Steam is one of the biggest video game platforms in the world, through which you can purchase thousands of PC games. The reason why most PC users opt for it is its simple interface.
All you need to do is head over to the store, make a purchase, and the game will become available in your library. From there, you can download and play games, even offline. However, for some people, Steam often gets stuck at installing. And today, we are going to discuss how you can solve this issue.
Steam Stuck on Installing Fix
If your Steam gets stuck on installing, you need to delete the ‘Package’ folder, which can be found in the default install location.
Why Does Steam Get Stuck At Installing?
Steam may be one of the biggest online video games marketplaces in the world, but it still has some issues attached to it. Some people often complain about the client not launching, while others are unable to launch their games through it. However, at times, people also come across an issue where Steam gets stuck on installation. The reason behind why this happens is unknown, but there are multiple fixes available for this issue.
How To Solve Steam Stuck At Installing Issue
If you’re currently in the same boat, you can follow the methods mentioned below to solve the issue. It is important to remember that not all methods are going to work for you, so it’s recommended that you keep on trying everything until the problem disappears. For most people, deleting the Package folder and clearing the download cache works, but it’s not the same for everyone.
Delete The Package Folder
As mentioned above, the first thing you need to do is delete the ‘Package’ folder. There can be times when a file inside this folder can get corrupt, and this can prevent Steam from installing anything on your computer. Therefore, deleting the folder will most likely solve the issue. Here’s how you can do that:
- Go to the location where you installed Steam. The default location is C > Program Files > Steam.
- Find a folder called ‘Package’ and right-click on it.
- Delete the folder and then restart Steam.
Try installing the application again and see if deleting the folder has solved the issue or not. Also, it is recommended that you keep a copy of the ‘Package’ in some other location so that you can place it back if something goes wrong.
Clear Cache
Clearing the cache can also solve the issue in most cases. If the download cache gets full, there is no space left for Steam to download anything else. While this is only linked to downloading games, it also gets in the way of the installation process. Therefore, it will be wise to clear it as soon as you can. You can do it by following the steps mentioned below.
- Open the Steam client.
- Go to the Settings.
- Navigate to Downloads, and click on Clear Download Cache.
Once done, restart Steam and try installing the game now.
Restart Your PC/Laptop
If the above two methods have failed to solve the issue for you, then you might want to restart your system. This is because sometimes, a glitch or bug can cause Steam to get stuck during the installation process. While some bugs and glitches are serious, most of them go away after you restart your PC. Therefore, perform a quick restart and launch Steam again. This will hopefully solve the issue if it was due to a glitch in your system.
Trying Fixing Your Internet Connection
There can be times when there is a problem linked to your internet. If there isn’t an active internet connection, Steam will not install anything. Furthermore, if there are any issues linked to the internet, Steam will also stop installing or will get stuck during the process.
To make sure there isn’t anything wrong with your internet, first do a quick internet speed test and see if you’re getting a good download/upload speed or not. You can use Ookla for this purpose. Furthermore, it is recommended that you check the internet on your other devices, such as a smartphone, and see if it is working properly on it or not.
Restarting the router can also sometimes fix the issue if it is linked to the internet. This will hardly take you a minute or two, so we recommend you do it. Also, if you’re using a wifi connection, try using an ethernet cable and see if the problem gets fixed or not. You should also contact your ISP providers and ask them if they find any issues with your connection or not.
Outdated network drivers can also have a negative effect on the internet connection, so we will suggest you update them. This is a pretty simple process, and it won’t take much time. To do it, you will need to follow the steps mentioned below.
- Type Device Manager in the Windows search box and open it.
- Navigate through the options and click on “Network Adapters.”
- From here, you can select your network adapter and right-click on it to update it.
Try Using A VPN
If there are any issues with your internet connection, you can try using a VPN. Most internet connection issues are solved by using a VPN, and you should be able to fix the Steam installation issue with it too. This is because a VPN will change your IP address and will allow you to access the Steam client using a different connection. As the free VPNs won’t work, it is recommended that you get a good VPN like the Nord VPN. Don’t worry, they offer a trial period, and you can ask them to return your money if the issue isn’t solved for you.
Repair Steam’s Library Folder
When you download and install a game through Steam, it gets saved in a separate Library Folder. This folder contains all the games you have installed through Steam. However, there can be times when something inside this folder can get corrupted, which can cause some serious issues. Some of your games might stop launching, or they might even disappear from the folder. In some cases, you won’t be able to install games in this folder if it’s corrupted.
