Anyway, this is very frustrating especially when the downloads pause when they are just about to complete. Before we move to the causes and solutions, do note that Steam downloads will pause if you are playing a game from Steam while another game is downloading. So, if that is the issue, then simply go to Steam > Settings > Download. Now check the box that says “Allow Downloads During Gameplay”. This is the most common reason why downloads pause, so make sure you check this first before moving on to the other fixes.
Why Does Steam Download Keep Pausing?
Steam pauses downloads mainly because of a bad internet connection, no space on the hard disk, or cache buildup. However, some other reasons include too many background apps, download restrictions, and an outdated Steam version.
Bad Internet Connection: Steam requires good internet signals and speed to complete the downloads. If the signals are unstable and the speed is too low, the downloads will constantly pause.Cache Buildup in Steam: Too much cache buildup makes Steam inefficient and directly affects the downloads. This is why you should regularly clear Steam’s download cache.Not Enough Space on Your Hard Drive: This is the problem mostly when your hard drive’s space is 90% filled or more. If you’re downloading heavy games, then they will keep on pausing because there will be no space for the game files.Outdated Steam Version: Older Steam versions have a few performance issues which you won’t find in the most updated version. Therefore, make sure your Steam app is always up-to-date.Many Apps Running in the Background: Having several processes or applications eating up your RAM and internet speed can significantly affect Steam downloads.Download Restrictions on Steam: Limiting bandwidth restricts the download speed and as a result, they can pause if the speed is too low.
How do I Fix a Paused Steam Download?
Above were the main causes why Steam keeps pausing or stopping your download and below are a total of 11 fixes that can solve this issue. Before we move on to the actual steps, let’s look at how these methods can help your downloads complete without any interruption.
1. Add Steam as an Exclusion in Antivirus
2. Clear Steam Download Cache
3. Restart Steam and PC
A simple restart will refresh Steam and your PC and get rid of any glitches that were pausing the downloads. First, restart Steam and see if the downloads resume. If not, restart your PC and check the same.
4. Reboot your Router
5. Have Enough Hard Drive Space
If a game’s size is 50 GB, then you must have at least 150 GB of free space on your hard disk. This is because many game files are encrypted and compressed. If they don’t get enough space, the Steam downloads will keep pausing.
6. Change Steam’s Download Region
7. Change Steam’s Download Restriction
8. Change Steam’s Download Location
9. Use Steam in Big Picture Mode
10. Update Steam
11. Reinstall Steam
Note: Before uninstalling Steam, make sure you back up your games by moving the Steamapps folder out of C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps. Once Steam is reinstalled, you can move the folder back to its location.
If you’re still facing some problems having gone through the methods above, contact Steam support and let them know that your download keeps pausing. They will ask you for your system’s and Steam client’s information before giving some instructions to solve the problem.
