How to Fix Steam Update Error 39 in Windows?

The Steam App Update Error 39 occurs when users try to update the game or the app itself. This error prevents users from downloading any updates for games or for Steam. In most cases, you can close it and browse the in-Steam menus, but the issue will return once you initiate the download again.

Affected users have confirmed that they are unable to complete any download due to this error, so any game that has received a new update is not launchable any longer.

One of the most common reasons that can cause this issue is your internet connection. You can see the 39 error appearing due to an improper Wi-Fi connection or Ethernet connection that affects the download. You might be able to fix it if you change the internet connection to a different one (preferably with a superior available bandwidth).

Besides the Internet connection, there are some other reasons that can trigger this issue like a date & time mismatch, insufficient RAM, or just a classic case of conflicting drivers that are forcing Steam to stop the connection with the game server.

In case you use a 3rd party antivirus, an overprotective security protocol could prevent Steam from downloading the new updates. In this case, you might need to add Steam as an exclusion, or even uninstall the AV if the issue persists.

Here is a list of all the methods that you need to follow to fix the Steam App Update Error 39:

1. Change your internet connection

The first thing you should do is try to change the internet connection you are using. This will be effective in situations where you’re dealing with a network inconsistency facilitated by a level 3 node enforced by your ISP.

In this case, you should try to switch your internet connection to a different one. Try connecting to your Wi-Fi network in case you are using an ethernet cable. If you are unable to do this, try at least changing the connection to a hotspot to see if the download process will work.

If you have the possibility to do this, try using a different router to see if a different network connection does anything.

In case changing the internet connection doesn’t do anything, the Steam App Update Error 39 is caused by something else.

2. Match the time zone and time

Your system’s date, time, and area are improbable offenders that you will likely ignore. If these values are far out of the expected range, the Store-initiated verification may fail, preventing you from finishing the download process. To address this issue, simply set the right Date and Time for your area.

If this is the case, you should be able to fix the issue by changing the date, time, and timezone values in the Date & time settings menu to the correct values.

Follow the steps below to determine the correct date and time:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open a Run dialog box.
2. Inside the search bar, type ‘ms-settings:‘ and press Enter to open the Windows Settings.

   

3. Select the Time & language section from the left side and access the Date & time menu.

   

4. Now look at the Set time automatically option and make sure the toggle is ON.
5. Do the same with the Set time zone automatically as well.

   

6. Once you’ve done that, reboot your PC to make sure the changes apply.
7. Launch Steam and test it to see if the Steam App Update Error 39 still appears.

3. End tasks of unused apps

Another cause for this Steam issue could be that your RAM memory is overloaded due to many apps that are running in the background. This could make your system run slower to the point where it is unable to complete simple processes like downloading an update or a game.

This can happen if you are having many applications opened on your computer, while your RAM memory is overused.

In this case, you need to go to the Task Manager and look to see what are the applications that are using most of your RAM memory. Close those apps to free up some memory and the download process should work.

Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Press the CTRL+Shift+ESC keys simultaneously to open the Task Manager.
2. Now select the Memory tab to sort the processes after the RAM memory use.

   

3. Look at the top applications and spot the ones that you don’t use.
4. Right-click on them and click on End task to close the process of the application.

   

5. Repeat the process for every app that you don’t use.
6. Close the Task Manager and relaunch Steam to see if the App Update Error 39 has been fixed.

4. Roll back drivers for your Network Adapter

A new update that has been installed on your Network Adapter could cause this issue. If the error has started to appear after installing a new update to your Internet Adapter, you might consider rolling it back.

The update might not be compatible yet with Steam, which can affect the downloading process.

You need to go to the Device Manager and access the Properties of the internet connection you are using. This way you will be able to roll back the drivers to see if they are responsible for this Steam error.

Here are the steps you need to follow to roll back drivers for your Network Adapter:

1. Open a Run dialog box by pressing the Windows key + R.
2. Type inside the search bar ‘devmgmt.msc‘ and press Enter to open the Device Manager.

   

3. Extend the drop-down menu associated with the Network adapters.
4. Right-click on the network you’re using and click on Properties.

   

5. Select the Driver tab on the upper side and click on the Roll Back Driver button.

   

6. Click OK and close the Device Manager, then you need to restart your computer to make the changes apply.
7. Launch Steam and test it to see if the download is still being stopped by the error.

5. Reopen Steam

This issue might be also triggered if Steam is being affected by a server issue. Based on previous occurrences, this could be a simple network issue that will be resolved soon, or it could be an underlying server problem that Steam is working to resolve.

In this situation, try restarting the Steam app and seeing if the game works after restarting the launcher.

Note: This is usually effective when you receive this problem just after Steam has sent an update to its client. In this situation, a simple restart should resolve the problem quickly.

Here’s a step-by-step tutorial to help you do this:

1. While inside the Steam app, click the Steam button in the upper left corner.
2. To exit the game, click the Exit button.

   

3. Log in to your Steam account again with your username and password.
4. Restart the download process to verify if the App Update Error 39 has been resolved.

