Clear Steam's download cache when downloads or game startup stall

Affected products and symptoms

Product

Steam Client

Versions and conditions

Steam Client (no specific release)

Symptoms

• A game download will not start or finish
• A game will not launch after downloading
• An update remains stuck in the same state

Causes and conditions

The state of Steam's download cache may be interfering with downloading or launching.

Before you start

• Confirm access to your sign-in methods, including Steam Guard
• Record the affected download's game name and state
• Finish saving in-game data

Step-by-step instructions

1. 01

   Record the affected download

   #

   On Downloads, record the stalled game, progress and displayed message. If other downloads work, a game-specific cause remains possible.

   Open Steam online and distinguish Steam → Settings at the top left from the game's Properties. When using multiple PCs, close the game on other devices too to avoid simultaneous syncing or updates.

2. 02

   Confirm you can sign in again

   #

   Clearing the cache requires signing back into Steam. Have your account name, password and Steam Guard method ready, and close all games.

   Record the game, Steam account, last-used device and displayed time. Before handling saves or installed files, check the developer's documented save location and copy only the necessary data to another folder.

3. 03

   Open download settings

   #

   At the top left of Steam, open Steam → Settings, select Downloads on the left and locate Clear Download Cache.

   After selecting the action, check Downloads at the bottom of Steam and the game's status. Do not exit Steam or shut down until verification, syncing or downloading completes. If an error appears, record the full message.

4. 04

   Clear the cache

   #

   Select Clear Download Cache, read the explanation that you will need to sign in again and confirm. Wait for Steam to sign out or restart.

   Do not manually delete the Steam folder in File Explorer.

   After completion, launch the game once, check saves, playtime, video and controls, and exit normally through the game's menu. Wait for Steam Cloud to show Up to date before opening it on another device.

   Official links for this step

   • Steam Support: clear download cache ↗

     This operation requires signing in again. Check the official screen instructions too.

5. 05

   Sign in and retry

   #

   Sign in to Steam, resume the game under Downloads and launch it after completion. Check whether the same stall recurs.

   After completion, launch the game once, check saves, playtime, video and controls, and exit normally through the game's menu. Wait for Steam Cloud to show Up to date before opening it on another device.

   Completion check: you can sign back into Steam, and the affected download's transferred data or progress moves. If not, avoid repeating the same action. Contact Steam Support through its help wizard for a download problem if it remains unresolved.

   Check before continuing

   Expected result: sign in again, resume the game under Downloads and launch it when complete to check for the same stall. Launch once, check saves, playtime, video and controls, then exit normally. Wait for Steam Cloud to show Up to date before opening it on another device.

Check the result

• You can sign back into Steam successfully
• The affected download's transferred data or progress increases
• Installed games remain in Library and can launch

If the problem continues

• If it does not improve, report the download problem through Steam Support's help wizard
• If only one game is affected, use integrity verification and that game's support

Scope of this guide

Troubleshooting guide — Rebuild the download cache, sign in to Steam again and complete the update or launch.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources and dates

• Clear download cache ↗

Source publication or resolution date: Not specified. Sources checked: 2026-09-05. The check date is not the date the problem first occurred. Interface labels can vary between versions and display languages.

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