[GUIDE] What to do if your internet connection is lost and you get stuck logging into steam

[LPChip]

It can happen that there's a power outage and your computer restarts. As a result, no network connectivity while Steam starts up, and it will give you a message: Steam could not connect. There are 2 buttons, retry connection and stay offline.

If you wait for your internet to come back, you test that internet works, and you then press reconnect, chances are big that steam will get stuck in an endless "trying to log you in" screen. This is often because a dialog is sent that somehow is not displayed, such as steam news, survey, etc...

In order to get out of this without much hastle, this is what you need to do.

First, disconnect your internet from your computer again. Either unplug the ethernet cable, or go to your control panel, network center, adapter settings and right click your network card and set it to disabled.

If done correctly, steam should abort its connection attempt and prompt that first message again. This time, while still disconnected, click Stay offline.

Now, enable the network adapter again, or plugin the cable so that your computer regains its internet access. Once internet works again, make sure it works again by going to a website, etc...

Now, head back to steam and put yourself to online mode. It is very likely this fails too and flips back to offline instantly. If so, right-click steam in the system tray and choose Quit to close steam entirely. Head back to the start menu and launch steam again and this time it will instantly log you in without an issue.

[Iceira]

you have alot of wrongs doing here, i bet you have not learn clear mac table in switch's and why you think disable or unplug cable work, im not after you but if you dont have connection back after 15minute then your local isp has a issue.

problem is you can make more grief with it then you do that, local isp cant reconnect line then done so.

and no i will not waste my time in what other network engineer think or know , seen plenty of good and bad engineer, and user is simple not skilled enough, and that why we reply on this today so guessing i think you know better .

fact is if i was steam moderator i will close this thread for lack network understanding, i could even say not a steam issue that you have local network problem.

but half truth is also part of truth. reset network or reinstall it can fix it some thimes , even i will agree with that, but not the way you try to explan it.

there is even a command with renew and release, so its like you either know this or forgot it, or even worse dont know it.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Or hear me out OP, open task manager, end tasks for all Steam process, then launch Steam.

Or restart PC.

[Iceira]

this will not help depend on house or local building isp multi switch's in the basement, you dont unplug cable that 3 minute per switch mac table update arp cache.

as i said you have so many dont do anymore. ( but even i cant see or know every user local connection ) but its clear to skilled tech person that more then 3minute. so you actual add more grief or lost connection then you know. ) all this is depend on local building complex isp ( know as house net today)