Steam Download Stuck at 0 Bytes? Here’s What You Can Do!

Are you trying to download the game via Steam but it is stuck at 0 bytes? The issue is pretty common, so you need not worry about the same as it is fixable. In some situations, users initiate the download for their favorite game via the Steam client, but the download progress is stuck at 0 and will not work. Ideally, such situations arise due to outdated Steam clients, broken download files, or network errors. However, they are not the only culprits to be blamed. Sometimes outdated drivers are also responsible for the same. 

Irrespective of what is causing the issue, you must focus on the fact that the Steam download is stuck as a resolvable error. It is nothing that can’t be fixed. In this post, we will help you fix the same. 

How? Keep reading to learn methods you can implement to get your Steam downloads going!

Ways to Get Rid of Steam Download Stuck 0 at Bytes Issue

Now, as mentioned previously, several factors lead to this error. Hence, it is understandable that there will be a separate fix for each issue. The thing to focus on here is that you need not perform all the fixes to resolve the error. Try the following methods one after the other, and you can stop whenever your issue is resolved. 

But before we begin with the methods, here are the basic steps that you should try – 

1. Restart Your PC
2. Pause and Resume Downloads
3. Disconnect Your VPN (If in use)

Once you have tried the basic fixes and they fail to resolve the issue, move to the following methods, as they will fix the Steam download stuck at 0 bytes for you!

Read Also: How to Fix Steam Black Screen not Loading

Method 1 – Clear Download Cache

When you have multiple downloads running or several things already downloaded, the download cache that your Steam client stores can become a reason for such issues. The best way to handle this is to get rid of the download cache so every download starts fresh and is not dependent on the previous download summary. 

Step 1 – Launch Steam on your computer.
Step 2 – Navigate to Settings via the Steam button in the top bar.

Step 3 – In Settings, spot the Downloads section in the left pane and click on it.
Step 4 – There, you can clear the download cache. Click on that button.

Step 5 – A pop will appear when you click on the same. Press OK, and the cache will be cleared. 

Restart your Steam client after performing the above steps, and try your download again to check whether the issue is resolved. 

Method 2 – Try Changing the Steam Download Server

Since Steam is a global platform, millions of users use it at different times. This eventually fills the popular download servers with congestion, causing issues with downloads. In this case, you can easily switch the download region to the server via Steam. 

Here’s how – 

Step 1 – Launch Steam on your computer.
Step 2 – Navigate to Settings via the Steam button in the top bar.

Step 3 – In Settings, spot the Downloads section in the left pane and click on it.
Step 4 – In the Downloads, you may spot the Download region option, select it, and choose from the available options.

Step 5 – After choosing the server, click OK to save the changes you made. 

The only issue here is that there are chances that you switched the download region to another congested server. The only way to find out is to change the region multiple times. If the Steam download speed suddenly drops to zero, we suggest you move on to the next method. 

Method 3 – Update Network Adapter Drivers

If Steam cannot fix you, there is a high chance that the download stuck at 0 bytes is caused by network issues. You should first try to disconnect and reconnect the internet when it is in use. 

After that, open your browser and check if you are also facing similar issues in downloading a file. If there is an issue, you must update the Network Adapter drivers on Windows. These drivers are crucial as they facilitate proper connection on a PC. 

We recommend you use the Advanced Driver Updater to download the tool, rather than finishing the process manually as it is much easier and more sophisticated. 

Here’s how this tool works –

Step 1 – Download the Advanced Driver Updater and install it on your PC.

Step 2 – Launch the tool to find the Start Scan Now option. Click on the same to find out what drivers are currently outdated on your PC.

Step 3 – The scan will fetch a list of drivers you can instantly update. Check the list to see if it has the Network Adapter driver listed. Click on Update All to finish the process from your end.

Once you have initiated the update process, you can sit back and wait, as the tool will automatically find, fetch, and install the updates for you! This method is far superior to using the Device Manager and manually checking for updates. Try it yourself to find out more!

Method 4 – Flush DNS on Windows to Refresh Connectivity

If the network adapter is up to date and you still have network connectivity issues on your Steam client, you can use the following steps to flush DNS on Windows.

Step 1 – Go to the Start menu and search for Command Prompt. Open the same using the Run as Administrator option.

Step 2 – In the Command Prompt window, use the command ipconfig/flushDNS and hit enter.

Step 3 – Let the command run and finish the process. You have now successfully cleared the current DNS cache, which may be causing the error. 

After flushing DNS, simply restart your computer to refresh the connection. Launch Steam and retry downloads to check if they are stuck at 0 bytes. 

Other than these fixes, you can resolve the issue by turning off your security software (not recommended). Most users resolve their issues after updating the drivers, so we highly suggest you download the Advanced Driver Updater to keep all of them updated. If you face any issues following the steps shared, feel free to drop us a comment. 

That will be all for this post. Hope you find it helpful. Good luck!

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