In this case, you need to repair the folder. Thankfully, this can be done quickly through the Steam client itself.
- Open the Steam client.
- Go to its Settings.
- Click on the Download option.
- On the top right side, click on “Steam Library Folders.” This will open the Storage Manager.
- Now, click on a folder, and then click on the three white dots to find the repair option.
- Click on “Repair Folder” and wait for the process to get finished.
Once done, you will be now able to install games in this folder again. If the issue does not get fixed, try repairing the folder two to three times before moving on to other methods.
Reinstall Steam
The Steam client itself can get corrupted at times. While you might notice it straight away, you’ll slowly see that things aren’t working how they used to. For instance, the store won’t load properly sometimes or a game won’t launch no matter how many times you click on it. Furthermore, the installation process can also get stuck because of this issue.
In this case, your only option is to delete Steam and install it again. Don’t worry, all of your data, such as purchases, are stored in your Steam account, so you don’t have to worry about losing it. However, keep in mind that everything that you downloaded will get deleted, and you’ll need to every game again after reinstalling Steam. But this is a sacrifice you’ll need to make if you want the problem to go away.
It is also suggested that if the problem does not go away even after you download and install it again, you should try installing Steam in a different location. Sometimes, there is an issue with the location where you’re trying to install the game. Therefore, installing the Steam client at a different location might make the problem disappear.
Change The Region
Sometimes, the problem isn’t with your internet connection or your Steam client; it’s with your region. A lot of people have managed to solve multiple issues with Steam by simply changing the region of their client. To do this, you will need to follow these steps:
- Launch the Steam client and log in to your account.
- Click on Steam at the top left corner and then click on Settings.
- From the left side, click on Downloads, and then click on the Download Region option.
- Choose whichever region you prefer, and restart Steam.
Once done, try installing the game again, and the process will now hopefully get completed smoothly. You can change the region back to your own after the installation is complete.
Turn Off Windows Defender Firewall
The Windows Defender firewall is one of the best when it comes to protecting your system from threats. However, it can sometimes get in the way of normal tasks, including Steam installations. Therefore, your only option is to disable it for some time to see if it makes the problem go away or not.
- In the Windows search box, type “Windows Defender Firewall” and click on the first option.
- On the left side, you’ll see an option called “Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.” Click on it to access the settings.
- You’ll see options for both Private and Publick networks. You need to turn off the Windows Defender Firewall for both options. The system may tell you to keep it turned on for protection, but you need to avoid this warning and do it anyways.
After you have turned off the firewall, restart Steam and install the game again. You might also want to restart your system after turning off the firewall. This will hopefully solve the issue. However, even if it doesn’t, make sure to go back to the Windows Defender Firewall settings to turn it on, as you don’t want to leave it turned off for a long period of time.
Try Disabling Your Antivirus
Just like the Windows Defender Firewall, Antivirus software can also cause the issue. While their sole purpose is to protect your computer from threats and inform you if any viruses are found, they can also sometimes cause different issues.
If Steam is getting stuck on installation for you, it is recommended that you try disabling the Antivirus program for a while. Don’t worry, you will only need to do it for a minute. After disabling it, go back to Steam and install the application again. But whatever the result is, enable the Antivirus again after you’re done with this method.
Reinstall Windows Or Wait For Updates
This is only for those times when you have tried everything, but the Steam client is still getting stuck at installation. At this point, your best option is to reinstall Windows. At times, there can be issues with the version of your Windows, or some of its files might be corrupted.
This can interfere with the installation of a lot of programs, including Steam. However, before you reinstall Windows, wait for the next Windows Updates to arrive. Who knows, maybe the updates might fix the issue for you.
Change Your Hard Drive
Finally, if the problem is still there even after you have reinstalled Windows, you need to replace your hard drive. You can try getting one from your friend’s system to see if the issue is actually linked to your storage device or not. If you have a laptop that you don’t use that much, you can even use its hard drive in your PC.
You can check out our guide on how to use a laptop hard drive in a PC. If the games are installing fine on your friend’s or laptop’s hard drive, then the issue is definitely linked to the drive on which you installed Steam. In this case, you will need to purchase a new one for your system.
Wrapping Up
This was how you can solve the Steam stuck on installing issue. As you can see, there are multiple methods that can make this problem go away. In most cases, you will be able to solve the issue by deleting the Package folder, cleaning the cache, fixing your internet connection, or reinstalling Steam. But if the problem is still there, you can try following the rest of the methods we mentioned.
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