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How to Fix Steam Incomplete Installation Errors
Rest assured that our tested solutions won’t disappoint you
5 min. read
Updated onNovember 6, 2023
updated onNovember 6, 2023
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Steamis the most popular game distribution platform in the world. Millions of players worldwide use it to play their favorite games with friends, and some even turned it into a full-time job.
But just like that’s the case with every bigger major platform, issues withSteamare unfortunately common, as well.
Today, we’re going to talk about one of the most annoying issues that bother someSteamusers.
Namely, some players might encounter an Incompleteinstallationissue when trying to launch a game, even if the game is fully installed.
As various factors can cause this problem, the error message usually comes with variouserrorcodes, each associated with a specific cause of the problem.
In this article, we’re going to explore the most commonerrorcodes and try to solve them. Keep reading.
How can I fix Installation incomplete errors on Steam?
1. Error code #2 – Inappropriate installation
Reportedly,Steamconflicts with some types of FAT32 hard drives.
Although the company tried to deal with these issues with a couple of updates, it seems the problem still persists for some users.
According to the community, movingSteam‘s main folder to the default location (C: Drive) corrects the problem.
In case you don’t know how to move theSteamfolder to another location, here’s exactly what you need to do:
Once you’ve done this, you’ll also need to change the defaultinstallationpath for the games you’ll install in the future. To do that, follow these instructions:
This is how you should deal witherrorcode #2; so far, we don’t know about any other solution, but this one proved to be appropriate, it should solve your problem.
2. Error code #3 and #- Internet connection problems and network timeout
Theseerrorcodes occur if yourSteamclient cannot connect to the internet. In this case, there are a few things that you can do to make things right.
For detailed solutions for thenetworking problem withSteam, you should check this article.
Additionally, if you have problems connecting to the internet, not just withSteam, check out our article about the internet issues in Windows 10.
And as your last resort, you can switch to the Offline mode until you find the proper workaround.
3. Error code #10 – Steam servers are busy
Thiserrorappears if you are unable to reach the platform’s servers because they’re busy or overloaded.
And sinceSteamis a massive service, issues like this can happen every now and then.
In caseSteamservers are busy, there’s actually nothing you can do about it at the moment.
The only solution is to wait some time and try again later when the servers return to work.
4. Error code #35 – Required ports are not opened
Steam requires certain ports to be opened on your router in order to connect to the servers. These areusualports, and most users don’t need to set up anything.
However, if you’ve recently messed with your ports, thiserrormay occur.
To makeSteamfunctioning again, just make sure the required ports are opened. The ports are:
To log intoSteamand download content:
SteamClient:
Dedicated or “Listen” Servers:
Steamworks P2P Networking andSteamVoice Chat:
UDP 3478 (Outbound)UDP 4379 (Outbound)UDP 4380 (Outbound)
5. Error code #53 and #55 – Conflicts with antivirus
And finally, some antivirus programs are known for causing issues with certainSteamgames or the client in general.
To make sure this indeed is the case, disable your antivirus software for some time and try to runSteamgames then. If theerroris gone, your antivirus causes conflicts.
To resolve this, you need to whitelist the entireSteamfolder, along with the client in your Antivirus.
Some users also reported that they had to uninstall the antivirus completely, so you might consider switching to Windows Defender, as well.
Additionally, the same error code shows up aSteamservice failed to load. To enableSteamservice, do the following:
That’s about it; as you can see, we’ve tried to cover the most commonSteamerror codes and provide proper solutions.
As this is a massive issue, all these error codes might get you confused, so we advise you once again to pay attention to details to solve the problem as soon as possible.
This issue is associated with aSteam disk write error, and we covered that issue in-depth in a separate guide.
What are your experiences with this issue? Do you know about some solutions we didn’t list in this article? Let us know in the comments.
Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
When he’s not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.
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Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Ivan has delved deep into understanding the Windows OS, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
