Steam freezes when installing a game

When downloading and installing a game from the Steam Store, if the Steam Launcher stops responding and freezes then this post will help you. This can be due to various reasons, such as a corrupted download cache or conflicting apps. However, there are other potential reasons, hence, we will provide every single solution needed to rectify this issue. So, if Steam freezes when installing a game, follow the solutions mentioned in this article to resolve the issue.

Why does Steam stop responding when I try to install a game?

Steam will stop responding when installing game when the Download cache of the app is corrupted or when the system is connected to any virtual hard drive. Although they are not the only reasons, they are the most common ones. However, we have also mentioned all the potential solutions to resolve the issue.

Fix Steam freezes when installing a game

If Steam freezes and stops responding when installing a game, follow the solutions mentioned below to resolve the issue.

1. Clear Download Cache
2. Disconnect any Virtual Hard Drive
3. Change the Download Region
4. Clear the Steam Cache stored on your computer
5. Run Steam as an administrator

Let us talk about them in detail.

1] Clear Download Cache

Whenever you download the game, Steam uses the information stored in the form of a cache. In case, the cache itself is corrupted, the launcher will freeze or stop responding. In that case, we need to clear the download cache from the Steam Client application. To do the same, follow the steps given below.

1. Open the Steam Client app.
2. Click on Steam > Settings.
3. Go to Downloads and click on CLEAR DOWNLOAD CACHE.
4. Click the OK button when prompted.

After clearing the download cache, restart Steam and then try installing a game. Hopefully, it won’t stutter this time.

2] Disconnect any virtual hard drive

When installing a game, Steam scans all your hard drives. So, if you are connected to any NAS or have mounted Google Drive, it will stutter, if your computer is unable to connect to that hard drive. So, either ensure that you are connected to that drive or better remove it temporarily. If it was attached by your workplace or the school, contact the administrator and ask them to do the job for you.

3] Change the download region

Next up, let us change the download region to something other than the default one. Changing the region is useful when the server you are connected to is experiencing high traffic. Follow the steps given below to change the Download Region.

1. Open Steam.
2. Click on Steam and then on Settings.
3. Make sure you are on the Downloads tab and then change the Download Region from the drop-down menu.
4. Now, click on Ok and then close the Settings window.

Restart Steam and check if the issue is resolved.

4] Clear the Steam Cache stored on your computer

The download cache is not the stored information that can get corrupted, the cache stored on your computer is also susceptible to corruption. That is why, we will clear its cache too. To do the same, we first need to make sure that Steam is closed completely. So, not just click on the Close button but also end the task from Task Manager.

In order to clear Steam cache, open File Explorer, click on View > Show > Hidden Items and go to the following location.

C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local\Steam

Note: Replace <Username> with your actual username.

Select all the cache and delete them. Finally, open Steam and install the game. It will not stutter.

5] Run Steam as an administrator

Steam will fail to access some files due to the lack of administrative privileges. So during the installation process, when Steam tries to access these files, it fails and freezes. That’s why, we will run the game as an administrator. Right-click on the Steam client app and click on Run as administrator and see.

We hope that you are able to resolve the issue using the solutions mentioned in this article.

Read: Steam download stuck, not showing progress or keeps restarting

Why does Steam install keep pausing?

Steam will pause installation if any other game is launched. That’s because Steam like to prioritize the gameplay and not distribute the bandwidth. So, if you are installing a game, do not launch any other game. In case, you did not launch any game but the installation paused, check your bandwidth using any of the mentioned Internet Speed Testers.

Also Read: Steam running slow or lagging on Windows PC.