6. Add Steam as an exclusion

If you’re having this problem and aren’t using a third-party security program, it’s extremely probable that Windows Defender is recognizing the Steam application as a false positive and preventing you from opening the app.

Several impacted users stated that the problem was resolved after reconfiguring Windows Defender (Windows Security) to exclude the app folder from the scan.

Note: Steam could also be affected by other 3rd party AVs like Avast or Bitdefender, so you should consider adding it as an exclusion on your specific AV to see if the problem goes away. If you don’t know how to do it, search online for the exact instructions for the AV you’re using.

To prevent Windows Defender from blocking the app, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open a Run dialog box.
2. Type inside the search bar ‘ms-settings:windowsdefender‘ and press Enter to open the Windows Security directly.

   

3. Click the Open Windows Security button on the Windows Security tab to launch the built-in security solution.

   

4. Click on Virus & threat protection, then Manage settings, right under Virtus & Threat protection settings.

   

5. Scroll all the way down to the Exclusions menu and select Add or remove exclusions.

   

6. Then, click Add an exclusion and choose Folder from the newly shown drop-down option.

   

7. Navigate to the location of your Steam folder in the newly appeared menu, pick it, and then click Exclude this folder.
8. Restart your computer and, on the next system startup, launch Steam and see if the App Update Error 39 has been fixed.

7. Disable or uninstall your antivirus (if applicable)

This problem could also be caused by an overly protective security suite, which causes the app to fail when initiating a connection with the Steam server.

There are various antivirus suites that may interfere with Steam, but the most prevalent culprits are Avast and Bitdefender.

If this is the case for you, you should be able to resolve the issue by disabling or removing the third-party antivirus software.

Try first disabling the AV, and if that works, uninstall it completely to not encounter any issues again.

Note: We recommend that you uninstall the AV suite to ensure that no traces of the security suite remain that could cause issues like this one to Steam.

Follow the next steps to see how to do it:

1. Hit the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Inside the search bar, type ‘appwiz.cpl‘ and press Enter to open the Programs and Features menu.

   

3. If the User Account Control window prompts you, click Yes to grant admin access.
4. When the Programs and Features option opens on your screen, scroll down until you discover the overprotective suite you wish to delete. When you’ve located it, right-click on it and select Uninstall.

   

5. Follow the on-screen directions to finish the removal of the security suite, then restart your computer.
6. After the computer has restarted, open Steam to check whether the issue appears again or not.

8. Enter Big Picture Mode while downloading

The Steam App Update Error 39 could be also caused by a simple bug that the launcher is encountering. This can happen due to random bugs that are affecting Steam, as well as the download process you are trying to do.

Even if it’s an odd solution, you might be able to finally complete the downloading process by entering Big Picture on Steam.

Note: Steam’s Big Picture mode was first introduced in 2012, offering a fullscreen, controller-focused UI alternative developed exclusively for usage with TVs and controllers. But you are able to use it at any time and won’t affect the launcher at all.

To use it, all you have to do is to click on the Big Picture Mode located in the top right corner of your Steam app. Once you click in, the app will automatically enter the Big Picture mode.

Open the Steam Menu and access the Downloads section. Resume the download you were trying to complete to see if the App Update Error 39 will still appear.

If that doesn’t work, the issue is probably caused by something else other than a simple bug.

9. Disable all non-Microsoft services

Some non-Microsoft services that are running in the background of your computer could also trigger issues like this one. These services could affect the launcher because they are messing with your system, as well as your network connection. This could cause Steam to not be able to work properly.

In this case, you need to use the System Configuration menu and disable all the non-Microsoft services. This way you will not affect your system as well, and also you will find the culprit if this is causing the Steam issue.

Here is a guide that will show you how to do this:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open a Run dialog box.
2. Type ‘msconfig‘ inside the search bar and press Enter to open the System Configuration menu.

   

3. Access the General tab and click on Selective startup, then uncheck the Load startup items.

   

4. Now select the Services tab and click on the Hide all Microsoft services option.
5. Click on the Disable all button to disable all the non-Microsoft services.

   

6. Click on Apply and restart your computer.
7. When it boots back, launch Steam to see if you still encounter the App Update Error 39.

10. Use VPN

As it turns out, your ISP’s Level 3 Node could be also blamed for this problem (Internet Service Provider).

What you can do is connect to a VPN before starting the downloading process. This will allow you to bypass the Level 3 ISP node and receive normal server access. This might work because you will use a different route to download the game.

Check to see if installing a VPN client allows you to complete the download on Steam.

Keep in mind that utilizing a VPN is not a viable solution because it would most likely slow down your connection. If utilizing a VPN removes the App Update Error 39 from your Steam application, the next step is to contact your ISP and request that the level 3 Node be removed.

Because it is unknown whether this fix will be effective, it is advised that you first use a free VPN client.

The VPN services listed below provide free plans or free trials:

• Windscribe
• ExpressVPN
• NordVPN
• ProtonVPN

Start the VPN and restart the downloading process on Steam to see if the App Update Error 39 will be finally fixed.