How to Fix the Too Many Retries Error on Steam
It's not all that often you come across a Steam error but here we are for the first time in ages! Today we're going to be dealing with "Too Many Retries". This error is a fairly trivial one that usually happens because of a bad Internet connection. But there are some other underlying issues that are causing the problem so follow along as we guide you through some steps to fix the problem.
How to Fix the Too Many Retries Error on Steam
Since this is a temporary security lockout, simply waiting can resolve the problem. Make sure you aren't using a VPN or proxy as well as these are known to cause problems with Steam, especially if you are jumping to a really random location out of the normal for your sign-ins.
- Close Steam completely.
- Wait at least 30 minutes to an hour without attempting to log in.
- Relaunch Steam and try again.
Run Steam as an Administrator
While this might sound like a dumb fix this is a surprisingly good one for fixing this issue and one that will only take a few minutes to action.
- Right-click the Steam shortcut on your desktop.
- Select Properties > Compatibility tab.
- Check Run this program as an administrator.
- Click Apply > OK, then launch Steam.
Update Steam Client
This usually does the trick but isn't something that everyone will be able to do.
- Open Steam.
- Click Steam in the top-left corner.
- Select Check for Steam Client Updates.
- If an update is available, install it and restart Steam.
Clear Steam Cache
Corrupted cache files can interfere with login attempts. Clearing them may resolve the issue:
Option 1: Using Steam Settings
- Open Steam and go to Steam > Settings.
- Select Downloads and click Clear Download Cache.
- Go to In-Game, then under Delete web browser data, click Delete.
Option 2: Manually Deleting Cache Files
- Exit Steam completely.
- Press Win + R, type %appdata%\Steam, and press Enter.
- Delete all files and folders in this directory.
- Restart Steam and log in again.
Check Your Network Connection
Network instability can trigger login issues. Running a network troubleshooter may help:
Windows 11
- Type Troubleshoot in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select Other troubleshooters.
- Find Network & Internet troubleshooter and click Run.
- Apply any recommended fixes and restart your device.
Windows 10
- Right-click Start and select Settings.
- Go to Network & Internet > Advanced network settings.
- Click Network troubleshooter, wait for the scan, and apply the suggested fixes.
Check Steam Guard Settings
Misconfigured Steam Guard settings can prevent successful logins. Verifying them may help:
- Open Steam and go to Steam > Settings > Account.
- Click Manage Steam Guard under Account Security.
- Ensure Steam Guard is enabled and verify your email or authenticator.
- Log out, then log back in