Library and Downloads unresponsive after 9/23 update

[Masochistic Monk]

After launching steam, clicking on Library or Downloads displays the library section but nothing within the library window responds (can still navigate back to the store, profile, etc.). No games can be launched and downloads can't manually be started. Restarting steam and PC haven't helped, but verified stable branch still works normally. However, if I wait ~20 minutes or more the hanging stops and behaves as expected, but if I restart steam it starts all over. Likely related to large libraries and the steam cloud change since it doesn't appear to be widespread. On Windows 10 version 21H1.

[Chris]

Hi Joebot,

a little less Information about your System Setup.....

If you are using Steam Beta Client on Linux i suggest you to try a backfall to latest stable Client.
Therfore first delete the File named "beta" under "~/.steam/steam/package" and than start the Steam Client.

[Homosaurus69]

I have the same problem. I use win 10Pro

[Masochistic Monk]

Bug report formatting requested OS version. I don't understand how that was too much information, since it clarifies I'm not using linux.

[Chris]

Hi Joebot,

in your Bug Report you don't mention your OS or if you are running Steam Beta or Steam Stable Client. And Windows is also a wide spread, from Win 7 Home, Pro, Enterprise Ultimate, over the different Windows 8 and Windows 10 Versions up to Windows 11. And no need to mention the Architecture or the different Graphics Card's and Drivers.

In the next step we should clarify whether you are running Steam Beta or Steam Stable Client.

I'm not using Windows any more, im on Linux. And i think that you are using Steam Beta Client because the Beta Client on Linux also get an update on Sep. 23th.
I know from my old Windows XP and Windows 7 time that such a problem could cause by using Steam Beta Client. And same happens one time under Linux. Opt out Beta via GUI might not fix the problem, so there is the need to delete the "beta" file so that Steam download the lastest Stable Client by the next start.

The way under Windows is nearly the same as under Linux:
- go to your Steam Client installation Folder (defauilt "c:\Program Files" or "c:\Program Files x86")
- go to "package" Folder (can be direkt in Steam Folder or "steam\package")
- delete the File named "beta"

[Masochistic Monk]

Windows 10 pro, yes it's steam beta. Store, settings, and other functions still work normally, so I can swap between stable and beta without issue. Haven't tested it on linux so I can't verify if it happens there too. I've been on the beta branch for years (until now) and things were fine until the 9/23 beta update.

[Chris]

Hi Joebot,

under Linux this problem dosen't exist acutal but it once exist about 1 1/2 year back with the Beta Cleint.
Have you tried to use Steam Stable Client?
At the moment there are more threads discribing similar problems with Steam Beta Client under Windows 10 OS.
If this problem also exist with Steam Stable Client than it can be related with the grafics board.
So you may need to update or made a backfall of your grafics driver. For NVIDIA the latest Driver for Windows is from 20th Sep 2021.
Under Windows a backfall to an older grafics driver is not as easy as under Linux (menu selectable) and may be a bit tricky. You need a full deinstallation of your old driver after boot in safe mode. Otherwise components of the grafics drive may refuse to deinstall. Possible you need a Tool like Display Driver Uninstaller.

[Masochistic Monk]

Yes, as I've mentioned, I have since switched to the stable client which doesn't have problems with loading the library or queuing downloads. This isn't a driver issue since it started immediately after the update. I don't need a solution or help because the stable branch works fine for me. I'm only reporting a bug so this doesn't eventually get passed to the stable branch.

[Chris]

Hi Joebot,

you'r right.
Such a problem in the Stable Client would be a misery.

[Masochistic Monk]

The issue still persists after the 9/30 update.

[Masochistic Monk]

The bug introduced with the 9/23 beta update has now been passed to the stable branch. If anyone at Valve reads these reports, please fix it. The client is virtually unusable now for those with large libraries.

[KenpoJuJitsu3]

Originally posted by Joebot:

The bug introduced with the 9/23 beta update has now been passed to the stable branch. If anyone at Valve reads these reports, please fix it. The client is virtually unusable now for those with large libraries.

Been searching and searching to see if it was just me, finally stumbled across this thread. Thank you for reporting this bug.

Edit: Definitely seems to be cloud related. It's not a solution, but disabling Steam cloud globally in the settings stops this behavior from occurring; verifying the issue is there. Re-enabling steam cloud reinstates the issue immediately.

[Masochistic Monk]

I submitted a ticket through support and by the second round got a message saying they'd pass it on to the appropriate department. More of us affected by this bug submitting support requests would have a stronger influence, since right now it looks like they have no intention of fixing it.

[KenpoJuJitsu3]

Originally posted by Joebot:

I submitted a ticket through support and by the second round got a message saying they'd pass it on to the appropriate department. More of us affected by this bug submitting support requests would have a stronger influence, since right now it looks like they have no intention of fixing it.

I've submitted a ticket as well. Out of curiosity, how many of your games do you have actively installed? I'm wondering if this issue might also be related to that and not just how many games are on the account.

[ex-Admiral]

I seem to run into that as well on home account on an older PC with 1000+ library and probably 50-100 games installed. It's awfully unresponsive after launch.
Will try Steam Cloud workaround.

[Masochistic Monk]

I'm sure it's tied to number of games installed with the steam cloud trying to synchronize everything with the 9/23 beta patch mentioning this change: "Ensure that all installed and Cloud-enabled games are synchronized as soon as possible, to avoid delays when launching games and to prepare for possible offline play."

There might be extraneous folders left over after being uninstalled, but a crude estimate from folder count in the SteamApps\common gives me around 6k installed, many of which are tiny indie games no more than a few gigabytes (but still come with steam cloud).