after it's finished put the option back to the way it was previously. If it works, you'll have to do it for each one.

If you are able to get everything updated, I would recommend to check this thread:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/1675200/discussions/1/3812911294783527520/

That setting could be helpful if you are not always connected to the internet.

[Ghost_Ship_Supreme]

Originally posted by Mahjik:

If you are still having this problem, a few things to try. First, you'll need to connect back up to the internet (whether hotspot or whatever ISP you are using):

* Try to go to Desktop mode and start the downloads there.
* Pick a game, and force any Proton version. If that starts to download, after it's finished put the option back to the way it was previously. If it works, you'll have to do it for each one.

If you are able to get everything updated, I would recommend to check this thread:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/1675200/discussions/1/3812911294783527520/

That setting could be helpful if you are not always connected to the internet.

Thank you for the help, I’m not sure what happened but a day or so later I got to a wifi hotspot and steam said something along the lines of “disk write error” for common redistributables, and that “steam Linux runtime - sniper” didn’t have enough space to update…?
Which is odd because I was already trying to free up space, so I’m not sure why it kept failing… at any rate, all I was doing was (succesfully) installing modded Minecraft onto desktop mode. I’m not sure if the worlds are up all my storage or what, but evidently that may have been a problem?
solving this problem also solved another problem I was having (could not mount .appimage files error).
I’ve had a few strange problems with my steamdeck failing to manage file size correctly. The day I got the deck was also the day it downloaded games that exceeded my storage capture willingly! (The SD card was not yet inserted or formatted so how it did this also is a mystery, it became unstable and crashed multiple times before I realized what was happening and cancelled all game downloads and redownloaded corrupt system files)
I’ve also had it tell me “the game folder already exists” when trying to move terraria from system to a second SD card…

But it seems to be fine now. Basically… the problem solved itself. Though it seems I need to relaunch every game for a few seconds for it to work again? (Takes a few seconds first time) an error sometimes flashes when it does this before it quickly disappears faster than you can read it and the selected game launches

At any rate it’s fixed now. I deleted some apps I wasn’t using anymore and got about 1GB of free space to redownload everything. It’s hard to believe that running out of space can cause so many issues though… but surely changing my profile name from “steamdeck user” to my username didn’t do it…

[banana-ninja6137]

(I'm not good with tech by the way) I was trying to download GTA v on my steam deck and then it says like downloading and then shows nothing under there am I going to my downloads it says nothing is up next but then if I pause the download it shows how much its at is this a problem that I should worry about and how do I fix it

[doloads]

Happens to me occasionally, usually on hotel WiFi. Switching to desktop mode resolves it for me.

[zaaphod_beeblebrox]

Switching to desktop isn’t solving the problem. Does anyone know what to do?

[Bramph]

I believe I've found what I hope is a universal fix for this issue of Proton versions not installing, causing games to get stuck at Downloading Content 0%:

On the Deck, search for the failing Proton version (9.0 in my case). It'll have its own page in your library, like a game. On its page, go to Settings > Compatibility > Dropdown: Steam Linux Runtime 1.0 (scout) > Install from its library page

[icehockeyhair]

Originally posted by Bramph:

I believe I've found what I hope is a universal fix for this issue of Proton versions not installing, causing games to get stuck at Downloading Content 0%:

On the Deck, search for the failing Proton version (9.0 in my case). It'll have its own page in your library, like a game. On its page, go to Settings > Compatibility > Dropdown: Steam Linux Runtime 1.0 (scout) > Install from its library page

Thanks so much. Had the same issue and this fixed it for all games. Proton 9.0 for me too.

[MalFet]

Originally posted by Bramph:

I believe I've found what I hope is a universal fix for this issue of Proton versions not installing, causing games to get stuck at Downloading Content 0%:

On the Deck, search for the failing Proton version (9.0 in my case). It'll have its own page in your library, like a game. On its page, go to Settings > Compatibility > Dropdown: Steam Linux Runtime 1.0 (scout) > Install from its library page

Thanks for this! For what it's worth, I accomplished the same effect by validating game files for the game that wouldn't launch (Another Crab's Treasure), and that triggered Proton 9.0 to download. So weird! I played last night and had no issues. Fully uninstalled/reinstalled but had no luck until I saw your post. Maybe connected to a software update or something.

[isradumbo]

Originally posted by Bramph:

I believe I've found what I hope is a universal fix for this issue of Proton versions not installing, causing games to get stuck at Downloading Content 0%:

On the Deck, search for the failing Proton version (9.0 in my case). It'll have its own page in your library, like a game. On its page, go to Settings > Compatibility > Dropdown: Steam Linux Runtime 1.0 (scout) > Install from its library page

Thanks! It worked!!

[Rimain]

Originally posted by Bramph:

I believe I've found what I hope is a universal fix for this issue of Proton versions not installing, causing games to get stuck at Downloading Content 0%:

On the Deck, search for the failing Proton version (9.0 in my case). It'll have its own page in your library, like a game. On its page, go to Settings > Compatibility > Dropdown: Steam Linux Runtime 1.0 (scout) > Install from its library page

Thanks! Worked

[Meya2023023]

Originally posted by Bramph:

I believe I've found what I hope is a universal fix for this issue of Proton versions not installing, causing games to get stuck at Downloading Content 0%:

On the Deck, search for the failing Proton version (9.0 in my case). It'll have its own page in your library, like a game. On its page, go to Settings > Compatibility > Dropdown: Steam Linux Runtime 1.0 (scout) > Install from its library page

Worked! I already submitted this issue to Steam customer service and will wait if they have any official solution. Thank you!

[domio247]

Originally posted by Bramph:

I believe I've found what I hope is a universal fix for this issue of Proton versions not installing, causing games to get stuck at Downloading Content 0%:

On the Deck, search for the failing Proton version (9.0 in my case). It'll have its own page in your library, like a game. On its page, go to Settings > Compatibility > Dropdown: Steam Linux Runtime 1.0 (scout) > Install from its library page

Dude thank you! Your a life saver for sure!

[kazdyn]

Originally posted by Bramph:

I believe I've found what I hope is a universal fix for this issue of Proton versions not installing, causing games to get stuck at Downloading Content 0%:

On the Deck, search for the failing Proton version (9.0 in my case). It'll have its own page in your library, like a game. On its page, go to Settings > Compatibility > Dropdown: Steam Linux Runtime 1.0 (scout) > Install from its library page

The goat! Thanks!

[Tabby8551]

Originally posted by Bramph:

I believe I've found what I hope is a universal fix for this issue of Proton versions not installing, causing games to get stuck at Downloading Content 0%:

On the Deck, search for the failing Proton version (9.0 in my case). It'll have its own page in your library, like a game. On its page, go to Settings > Compatibility > Dropdown: Steam Linux Runtime 1.0 (scout) > Install from its library page

Dude!!! You just saved my palia addiction!! A thousand thank yous!

[Space Lettuce]

Originally posted by Bramph:

I believe I've found what I hope is a universal fix for this issue of Proton versions not installing, causing games to get stuck at Downloading Content 0%:

On the Deck, search for the failing Proton version (9.0 in my case). It'll have its own page in your library, like a game. On its page, go to Settings > Compatibility > Dropdown: Steam Linux Runtime 1.0 (scout) > Install from its library page

Yesssir! Thanks alot! It worked! Wasn't able to play Red dead and do my daily!