How to Fix There Was an Error Communicating with the Steam Servers on Windows 11

If you are getting Steam Error Code - "There was an error communicating with the Steam servers" you've more than likely got an Internet connectivity issue that needs solving. However, it's also possible that Steam's servers are down but that's pretty unlikely so follow along as we guide you through quite a few different options that will help you fix this error on your device.

Possible Causes

Internet connectivity issues: Unstable or slow networks can prevent Steam from reaching its servers.
Steam server maintenance or overload: If Steam is down due to maintenance or heavy traffic, users may experience connection problems.
Firewall and antivirus interference: Security programs can mistakenly block Steam, leading to server disconnections.
Background applications: VPNs or third-party network utilities can disrupt Steam’s connection.

How to Fix There Was an Error Communicating with the Steam Servers on Windows 11

Before troubleshooting, check if Steam's servers are up and running.

Visit a Steam server status website.
If there is an outage, wait for Steam to resolve the issue.

Run the Windows Network Troubleshooter

If network issues are affecting Steam, use the built-in Windows troubleshooter:

Windows 11

Type Troubleshoot in Windows search and press Enter.
Select Other troubleshooters.
Locate Network & Internet troubleshooter and click Run.
Follow the instructions and apply suggested fixes.
Restart your computer.

Windows 10

Right-click Start and select Settings.
Go to Network & Internet.
Under Advanced network settings, select Network troubleshooter.
Follow the on-screen instructions.

Disable VPN and Proxy Settings

VPNs and proxies can interfere with Steam’s connectivity so make sure you have tried opening Steam with them disabled. If this solves the problem look at reconfiguring your Poxy or VPN settings.

Allow Steam Through Windows Firewall

To prevent Steam from being blocked by Windows Firewall:

Type Control Panel in Windows search and press Enter.
Go to System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall.
Click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.
Click Change settings and enable both Private and Public access for:
- Steam
- Steam Web Helper
Click OK to save changes.

Flush DNS and Reset Network Settings

Clearing the DNS cache and resetting network settings can resolve connection issues:

Open Windows search, type cmd, and select Run as administrator.
In the command prompt, enter the following commands one by one:

ipconfig /flushdns

ipconfig /registerdns

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

netsh winsock reset

Restart your computer and check if Steam connects properly.

Change Steam’s Download Region

Switching Steam’s download region may resolve connectivity problems:

Open Steam and go to Settings.
Click the Downloads tab.
Under Download Region, select a different location.
Restart Steam and check if the issue persists.

Run Steam as an Administrator

Running Steam with elevated permissions can help bypass security restrictions:

Right-click the Steam shortcut or executable file.
Select Run as administrator.
If this fixes the issue, configure Steam to always run as admin:
- Right-click the Steam shortcut and select Properties.
- Go to the Compatibility tab.
- Check Run this program as an administrator.
- Click Apply and OK.

Reinstall Steam

This is a bit of a no-brainer but also quite a pain in the backside.

Open the Control Panel and navigate to Programs > Uninstall a program.
Locate Steam, right-click it, and select Uninstall.
Follow the prompts to remove Steam completely.
Restart your computer.
Download and install the latest version of Steam from the official website.

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