Steam only downloads games/updates in Safe Mode with Networking

[Podracers]

I've followed a dozen different guides to try to get this to work again, but it just isn't working. I've disabled all my services, I've flushed my dns, I've messed around with IPv6 settings, don't automatically configure LAN options, -tcp, honestly anything that will come up if you Google this, disabled my firewall, no antivirus, reformatted my PC (that worked for a week)...yet I still have the issue.

Every time Steam tries to download an update or game it shows the game at 0/0kb. There is never a bump in the download speed, nothing happens. If I boot my PC into safe mode, the downloads work fine.

I even went as far as to reformat my PC. This fixed things for a week, but then it started again. I didn't install anything after the first day of reformatting, and everything worked good up until today, but now I am seeing 0/0kb downloads again. This is insane. Origin works fine, uPlay works fine, every other program seems to work fine, it is just Steam.

[sloppybear]

I don't have any help to offer, but I am experiencing something similar. My downloads slow to 0 and fail. At first, my router itself would crash when I tried to download a steam game. Everything else (battle.net, browser) downloads at full speed. Both my desktop and laptop have the issue at home.

The only thing I can note is that this happened after a recent steam update. There are so many "fixes" for this, that it's hard to know where to start.

[Mylo Xyloto]

Sorry to revive this thread, but I'm undergoing the same issue, and I haven't found a solution yet. Did any of you manage to fix this?

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by Iron Wolf:

Sorry to revive this thread, but I'm undergoing the same issue, and I haven't found a solution yet. Did any of you manage to fix this?

The only thing I can offer is this.

If safe mode with networking works and it doesn't otherwise, then the issue IS SOMETHING on your PC.

Typically it's going to be any security software or management software that deals with bandwidth.

[Mylo Xyloto]

Originally posted by crunchyfrog:

The only thing I can offer is this.

If safe mode with networking works and it doesn't otherwise, then the issue IS SOMETHING on your PC.

Typically it's going to be any security software or management software that deals with bandwidth.

Thanks for replying. I figured it has to be something related to a program or a service, but I just don't know which one it is.

I have no antivirus installed beside Windows Security, I've tried disabling the firewall with no success, and I have no download manager or P2P software.

This is all I have installed: https://imgur.com/a/RnAGt0G

I've tried so many things, I've uninstalled programs and stuff but nothing seems to work outside safe mode.

[Baddest Mormon]

Originally posted by Iron Wolf:

Originally posted by crunchyfrog:

The only thing I can offer is this.

If safe mode with networking works and it doesn't otherwise, then the issue IS SOMETHING on your PC.

Typically it's going to be any security software or management software that deals with bandwidth.

Thanks for replying. I figured it has to be something related to a program or a service, but I just don't know which one it is.

I have no antivirus installed beside Windows Security, I've tried disabling the firewall with no success, and I have no download manager or P2P software.

This is all I have installed: https://imgur.com/a/RnAGt0G

I've tried so many things, I've uninstalled programs and stuff but nothing seems to work outside safe mode.

I'm having the same problem. On top of that it seems I have some weird login issues since a few days back. Is that true for you too?

[FookinRaw]

Originally posted by Iron Wolf:

Sorry to revive this thread, but I'm undergoing the same issue, and I haven't found a solution yet. Did any of you manage to fix this?

Can you post a screenshot of the error message (if any) you're receiving?

[stronzolo]

having the same problem, every other launcher like gog galaxy works fine but steam downloads are stuck at 0 Kbs, I've even reinstalled windows 10 with no results

[Baddest Mormon]

Originally posted by stronzolo:

having the same problem, every other launcher like gog galaxy works fine but steam downloads are stuck at 0 Kbs, I've even reinstalled windows 10 with no results

I asked Iron Wolf but mind if I ask you too?
Are you also having login problems together with download being stuck?

[stronzolo]

Originally posted by Baddest Mormon:

Originally posted by stronzolo:

having the same problem, every other launcher like gog galaxy works fine but steam downloads are stuck at 0 Kbs, I've even reinstalled windows 10 with no results

I asked Iron Wolf but mind if I ask you too?
Are you also having login problems together with download being stuck?

Yeas sometimes steam has trouble connecting to the steam network

[Baddest Mormon]

Originally posted by stronzolo:

Originally posted by Baddest Mormon:

I asked Iron Wolf but mind if I ask you too?
Are you also having login problems together with download being stuck?

Yeas sometimes steam has trouble connecting to the steam network

Yeah, figured. It seems that this problem is relative to Steam having problems with login servers.

