How to Fix “Failed to Load This Broadcast” in Steam?

The “Failed to load this broadcast” error message, often seen when attempting to watch a broadcast on Steam, can frequently be attributed to your Steam Store preferences that prevent broadcasts from loading.

When you attempt to access any broadcast page on Steam, it will be blocked due to your settings’ broadcast preferences. This applies to Steam game awards and all other game broadcasts on the platform.

1. Modify Steam Store Preferences

First, check your Steam Store preferences if you encounter the error message. Steam has an option which allows you to hide broadcasts on its platform.

When this option is enabled, you won’t be able to view broadcasts even if you directly visit the broadcast page. You may notice this issue resolves when you log out from your Steam account but recurs when you log back in.

To fix this, you will need to edit your broadcast preferences in Steam Store preferences. Follow the instructions below:

1. First, open the Steam website on your computer by clicking here. Log in to your account.
2. Once you are logged in, click on your Steam profile name and select Store Preferences from the dropdown menu.

   

3. After that, scroll all the way to the bottom to locate Broadcast Preferences.
4. Then, uncheck the Hide all live broadcasts on the store product pages option.

   

5. Once you do that, refresh the Steam website and see if the error message persists. 

2. Use a Browser to Watch Broadcast

You can overcome the error message by viewing the broadcast through your computer’s web browser instead of the Steam client. Using your web browser may provide a better experience.

This is because the web browser is a fully-fledged application which Steam tries to integrate into its client to provide you with the same experience. As such, using the web browser on your PC can often help you get rid of the issue altogether.

Open your web browser and copy the broadcast link from the Steam client. Click on the web address under the Store and Library options to do this. Check if the broadcast is working now.

3. Use a VPN Connection

Sometimes, the failure to load a Steam broadcast could be due to your internet service provider (ISP) blocking the connection because of inconsistencies, preventing the playback from loading on your system.

In such a case, using a VPN on your system can resolve the issue. It enables you to route your network connection through various VPN servers, making the Steam servers receive your request from a different source.

This will allow you to resolve the ISP issue and load the Steam broadcast without network difficulties. Multiple VPN clients are accessible online, such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN, which we recommend.

4. Disable your Security Program (Temporarily)

Your computer’s security program can trigger the error message if it blocks the network connection that the Steam client is using.

Commonly, modern antivirus programs’ network protection features can interfere with Steam operations. To avoid this, you may need to disable your security program.

If the issue resolves upon disabling the security program, it’s clear that it was the cause. In this case, add Steam to the antivirus whitelist to prevent future interruptions. After doing so, you can reactivate the antivirus program without complications.

5. Update the Steam Client

An outdated Steam client on your PC can also cause broadcasts not to load properly, as it may lack the necessary configuration.

Ensure your Steam client runs the latest version to prevent error messages. To update your Steam client, follow the instructions below:

1. First, open the Steam client on your PC.
2. Then, click on the Steam option in the top right corner.
3. After that, choose the Check for Steam Client Updates option from the menu.

   

4. Wait for the app to check for any available updates and install them.
5. Once done, see if the error message is still there.

In case you are still running into the issue, you will need to reach out to the Steam Support team via the official support page and ask for further assistance. They should be able to help you resolve the issue as soon as possible.