"Client timed out" error

[JAiZ]

(Edit: This has been fixed, scroll to the bottom to see how I fixed it.)

I constantly receive the error message "Client timed out" whenever I try to join a game.

I searched online when the issue first surfaced this morning, and found the following threads:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/550/discussions/0/558751813303850063/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/550/discussions/0/154645539343940651/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/550/discussions/0/530645446325274978/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/550/discussions/0/2592234299554310821/

Chronological description of when the issue occured:

This morning (+-13:00 GMT+1) I joined a game via the serverbrowser (official server), played for 2 minutes, then the game crashed.
I start up the game anew, join a versus game which proceeds to load, I'm in the game for roughly 3 seconds, then it boots me to the main menu with the message "Client timed out".
Retried joining multiple games in different modes, both official and third party servers. Same error message.

Chronological listing of my attempts to fix this:

Did a speedtest, everything is fine (100mbps download, 30mbps upload, 0 ping). Restarted router and PC to no avail.

Deleted clientregistry.blob and restarted steam, issue still persists.

Created userconfig.cfg file in the left4dead>cfg directory with the inputs "-dxlevel 95 +clientport 27010" (as was recommended in the steam forums) to no avail.

Put "+clientport 27001" (as recommended in the steam forums) in the Left 4 Dead 2 launch options, to no avail.

Attempted to exit and relaunch steam, issue still persists.

Unsubscribed/removed all add-ons (and relaunched steam), issue still persists.

Disabled steam cloud for L4D2 and verified integrity of game files, issue still persists

Quick re-install of L4D2, issue still persists.

Full re-install of L4D2, issue still persists.

Lengthy restart of my modem (15 Minute wait) followed by a lengthy restart of Steam (30 Minute wait), issue still persists.

How I fixed it

After trying everything that was suggested in other forums and posts, I went to my steam settings and onto downloads.
First I switched my download region, restarted steam, then switched it back and restarted steam again.
Following this, I clicked on clear download cache, which prompted me with the message "The Steam service component is not working properly on this computer. Reinstalling the Steam service requires administrator priviliges.".
I clicked on "INSTALL SERVICE" and waited (it froze the first time I did this, so i force closed steam and retried it. Edit: It may keep freezing everytime you do this, if that's the case leave it be until it responds again by itsself.).
After this, I loaded up L4D2, hit quick play, and it worked.
Here is a screenshot for extra clarity[imgur.com].

I hope this will help someone in future.

[JAiZ]

Update, I fixed it! Somehow..
I'll update the main post with how I fixed it, and will leave this up in case anyone stumbles upon it in future.

Feel free to necro if necessary

[shenanigans]

@JAiZ: Your fix worked for me too. Except I did not need to perform the step of changing my download region. Just "clear download cache" seemed to resolve this for me.

[sʜᴀ]

Originally posted by Ｌｏｖｅｌｙ:

Originally posted by JAiZ:

Update, I fixed it! Somehow..
I'll update the main post with how I fixed it, and will leave this up in case anyone stumbles upon it in future.

Feel free to necro if necessary

Tell that without getting banned for necro v:

You don't get banned because you necro'd. You hit the hammer if you're just bumping a thread without adding anything valuable or informative to the thread.
Basically, if in 3 years someone posts "this worked for me thx" it's completely okay.

[Blueface]

Originally posted by ################################:

Originally posted by Ｌｏｖｅｌｙ:

Tell that without getting banned for necro v:

You don't get banned because you necro'd. You hit the hammer if you're just bumping a thread without adding anything valuable or informative to the thread.
Basically, if in 3 years someone posts "this worked for me thx" it's completely okay.

who knows,mods are abusive and always searches a stupid reason to ban ppl

[Sharpie The Dragon]

Originally posted by 24RUS dr1ver:

Originally posted by ################################:

You don't get banned because you necro'd. You hit the hammer if you're just bumping a thread without adding anything valuable or informative to the thread.
Basically, if in 3 years someone posts "this worked for me thx" it's completely okay.

who knows,mods are abusive and always searches a stupid reason to ban ppl

Yeah, I know that all too well.

[Blueface]

Originally posted by Sharples:

Originally posted by 24RUS dr1ver:

who knows,mods are abusive and always searches a stupid reason to ban ppl

Yeah, I know that all too well.

thats a fact indeed

[NOTES]

Originally posted by JAiZ:

(Edit: This has been fixed, scroll to the bottom to see how i fixed it.)

I constantly receive the error message "Client timed out" whenever I try to join a game.
I already sent a help ticket to steam support, but knowing how bad they generally are I decided to post here as well.