[Mylo Xyloto]

Originally posted by FookinRaw:

Can you post a screenshot of the error message (if any) you're receiving?

It's not an error itself. It just doesn't download anything.

In this picture https://imgur.com/a/Q942EL5 you can see that network usage is all at 0: current, peak, total and disk usage. You can see how the thumbnails are blurred. Occasionally, it starts downloading for a bit, but at an extremely low speed, and after a short period of time it starts decreasing slowly back to 0.

I launched a game to see what happen, and it started downloading a game I had on queue at normal speed, but I'm afraid it's going to go back as it was. As you can see here https://imgur.com/taZcebN it's downloading at normal speed. However, thumbnails are still blurred.

None of this happens in safe mode. In such mode Steams runs flawlessly.

Mormon and anyone who's undergoing this issue, try launching games to see if it makes it work as it did with me. I'll keep you updated on how this goes.

[FookinRaw]

Another long shot, but you can try:

Right-click the Steam shortcut on your desktop and select Open file location to open its root directory.

Delete some files such as appcache, config, bin, and others except the following folders and files that are used to launch Steam:

Steamapps
Userdata
Skins
Steam.exe
Ssfn files

After deleting the files, launch your Steam from the Steam.exe launcher and then Steam will download some files and update itself.

When the reinstallation completes, check if the Steam connection error still persists.

[Baddest Mormon]

Originally posted by Iron Wolf:

Originally posted by FookinRaw:

Can you post a screenshot of the error message (if any) you're receiving?

It's not an error itself. It just doesn't download anything.

In this picture https://imgur.com/a/Q942EL5 you can see that network usage is all at 0: current, peak, total and disk usage. You can see how the thumbnails are blurred. Occasionally, it starts downloading for a bit, but at an extremely low speed, and after a short period of time it starts decreasing slowly back to 0.

I launched a game to see what happen, and it started downloading a game I had on queue at normal speed, but I'm afraid it's going to go back as it was. As you can see here https://imgur.com/taZcebN it's downloading at normal speed. However, thumbnails are still blurred.

None of this happens in safe mode. In such mode Steams runs flawlessly.

Mormon and anyone who's undergoing this issue, try launching games to see if it makes it work as it did with me. I'll keep you updated on how this goes.

Literally the same problem. I will try downloading with a game open when i get the chance.

Originally posted by FookinRaw:

Another long shot, but you can try:

Right-click the Steam shortcut on your desktop and select Open file location to open its root directory.

Delete some files such as appcache, config, bin, and others except the following folders and files that are used to launch Steam:

Steamapps
Userdata
Skins
Steam.exe
Ssfn files

After deleting the files, launch your Steam from the Steam.exe launcher and then Steam will download some files and update itself.

When the reinstallation completes, check if the Steam connection error still persists.

I will also try this, thank You.

[stronzolo]

Originally posted by FookinRaw:

Another long shot, but you can try:

Right-click the Steam shortcut on your desktop and select Open file location to open its root directory.

Delete some files such as appcache, config, bin, and others except the following folders and files that are used to launch Steam:

Steamapps
Userdata
Skins
Steam.exe
Ssfn files

After deleting the files, launch your Steam from the Steam.exe launcher and then Steam will download some files and update itself.

When the reinstallation completes, check if the Steam connection error still persists.

this fixed the issue for me, at least for now

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by Iron Wolf:

Originally posted by crunchyfrog:

The only thing I can offer is this.

If safe mode with networking works and it doesn't otherwise, then the issue IS SOMETHING on your PC.

Typically it's going to be any security software or management software that deals with bandwidth.

Thanks for replying. I figured it has to be something related to a program or a service, but I just don't know which one it is.

I have no antivirus installed beside Windows Security, I've tried disabling the firewall with no success, and I have no download manager or P2P software.

This is all I have installed: https://imgur.com/a/RnAGt0G

I've tried so many things, I've uninstalled programs and stuff but nothing seems to work outside safe mode.

The thing is, these things can be absolute bastards to track down.

From what you've shown, you're right in that disabling a firewall is useless. Many people think disabling firewalls or antivirus is good enough but legacy bits still run which is why safe mode with networking gives you a better picture as to what's going on.

Looking at your list there, I'd start with MSI afterburner and see if there's any other such pre installed ware like that, as they can be common culprits. I've got an MSI laptop I'm using, and I had some issues with their pre installed stuff so just got rid of it.