Complete reference
All Steam Error Codes
29 error codes — find the code you're seeing and jump straight to the fix. Each entry links to a full step-by-step guide.
1 server-side·10 client-side·13 mixed
| Code | Meaning | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
2 | Steam encountered a generic error — typically a connection failure or operation that could not be completed. Error code 2 covers multiple conditions. | Server or client | Fix guide → |
16 | Steam timed out connecting to content servers. | Server or client | Fix guide → |
21 | Steam services are temporarily unavailable for your request. | Server-side | Fix guide → |
35 | Steam could not update a game — download or disk issue. | Client-side | Fix guide → |
41 | Steam lost its connection to Valve servers or dropped an active session. | Server or client | Fix guide → |
48 | Steam cannot access files — another process is locking them. | Client-side | Fix guide → |
50 | Steam failed reading from disk during update. | Client-side | Fix guide → |
51 | Steam could not retrieve game configuration from its servers. | Server or client | Fix guide → |
53 | Steam cannot connect to the Steam network. Your client is offline or the connection to Steam's servers is blocked. | Server or client | Fix guide → |
56 | Steam CDN is busy or unreachable. | Server or client | Fix guide → |
71 | Steam could not reach its servers — Error 71. | Server or client | Fix guide → |
83 | Steam could not write game files to disk during download, update, or install. | Client-side | Fix guide → |
84 | Steam could not write game files to disk — permissions or storage issue. | Client-side | Fix guide → |
101 | Steam connection was reset by the server. | Server or client | Fix guide → |
102 | Steam refused the connection — firewall or proxy. | Client-side | Fix guide → |
103 | Steam failed to establish a connection to the Steam servers. The client is offline or a network issue prevented the connection. | Server or client | Fix guide → |
105 | Steam could not reach its servers — often during maintenance, DNS issues, or firewall blocks. | Server or client | Fix guide → |
118 | Steam timed out connecting to content or community servers. | Server or client | Fix guide → |
130 | Steam could not reach the content server for downloads or updates. | Server or client | Fix guide → |
132 | Steam could not write game files to disk during download or update. | Client-side | Fix guide → |
CONTENT-SERVERS-UNAVAILABLE | Steam cannot connect to its content delivery servers to download or update games. The selected download region's servers are unreachable. | Server or client | Fix guide → |
CORRUPT-DOWNLOAD | Steam downloaded an update or game but the file verification failed. The downloaded data does not match the expected checksums. | Fix guide → | |
DISK-READ-ERROR | Steam cannot read game files from your drive. The data Steam needs to launch or verify a game cannot be retrieved from disk. | Fix guide → | |
DISK-WRITE-ERROR | Steam cannot write game files to your hard drive or SSD. The write operation failed, stopping the download or update. | Fix guide → | |
E84 | Steam could not write to disk during a download or update — error E84. | Client-side | Fix guide → |
FAMILY-VIEW | Steam Family View blocks store or games unexpectedly. | Client-side | Fix guide → |
GAME-NOT-LAUNCHING | A Steam game fails to launch after clicking Play. No error message appears and the game process either does not start or starts briefly and closes. | Fix guide → | |
MISSING-FILE-PRIVILEGES | Steam lacks the necessary file system permissions to read or write game files. Access was denied by the operating system. | Fix guide → | |
OFFLINE-MODE | Steam cannot start in offline mode or loses offline access. | Client-side | Fix guide → |
Mixed (Server or Client) — 13 codes
2Steam encountered a generic error — typically a connection failure or operation that could not be completed. Error code 2 covers multiple conditions.16Steam timed out connecting to content servers.41Steam lost its connection to Valve servers or dropped an active session.51Steam could not retrieve game configuration from its servers.53Steam cannot connect to the Steam network. Your client is offline or the connection to Steam's servers is blocked.56Steam CDN is busy or unreachable.71Steam could not reach its servers — Error 71.101Steam connection was reset by the server.103Steam failed to establish a connection to the Steam servers. The client is offline or a network issue prevented the connection.105Steam could not reach its servers — often during maintenance, DNS issues, or firewall blocks.118Steam timed out connecting to content or community servers.130Steam could not reach the content server for downloads or updates.CONTENT-SERVERS-UNAVAILABLESteam cannot connect to its content delivery servers to download or update games. The selected download region's servers are unreachable.Server-side — 1 codes
Client-side — 10 codes
35Steam could not update a game — download or disk issue.48Steam cannot access files — another process is locking them.50Steam failed reading from disk during update.83Steam could not write game files to disk during download, update, or install.84Steam could not write game files to disk — permissions or storage issue.102Steam refused the connection — firewall or proxy.132Steam could not write game files to disk during download or update.E84Steam could not write to disk during a download or update — error E84.FAMILY-VIEWSteam Family View blocks store or games unexpectedly.OFFLINE-MODESteam cannot start in offline mode or loses offline access.