Steam and steam games freezing or "hanging"

[SCHMINGLE]

so when I'm in just the steam client, it will randomly freeze for 5 or 6 seconds and then just resume, the same thing happens when I'm in game, the game will play perfectly for about 45 seconds, and then freeze for about 5 and then be fine again, no crashes and no non steam games are doing this. have tried uninstalling and reinstalling steam, didn't work.
I have absolutely no clue what to do.

have now tried in safe mode, no dice.

any help is appreciated.

Thanks!


here are my specs in case it matters.

CPU: i7 6700k

GPU: gtx 1080ti

MB: GA-Z170X-Ultra Gaming

memory: 16 gigabytes Ballistix Sport LT

storage: 500 gig SSD, 2 tb HDD

windows 10

[The Giving One]

Boot the PC into safe mode with networking. Test the Steam client there only, no games. If the issue disappears, it's surely a software conflict in a normal boot. Processes like security (antivirus) or others can be suspect.

This is a easy, quick test to help narrow down where the issue is.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9828-SFLZ-9289

[SCHMINGLE]

Originally posted by The Giving One:

Boot the PC into safe mode with networking. Test the Steam client there only, no games. If the issue disappears, it's surely a software conflict in a normal boot. Processes like security (antivirus) or others can be suspect.

This is a easy, quick test to help narrow down where the issue is.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9828-SFLZ-9289

Tried it in safe mode, still freezes 😕

[The Giving One]

Surely you meant safe mode "with networking", as there is a very big difference.

Post if your OS is 32 or 64 bit. I don't see that in your specs above. (probably 64 bit but need to make sure)

There are alot of new Windows 10 64 bit drivers for it, so are you sure they are all up to date ?

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-Z170X-Ultra-Gaming-rev-10#support-dl-driver

Are the games that are freezing only single player games, multiplayer games, or just any Steam games really ?

Try this exactly as follows, please :

Boot into safe mode with networking. It has to be with networking enabled. Then, download a fresh copy of Steam.

Install it over the SAME existing path where it is installed to now, but do NOT uninstall Steam before you do this. See if that does anything. Keep testing it in safe mode with networking after you do this. DO NOT boot into normal Windows until you have fully tested the results while staying in safe mode with networking.

Reinstall Steam

The Steam installer can be downloaded here: http://store.steampowered.com/about/ and reinstalled to the same location where it is already installed.

This may fix potential issues with Steam client and service files. Installing into same location will preserve all installed games.

WARNING! Uninstalling Steam will delete all game content.

[skool]

I am currently having this exact same issue. Steam repeatedly freeze and unfreeze. When in games the games proceed to do the exact same thing. I've noticed it happens simultaneously as the freezing with steam. This only happens to steam games. I've tried games on Origin, Ubisoft, and the Epic Games client and it only happens with steam. I've also tried reinstalling in safemode with networking it still occurs. Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.

[The Giving One]

Originally posted by skool:

I've also tried reinstalling in safemode with networking it still occurs. Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.

There are two ways, as far as I can tell, to interpret what you said here :

1. You reinstalled in safe mode with networking and the problem persisted while STILL in safe mode with networking.

2. You reinstalled in safe mode with networking and then rebooted back into a normal Windows boot, and there the problem was still happening.


What I would suggest is staying in safe mode with networking while testing the Steam client only, then clarify if the issue still happens there. No games in this boot, but only the Steam client.

Please also post your full specs. Go to "help" in the top of Steam, then "system information". Right click, select all, then copy and paste all that here.

If the motherboard info is not given completely in that method, as sometimes it does not, then post the exact motherboard or computer model and model number that you have. The rest will be in the "help" method suggested here.

[skool]

I reinstalled steam in safe mode with networking and tested the Steam client only while still in safemode. The problem still occurs, the client freezes and unfreezes every few seconds. I noticed even when I was logging into the client it froze for a few seconds and resumed with what I had typed while it was frozen.

My specs are the following:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1600

MOBO: ASUS ROG STRIX B350-F GAMING

GPU: GTX 1080

RAM: 16 GB G.SKILL Ripjaws V (2 x 8GB)

Storage: 1 TB HDD, 1 TB M.2 SSD, 250 GB SSD

OS: Windows 10

[skool]

Ummm... disregard my replies I believe I have fixed my issue. Here is the solution, but I doubt it would help others with a similar problem. I had a bluetooth dongle connected to my pc to connect a controller and play wireless. When I checked my system information through steam I saw that it was still connected. For some reason I decided to unplug it and test. The problem disappeared. I don't know why that exactly fixed it, but it did.

[Snorkulese]

8Bitdo adapter causes the same issues. I had followed the 8Bitdo teams instructions to properly install their new firmware. Ran tests and updated drivers for all of my devices and only after simply removing the adapter did this issue go away.

[elefantboy]

I know this is an old post at this point, but this just solved my issue as well. I was using an 8bitdo bluetooth adapter for my wireless xbox one controller, and as soon as I unplugged it so far it has worked.

[foxyanovich]

Thanks

[AlucardSan]

Originally posted by skool:

Ummm... disregard my replies I believe I have fixed my issue. Here is the solution, but I doubt it would help others with a similar problem. I had a bluetooth dongle connected to my pc to connect a controller and play wireless. When I checked my system information through steam I saw that it was still connected. For some reason I decided to unplug it and test. The problem disappeared. I don't know why that exactly fixed it, but it did.

nice skool u solve my trouble ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 8bitdo make me silly with thoses freezes thank man

[K1LLW1N]

Don't mean to resurrect a dead thread but I was having random freezing with Steam games. Saw the discussion here and I was like "wait a minute now" I had an 8bitdo controller just plugged in, unplugged it and no more freezing. wtf xD

[A6N6T6ON]

Originally posted by skool:

Ummm... disregard my replies I believe I have fixed my issue. Here is the solution, but I doubt it would help others with a similar problem. I had a bluetooth dongle connected to my pc to connect a controller and play wireless. When I checked my system information through steam I saw that it was still connected. For some reason I decided to unplug it and test. The problem disappeared. I don't know why that exactly fixed it, but it did.

Thank you so much! It really helped!

[A ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Goose]

Jepp, can confirm. Had some insane stuttering issues in both steam and CSGO, Dota2.

After i removed the 8Bitdo bluetooth adapter it stoped.

[Joy in A Box]

Sorry for reviving a dead thread but... OMG. I have the same freezing problem and I am not using the blue tooth adapter, but I see this thread and I realize it might be because I decided to add another USB adapter to my laptop that causes the problem. AND IT IS.