Fix Steam Downloads Stuck at 0 Bytes or Slow

A Steam download stuck at 0 bytes per second is almost never your internet. It means the client lost its grip on the content server, cannot write to your drive, or jammed while preparing files in the background, and the fix takes minutes, not a reinstall. A download that merely crawls is the cousin of the same problem, usually a congested or badly routed server region.

This guide starts with the two fixes that resolve the vast majority of cases, clearing the download cache and changing your region, then covers the less common causes.

Match the symptom to the cause

Steam stalls for a handful of distinct reasons, and the symptom usually tells you which. Use this to skip straight to the likely fix:

Symptom	Likely cause	First fix
Stuck at exactly 0 B/s	Lost connection to content server	Clear download cache
Crawling far below your speed	Overloaded or badly routed region	Change download region
One game stalls, others fine	Antivirus scanning that file, or corrupt files	Add Steam exception; verify files
Stops near the end every time	Disk full or failing drive	Free space; check drive health
All downloads fail after a Windows update	Network or firewall change	Reset network; re-allow Steam

Work from your symptom rather than trying everything blindly and you will usually land the fix in one or two steps.

Key takeaways

• A 0 bytes per second rate means a broken server connection, not slow internet.
• Clearing the download cache fixes a corrupted or stuck client state instantly.
• Switching the download region routes you to a healthier content server.
• Antivirus scanning each file can stall writes; add a Steam exception.
• A nearly full or failing drive stops Steam from writing the download.

Clear the download cache

This resolves a stuck or corrupted client more often than anything else.

1. Open Steam and go to Steam, then Settings.
2. Select Downloads.
3. Click Clear Download Cache, then OK.
4. Sign back in when prompted and resume the download.

Change your download region

If the nearest content server is overloaded or your ISP routes to it poorly, Steam can stall in one region and fly in another.

1. Go to Steam, Settings, Downloads.
2. Open the Download Region dropdown.
3. Choose a different nearby region, ideally on the same continent.
4. Restart Steam completely and resume.

Try a couple of alternate regions if the first does not help. The closest server is not always the fastest, and this surprises people. Steam's content is served from a global network of servers, and at peak hours (evenings local time, big game launches, sale weekends) the nearest one can be saturated while a server one country over sits half-idle. Your ISP's routing also plays a part: it may take a faster path to a more distant server than to the obvious local one. The practical method is to pick two or three nearby regions, test each for a minute, and keep whichever actually moves bytes. There is no downside to switching; you are only choosing where to pull the same files from.

Why a 0 B/s reading is misleading

It is worth knowing what "0 bytes per second" is actually telling you, because the number sends people chasing the wrong fix. A true 0 B/s does not mean your internet died; if it had, the rest of your apps would be offline too. It means Steam is not currently receiving data on this download, which happens for three main reasons: the client lost its handshake with the content server and is silently retrying, Steam is stuck in the "preparing" or "allocating" phase where it reserves disk space before any bytes flow, or something downstream (antivirus, a full disk, a permissions block) is preventing writes so Steam stops pulling. That is why the fixes target the connection and the disk, not your bandwidth. If you reflexively reach for a speed test, you will confirm your internet is fine and learn nothing; the problem is between Steam and its server or between Steam and your drive.

Add a Steam exception in your antivirus

Some security software scans every file Steam writes, which can throttle a download to a crawl or stop it entirely. Add the Steam folder and the Steam executable as exceptions in your antivirus and firewall, then resume. If a single specific download stalls after a cache clear while others work, antivirus interference is a likely cause.

Check your drive and network

A download cannot proceed if Steam cannot write it. Confirm the target drive has plenty of free space and is healthy, a failing disk stalls writes. If the problem is broader connectivity rather than Steam alone, reset your network: power-cycle the router, and on the PC run a network reset. Our guide to Wi-Fi that keeps disconnecting on Windows 11 helps if the connection itself is unstable, and DNS server not responding covers name-resolution failures that can stall Steam's server lookups.

Repair the library folder

If downloads keep failing for installed games specifically, repair the library folder. Go to Steam, Settings, Storage, select the drive, open the menu, and choose Repair Folder. This fixes permission and structure problems that block writes without touching your installed games.

A few less obvious culprits

If you have done all of the above and a download still misbehaves, check these:

• Bandwidth throttle in Steam. Steam, Settings, Downloads has a "Limit bandwidth to" option. If it was set, downloads cap below your line speed. Set it to No limit.
• Background downloads paused. Steam can pause downloads while you play a game. Check Downloads and confirm "Allow downloads during gameplay" matches what you want.
• Scheduled download window. Steam has an Auto-Updates schedule that can defer downloads to set hours. If yours is stuck "scheduled," that is why.
• A VPN or proxy sitting between you and the content servers can wreck routing. Disable it temporarily to test.
• Verify integrity of game files (right-click the game, Properties, Installed Files, Verify) when a specific install repeatedly fails partway.

What to do right now

If a download is dead in the water this minute, run this in order:

• Steam, Settings, Downloads, Clear Download Cache, then sign back in.
• Switch Download Region to a different nearby server and restart Steam fully.
• Confirm the bandwidth limit is set to No limit.
• Add the Steam folder and steam.exe as exceptions in your antivirus and firewall.
• Check the target drive has free space and is healthy.
• If one game still fails, Verify integrity of game files; if the whole library does, reset your network.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my Steam download stuck at 0 bytes per second?

A 0 bytes per second rate almost always means the client lost its connection to the content server, not that your internet is slow. Clearing the download cache and switching to a different download region reconnects you to a working server and gets the download moving again.

Will clearing the download cache delete my games?

No. Clearing the download cache only resets the client's temporary download state and signs you out so you log back in. Your installed games and your library are untouched. It is the safest first fix and resolves a large share of stuck-download problems.

How do I pick a better download region?

Choose a nearby region on the same continent, then test. The geographically closest server is not always the least congested or the best routed by your ISP. If one alternate region does not improve speed, try another. Restart Steam fully after each change so it reconnects to the new region.

Could my antivirus be slowing Steam downloads?

Yes. Security software that scans every file as Steam writes it can throttle or stall a download. Add the Steam installation folder and executable as exceptions in your antivirus and firewall. This is especially likely if downloads slow to a crawl while your general internet speed is normal.