Steam can't connect to the internet

[Professor Farnsworth]

When I attempt to start steam it always fails to connect, my only options are to retry (always fails) or start in offline mode. Everything else on my computer works fine: web brower, Netflix app, Messenger, Discord, only Steam fails.

I'm running Windows 10 Pro 1909


What I've tried:

-Reinstalling steam-
Because of this I no longer get the option of starting in offline mode. Unfortunately, the steam installer is only ~2mb - it attempts to download the majority of the files after running the installer, but it fails to connect giving me the error:
"Steam needs to be online to update. Please confirm your network connection and try again."
This is now the only error message I get

-Uninstalling steam (thoroughly), and reinstalling-
I uninstalled steam (via windows Add or Remove a Program), then deleted trace files in my AppData folder, as well as trace files in ProgramData. I deleted registry entries listed here under "Manually Removing Steam", and I scanned for leftovers in the registry with ccleaner and removed those. I restarted my computer, then reinstalled steam using a fresh installer that I just downloaded for this purpose.
I run into the exact same issue as above, installer cannot connect to the internet so the installation fails.

-Disable MalwareBytes and Windows Security Virus and threat protection-
Does not allow installer to connect to the internet, same error as before. Tried leaving MalwareBytes on and adding an exception for all application files in the steam directory (not including games), didn't help. Tried manually disabling everything inside of MalwareBytes before disabling the application, didn't help.

-Reset router-
I hit the reset button on my router, it reset to its default state - can confirm this worked as it reset the custom SSID, removed the passwords and set them to the default. Did not help, steam still cannot connect to the internet (which I tried after successfully reconnecting to my router, the device I'm using to write this post is the same device that steam was installed on).

-Checked device manager to see if network devices are behaving properly-
Checked everything under 'Network adapters', everything is reported as "working properly".

-Used wifi instead of ethernet-
Doesn't help, installer still can't connect to the internet.

-Reset winsock and tcp-
I don't even know what I'm doing anymore, just following random guides on the internet. From an elevated command prompt I reset winsock with the following command:
netsh winsock reset
prompt reported it was successful. I then ran the following:
netsh int tcp reset
prompt reported it was successful. I then restarted my computer and attempted to reinstall steam. Same issue as before - installer can't connect to the internet.

--------------------------

I would appreciate any help you could give

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Here my copy and paste.

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, just 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.

[Professor Farnsworth]

The only options I didn't try from your list are starting in safe mode and flushing my network.

In safe mode steam still could not connect to the internet, and it still couldn't connect after flushing my network and restarting.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Was this by chance a fresh install windows?

Also have you ever done windows update, or done windows repair?

[Professor Farnsworth]

No it's not a fresh install, and I keep windows updated. I haven't done a windows repair - how would I do that (if you recommend)?

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Try method 3 first, if doesn't work method 1, worse case which is last option, reinstall Windows 10 wipe, and for fresh new installation.

https://www.laptopmag.com/amp/articles/repair-windows-10

[Judge Ghasem]

i have the same problem

[Professor Farnsworth]

I completely wiped my drive and did a fresh installation of windows, but steam still can’t connect to the internet

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

What do you use to connect to the internet?
I'm starting to think might be possible that your ISP might be blocking things.

[Professor Farnsworth]

I figured out what the issue is. Our government was implementing a fibre optic network and our house was connected last year. Now we need 2 boxes to connect to the internet instead of just one modem. For some reason a member of my family thought that one of the boxes "did nothing" and would regularly unplug it so they could vacuum. The thing is, the unplugged box connects the powered box to the internet, but strangely our connection was largely fine. I plugged it back in and everything is sweet - except I wiped my drive and need to set up my computer again.


Anyway, thank you for your help. I appreciate the time you took to help me :)

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Originally posted by Professor Farnsworth:

I figured out what the issue is. Our government was implementing a fibre optic network and our house was connected last year. Now we need 2 boxes to connect to the internet instead of just one modem. For some reason a member of my family thought that one of the boxes "did nothing" and would regularly unplug it so they could vacuum. The thing is, the unplugged box connects the powered box to the internet, but strangely our connection was largely fine. I plugged it back in and everything is sweet - except I wiped my drive and need to set up my computer again.


Anyway, thank you for your help. I appreciate the time you took to help me :)

Well that was very unexpected, glad you solved your issue.

But I do find it weird you need two modems? Or one a router, and other modem?

[Professor Farnsworth]

I thought the box that is responsible for our wifi network was just a router, and the other a modem. But strangely if the modem is not plugged in, but the router is, the internet will still partially work; speeds will be slower, video calls drop, steam won't connect, but browsers, most program updates etc. function normally. This makes me this the router isn't solely a router, but then again I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to these things.

[Fake]

i have the same issue issue, and have tried literally everything i could find...... i've wiped my pc clean, i've reinstalled steam, i've reset my modem.... all of it..... but steam is just totally useless to me still.... i'm starting to lose hope and have been thinking about selling my account

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Originally posted by ESP | B1zrJok3r ©:

i have the same issue issue, and have tried literally everything i could find...... i've wiped my pc clean, i've reinstalled steam, i've reset my modem.... all of it..... but steam is just totally useless to me still.... i'm starting to lose hope and have been thinking about selling my account

Read my 1st post above, see what you haven't tried.

Also try out Windows safe mode with network enable, if it does works then something causing issues.

If you read above your post, OP has two modems, and one of them were causing the issue. Also ensure that your ISP isn't causing you issues to connect to Steam network.

[76561198433734644]

check your firewall settings

[Fake]

i promise you, i have done all of the above. i have a single router/modem combo. i've factory reset it twice already, and i've already checked the isp. it works through the hotspot on my phone, but other wired and wireless connections don't work at all. so, i'm not sure what to do at this point, i would see about a different service provider. but i live on a farm in the middle of nowhere, and physically can't get decent internet. can't get cable, or anything.... it's all satellite