Steam Error 71 means the client has no working connection to Steam servers. Check Steam status, firewall, and DNS before reinstalling.
Server or clientLast verified: 2026-06-12
71 after Windows update
Firewall rules sometimes reset — allow Steam.exe and steamwebhelper.exe through Windows Defender.
How to fix step by step
- 1Check Steam status at store.steampowered.com/stats.
- 2Restart Steam and your PC.
- 3Flush DNS.
- 4Disable VPN.
- 5Allow Steam through firewall.
- 6Reinstall Steam client if offline persists with other sites working.
How 71 differs from related codes
- Error 21: Steam services are temporarily unavailable for your request. (usually server-side)
- Error 130: Steam could not reach the content server for downloads or updates. (server or client)
- Error 105: Steam could not reach its servers — often during maintenance, DNS issues, or firewall blocks. (server or client)