How to Fix Steam Stuck on Patching and Update

If you’re an avid PC gamer, you may have encountered the frustrating issue of Steam getting stuck on patching and update. This problem can occur when you try to update the Steam client or a game, rendering you unable to play your favorite games. However, there are several possible workarounds that you can try to resolve this issue and get back to gaming. In this guide, we’ll walk you through each solution step by step.

Let’s dive into each solution in detail.

Restart the Steam Client

One of the simplest and most effective solutions for resolving the Steam stuck on patching and update issue is to restart the Steam client. Sometimes, a temporary glitch or cache issue can cause problems with the update process. Restarting the client can often fix these issues. If you have already tried restarting your computer, proceed to the next method.

Run Steam as Administrator

Running Steam as an administrator can help resolve privilege-related issues and ensure smooth operation of the program. To run Steam as an administrator, follow these steps:

1. Locate the Steam executable file or shortcut and right-click on it.
2. Select “Properties” and click on the “Compatibility” tab.
3. Check the “Run this program as an administrator” checkbox to enable it.
4. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.
5. Launch the Steam client and check if the issue persists.

Clear Steam Download Cache

Clearing the Steam download cache can often resolve download-related issues and glitches. To clear the download cache, follow these steps:

1. Open Steam and click on the “Steam” tab in the top-left corner of the screen.
2. Go to “Settings” and navigate to the “Downloads” section.
3. Click on “Clear Download Cache” and confirm the action if prompted.
4. Click “OK” to save the changes.
5. Restart Steam and check if the issue persists.

Disable Windows Defender and Firewall

Sometimes, the antivirus program or firewall on your PC can interfere with the Steam client and cause issues with the update process. Disabling these security features temporarily may help resolve the problem. Here’s how:

1. Click on the “Start” menu and type “Control Panel”. Click on it to open the Control Panel.
2. Search for “firewall” in the search box and click on “Windows Firewall”.
3. In the left pane, click on “Turn Windows Firewall on or off”.
4. Select “Turn off Windows Firewall” for both the “Private” and “Public Network Settings”.
5. Restart your PC to apply the changes and check if the issue is resolved.

Additionally, you should also consider turning off the “Real-time Protection” feature in the Windows Security settings.

End All Unnecessary Background Tasks

Clearing unnecessary third-party background tasks can help reduce system overload and improve the performance of your PC. This can also resolve conflicts with Steam processes or server connectivity. Follow these steps to end unnecessary background tasks:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Go to the “Processes” tab and select tasks that are unnecessarily running in the background and consuming system resources.
3. Click on “End Task” to close each task one by one. Be careful not to close any system-related tasks that are important.
4. Restart your computer to apply the changes immediately.

Edit Host File

Editing the host file can address connectivity issues with the Steam server. Follow these steps to edit the host file:

1. Press the Windows + Q keys to open Windows Search.
2. Type “Notepad” in the search bar and hit Enter.
3. Right-click on Notepad and select “Run as administrator”.
4. If prompted by UAC, click “Yes” to proceed.
5. Click on “File” and select “Open”.
6. Go to the following path: C:WindowsSystem32driversetc.
7. Select the “hosts.txt” file and click “Open”.
8. At the bottom of the hosts file, add the following three lines:

   68.142.122.70 cdn.steampowered.com   208.111.128.6 cdn.store.steampowered.com   208.111.128.7 media.steampowered.com

9. Press Ctrl + S to save the changes.
10. Close Notepad.
11. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
12. Type “cmd” and hit Enter to open Command Prompt. If prompted by UAC, click “Yes” to proceed.
13. Type the following command and hit Enter to flush the DNS cache:

    ipconfig /flushdns

14. Close all windows and restart your computer to apply the changes.

Delete the Package Folder

Deleting the Package folder can resolve issues with the Steam client. Follow these steps to delete the Package folder:

1. Make sure that Steam isn’t running in the background. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, go to the Processes tab, select the Steam task, and click “End Task” to close it.
2. Press the Windows + E keys to open File Explorer (This PC).
3. Navigate to the installed Steam directory.
4. Make a backup of the Package folder by copying it to another drive.
5. Right-click on the Package subfolder in the Steam folder and select “Delete”.
6. Launch the Steam client after deleting the Package folder.
7. Steam will automatically download a few files and open them.

Perform a Clean Boot

Performing a clean boot can help identify and resolve conflicts that may be causing the Steam stuck on patching and update issue. Follow these steps to perform a clean boot:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “msconfig” and hit Enter to open the System Configuration window.
3. Go to the Services tab and enable the “Hide all Microsoft services” checkbox.
4. Check all the services from the list and click “Disable all”.
5. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.
6. Go to the Startup tab and click “Open Task Manager”.
7. Under the Startup tab in the Task Manager interface, disable the tasks that are enabled for startup boot. Disable them one by one.
8. Restart your computer to apply the changes immediately.

Disable and Enable Steam Service

Disabling and enabling the Steam service can help resolve issues related to the service not running properly. Follow these steps to disable and enable the Steam service:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “services.msc” and hit Enter to open Services.
3. Scroll down the list and search for “Steam Client Service”.
4. Double-click on the Steam Client Service to open Properties.
5. Select “Automatic” from the Startup type options.
6. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes. If the service is already selected as Automatic but stopped, click “Start” to resume it.
7. Close the window and restart your PC to apply the changes.

Repair Steam Client Service

Repairing the Steam client service can help resolve any issues with the service that may be causing the update problem. Follow these steps to repair the Steam client service:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “cmd” and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt with admin access.
3. Go to the installed Steam folder and copy the path.
4. Paste the path into the command prompt. The path may vary depending on where you’ve installed Steam. It should look something like this:

   C:Program Files (x86)SteambinSteamService.exe /repair

5. Press Enter to execute the command.
6. Close the command prompt window and reopen the Steam client on your PC.

Contact Steam Support

If none of the methods mentioned above work for you, it’s recommended to contact Steam Support for further assistance. Provide them with detailed information about the issue to help them find possible workarounds or quick fixes.

In conclusion, the Steam stuck on patching and update issue can be resolved by following these troubleshooting methods. We hope that this guide has been helpful in resolving the problem and getting you back to enjoying your favorite games. If you have any additional queries, feel free to leave a comment below.