Connection error.

[PoTaToMaTo]

Hello there. Steam isn't opening when I run the client even though my internet is running smoothly and everything's fine. It just shows "Connection error" dialog box. This box just keeps on showing after I click on the Retry button many number of times. But it opens on my phone and web browser without any troubles. I have tried all the fixes that I found so far, none of them worked. I guess re-installing it is the only option and that means huge sized games are to be re-installed again and I can't afford to do this everyday. So please, I need help.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Things you can give a try, no guarantees if it will fix your issue, best of luck.
- Restart PC.

- If connecting to private VPN / DNS networks, they may also cause issues.

- If you did anything in the Modem / Router settings, check your work to ensure you're not blocking things.

- Modem / Router need a reboot. In rare cases depending on device in question, a manufacturer reset may solve issue, do hardreset by pressing it switch, normally it be a pin hole you need to fine, and use a pin to hold the button down to hard reset the device back to manufacturer default.

- Ensure you're not using something that interfering with Steam client, such as data management, or 3rd party anti virus. Example high alart settings in AV which keep scanning the app for no reason, or doing things it shouldn't be doing by quarantine game files. Test by by going into Windows safemode with network enable, if it works, then means you have something that interfering with Steam. Press CTRL + R, type "msconfig" without the quotes included, click tab for boot, select safemode with network enable, confirm to restart PC, once in safemode, give things a test, if issue resolved, then something interfering with the client, to revert this, repeat the same thing, but this time disable safemode, and restart.

- Run Steam as Admin.

- Can try flushing your network, open command promt as admin, and give this a try.
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O4qOzFngjys

If not working still try these in order, then restart, and test.
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /renew

- Reinstalling Steam, to keep games, and screenshots, head to where you install Steam, move these two folders, "Steamapp" and "Userdata" move these two folders outside the Steam folder, once done that, uninstall Steam, ensure Steam folders gone, if not delete it, then reinstall Steam, run it to download client, don't login just exit out of Steam, move back the "Steamapp" and "Userdata" folder back into Steam folder, if ask if want to replace click yes, and now launch Steam, and test to see if issue resolved.

[PoTaToMaTo]

Just found who the culprit was.. its Windows Firewall. :/ It was ON, turned it off and now Steam has opened. I had turned off the windows firewall long ago, don't know how it turned itself on. Thanks anyway for your reply friend.