I searched online when the issue first surfaced this morning, and found the following threads:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/550/discussions/0/558751813303850063/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/550/discussions/0/154645539343940651/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/550/discussions/0/530645446325274978/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/550/discussions/0/2592234299554310821/

Chronological description of when the issue occured:

This morning (+-13:00 GMT+1) I joined a game via the serverbrowser (official server), played for 2 minutes, then the game crashed.
I start up the game anew, join a versus game which proceeds to load, I'm in the game for roughly 3 seconds, then it boots me to the main menu with the message "Client timed out".
Retried joining multiple games in different modes, both official and third party servers. Same error message.

Chronological listing of my attempts to fix this:

Did a speedtest, everything is fine (100mbps download, 30mbps upload, 0 ping). Restarted router and PC to no avail.

Deleted clientregistry.blob and restarted steam, issue still persists.

Created userconfig.cfg file in the left4dead>cfg directory with the inputs "-dxlevel 95 +clientport 27010" (as was recommended in the steam forums) to no avail.

Put "+clientport 27001" (as recommended in the steam forums) in the Left 4 Dead 2 launch options, to no avail.

Attempted to exit and relaunch steam, issue still persists.

Unsubscribed/removed all add-ons (and relaunched steam), issue still persists.

Disabled steam cloud for L4D2 and verified integrity of game files, issue still persists

Quick re-install of L4D2, issue still persists.

Full re-install of L4D2, issue still persists.

Lengthy restart of my modem (15 Minute wait) followed by a lengthy restart of Steam (30 Minute wait), issue still persists.

I have absolutely no idea how to fix this, nor why this even happened in the first place, since the first game of the day was working perfectly fine, and suddenly this error is plaguing me.

The only minor difference that occured for some of the attempted fixes, was that the loading bar took a few seconds to slowly fill up, whereas in other instances it immediately skipped to the end and gave me the error message after maybe 1 or 2 seconds.

Other games and websites work fine (excluding twitch, which is apparently having some issues today)

On an extra note, when uninstalling and re-installing L4D2, I'm unable to create a desktop shortcut, steam tells me there is already a shortcut on my desktop but this is not true, if someone has a fix for that too it'd be appreciated.

I just tried out hosting a local server and playing in singleplayer, and it gives me the "Client timed out" error. This makes less sense by the minute.

Additional Information:

Windows 10 OS
Intel Core i5-4460 @3.20GHz
8GB Ram, 2TB External Hard disk, GeForce GTX960.
Fritz!Box 5490, Fiber optic connection, connected via Cable, I am the only user connected right now and the only person on this connection who uses Steam. Provider: Luxembourg Online

If you require any additional information about my PC or network, let me know.

How I fixed it

After trying everything that was suggested in other forums and posts, I went to my steam settings and onto downloads.
First I switched my download region, restarted steam, then switched it back and restarted steam again.
Following this, I clicked on clear download cache, which prompted me with the message "The Steam service component is not working properly on this computer. Reinstalling the Steam service requires administrator priviliges.".
I clicked on "INSTALL SERVICE" and waited (it froze the first time I did this, so i force closed steam and retried it. Edit: It may keep freezing everytime you do this, if that's the case leave it be until it responds again by itsself.).
After this, I loaded up L4D2, hit quick play, and it worked.
Here is a screenshot for extra clarity[imgur.com].

I hope this will help someone in future.

Thanks for updating us on what worked for you, I had the same problem!

[The Bear Jew]

Nothing listed worked for me. The only thing that eventually fixed it for me was to close steam which was logged into my account on a different computer (not running any games). This only affected trying to join add-on campaigns. Very weird. But it's consistently a working fix. As soon as I start up steam on the second computer, the problem returns. I got the suggestion from another thread I can no longer locate.

Another possibility are that Apple services may be using the default hosting port (27015):

Apple Mobile Device Service (stop service), iTunesHelper.exe (terminate .exe)

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1560597
http://jaxov.com/2010/09/how-to-disable-ituneshelper-from-windows-startup/

You can use Nirsoft's currports to verify if something is using up that port.

[Zoo]

I solved it by joining a l4d1 server and switch back to l4d2

[mimiko857]

thanks now i have to download my 150+ mods again this guide

[Murassa [TR]]

Originally posted by Pookie:

thanks now i have to download my 150+ mods again this guide

You are welcome

[Horse'Dib]

Thanks. I had this problem today and your EDIT fixed.

[Tornzy]

I will confirm - this is really stupid and your edit fixed it. The stupid "INSTALL SERVICE" issue freezing my steam for 10 minutes is what really threw me off and why I kept cancelling that service install previously. Though this is the very first time it negatively affected me.

[Tung Duong]

Thanks! It worked.

[Haigen]

Did what you said and its still happening. Sometimes i need to repeat the process over and over again until it works. It happens every few months. Annoying