Fix: Steam Update Stuck

Users may experience an error of Steam updating itself for an indefinite time. This usually happens after you install an update and restart Steam. Deleting Steam files and installing it again worked for many users, but the error came forward again after some time. We have listed some solutions regarding the matter.

But before moving on with the solutions, make sure your system drive has enough disk space.

Solution 1: Delete the ‘Package’ folder

Sometimes while Steam is downloading the required update packages, the files get corrupt; causing Steam to hang on the ‘Installing update’ window. We can try deleting the ‘Package’ folder and let Steam download it again.

1. Exit your Steam client. Head to the task manager and close all Steam related processes.
2. Browse to your Steam directory. The default path is

   C:\Program Files\Steam

3. Here you will find a folder called ‘Package’. Copy the folder to another location in case something goes wrong and you might want to place it back.
4. Delete the folder from the directory and restart Steam. Now Steam will prompt to download some files. After downloading, it will launch as expected.

Solution 2: Disable/Reenable Your Internet Connection

Another solution that worked for the majority of users was to disable your internet/WiFi and plugging it back on.

1. Unplug your internet connection/disable WiFi.
2. Launch Steam and wait for the dialogue box to appear.
3. Restore the connection and proceed with the login. The steam client should check for updates and later on launch properly.

Solution 3: Launch Steam With Administrative Privileges

Steam sometimes requires administrative privileges to update itself. If it doesn’t have these permissions, it gets stuck at a specific point. To make sure that this doesn’t happen, you need to grant administrator permission to it.

1. Open task manager and end all Steam related processes.
2. Browse to your Steam directory. The default path is

   C:\Program Files\Steam

3. Locate ‘Steam.exe’. Right-click on it and choose Properties.
4. Choose the compatibility tab and check ‘Run this program as an administrator’.
5. Launch the Steam client.

Solution 4: Edit “Hosts File” to Change Steam’s Content Server

You may be experiencing the problem because of a problem in Steam servers. We can try changing the “hosts file” to check if this is the problem. Remember to use this solution as the last resort.

1. Click ‘Start’ and type ‘Notepad’ in the dialogue box.

   

2. Right-click on Notepad and chose ‘Run as administrator’.
3. When your notepad is opened, click the File tab located on the upper left.
4. Click ‘Open’ and browse to the file location

   C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.

   

5. If you aren’t seeing the host file, please make sure that you have “All files” selected from the bottom right drop-down box.

   

6. Copy the text written below and paste it at the end of the file.

68.142.122.70 cdn.steampowered.com

208.111.128.6 cdn.store.steampowered.com

208.111.128.7 media.steampowered.com

7. Save your file and exit the window.
8. Click “Start + R” to bring up the Run window. Now we will flush your DNS.
9. In the Run box, type

   ipconfig /flushdns

   and press enter.

If nothing has helped you so far, then try to disable your antivirus and turn off your Firewall or boot system in Safe mode with Networking and then launch Steam.

Hopefully, your Steam will be up and running without any problems.