Steam errors -102 and -137 usually mean the client could not retrieve or display online content such as the Store, Community, profile, or friends pages. Valve does not publish a single code-specific cause or guaranteed fix for either number, so troubleshoot the connection path instead of editing the registry or downloading replacement DLLs. Check Steam’s status first, then isolate your network, proxy, firewall, DNS, cache, and client installation.
Start with the quick checks below. If Steam works over a phone hotspot but not your home connection, focus on the router, DNS, ISP, or network filtering. If only one PC fails, inspect Windows and Steam on that computer.
Before changing anything
- Record the exact code, including the minus sign, and note which feature fails.
- Open store.steampowered.com in a browser, then try another unrelated website.
- If possible, test Steam on another device using the same network and connect the affected PC to a phone hotspot.
- Note whether a VPN, proxy, antivirus web shield, ad blocker, or DNS-filtering service is active.
A working browser does not prove that the Steam client is healthy: Valve says the client reaches an account through a different access path than a browser (Valve’s connection guidance).
1. Check whether Steam is having an outage
Check Valve’s current Steam status information before resetting Windows networking. If Steam sites and client features fail on several devices and networks, local changes are unlikely to help. Valve notes that widespread timeouts can indicate a system-wide problem and that access may remain unavailable until it is resolved (Steam connection troubleshooting).
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| What you observe | Most likely direction |
|---|---|
| Steam fails on multiple devices and networks | Steam outage or an upstream service problem |
| Browser works, but Steam pages fail on one PC | Proxy, VPN, firewall, security software, cache, or client files |
| Several devices fail on the same Wi-Fi | Router, DNS, ISP, or network filtering |
| Steam works on a phone hotspot | Home router, ISP, DNS, or filtering policy |
| Store works but downloads fail | Download cache, content server, download region, or firewall |
2. Restart Steam, Windows, and the network
- In Steam, select Steam > Exit. Closing the window alone may leave the client running.
- Restart Windows.
- Turn off the modem and router, wait about 30 seconds, turn them on, and wait for the connection to return.
- Open Steam and test the same page again.
Valve recommends restarting the router and, where practical, bypassing it temporarily to identify whether the router is involved (router troubleshooting).
3. Disable a VPN and inspect proxy settings
VPNs, manual proxies, ad blockers, DNS filters, and “web protection” features can block Steam’s embedded web traffic.
Windows 11
- Open Settings > Network & internet > Proxy.
- Under Manual proxy setup, turn off a proxy you did not intentionally configure.
- Disconnect from the VPN temporarily, restart Steam, and test.
Windows 10
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy.
- Turn off an unexpected manual proxy.
- Disconnect from the VPN temporarily, restart Steam, and test.
Microsoft includes proxy settings in its Windows connectivity guidance (Microsoft support). To inspect the WinHTTP setting, open Command Prompt and run:
netsh winhttp show proxyIf it shows an unexpected proxy, an administrator can run:
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netsh winhttp reset proxyDo not reset a proxy on a work, school, or managed computer without permission; the configured proxy may be required.
4. Allow Steam through Windows Firewall and security software
- Press the Windows key and search for Windows Defender Firewall.
- Select Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall, then Change settings.
- Allow Steam on the network types you actually use. If it is absent, choose Allow another app and browse to the Steam executable.
- Restart Steam.
Valve recommends an exception rather than leaving the firewall disabled (Steam firewall guidance). Also check third-party firewall rules, HTTPS scanning, application control, ad blocking, and network inspection. A brief disablement can be a controlled diagnostic test only; re-enable protection immediately and create a narrow Steam exception if it is responsible. Valve lists antivirus, firewalls, ad blockers, proxies, and other background programs as possible interferers (Valve software-interference guidance).
5. Reset DNS and Windows network components
Use an administrator Command Prompt. Open Start, type Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator, approve the prompt, and run these commands in order:
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns- Restart Windows even if the commands appear successful.
- Open Steam and test the affected feature.
netsh winsock resetresets the Winsock catalog used by network applications.netsh int ip resetresets TCP/IP configuration.ipconfig /releaseand/renewobtain a fresh DHCP address.ipconfig /flushdnsclears locally cached DNS records.
This sequence is documented by Microsoft (Microsoft Ethernet and network troubleshooting). If access breaks afterward, restart the PC and router, then undo any adapter settings you changed manually.
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6. Run Windows network diagnostics
Windows 11
- Open Start and launch Get Help.
- Search for network or internet connection troubleshooting.
- Run the suggested diagnostic and apply only changes you understand.
See Microsoft’s instructions at Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows.
Windows 10
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > Status.
- Run Network troubleshooter where it is available.
Windows 10 reached the end of normal support on October 14, 2025. Some editions or paid support arrangements have separate policies, but moving to a supported Windows release is advisable when the hardware allows it.
7. Clear Steam’s download cache
This is most useful when downloads, updates, or content-server connections fail alongside the web-page error.
- Open Steam > Settings > Downloads.
- Select Clear Download Cache and confirm.
- Sign in again when Steam restarts, then test the Store or download.
Valve says this does not remove installed games, but it does require signing in again (clear download cache). It is not a universal fix for -102 or -137.
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8. Change the download region for download-only failures
- Open Steam > Settings > Downloads.
- Change Download Region to another nearby region.
- Restart Steam and retry the download.
Valve says a local content region can be slow, overloaded, or experiencing a hardware issue (download-region guidance). Prefer a geographically close region; a distant one can increase latency.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.9. Test the router, ISP, DNS, and network restrictions
Try a phone hotspot or, if your equipment permits it, connect directly to the modem. If Steam works there, investigate the home router, ISP, DNS resolver, parental controls, guest-network isolation, ad-blocking DNS, quality-of-service rules, or custom firewall settings. Managed workplaces, schools, universities, hotels, and apartment networks may block Steam traffic; only the administrator can change those policies.
Valve lists these remote ports for Steam login and content downloads:
- TCP remote
80 - TCP remote
443 - UDP remote
27015–27050 - TCP remote
27015–27050
Other features and games can need additional ports (Valve port requirements). Do not blindly forward ports: ordinary Steam use generally does not require it, and forwarding can increase exposure. Valve also says these ports cannot simply be remapped to an arbitrary HTTP range.
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When changing DNS is justified
Consider a different DNS resolver only when Steam works on a hotspot, DNS lookups clearly fail, or other Steam domains fail to resolve after flushing the cache. DNS changes may bypass a faulty or filtering resolver; they cannot repair a firewall rule, Steam outage, damaged client, or blocked network.
10. Update Windows, Steam, and network drivers
- Install pending Windows updates and allow Steam to update normally.
- Install the Wi-Fi or Ethernet driver from your PC, motherboard, or adapter manufacturer.
- Restart after updates.
Microsoft notes that driver problems can follow a Windows 10-to-Windows 11 upgrade and recommends manufacturer drivers (Microsoft network guidance). Avoid generic driver-updater utilities.
11. Repair or reinstall Steam over the existing installation
Use this after network, proxy, and security checks show that the problem is limited to Steam.
- Back up saves that are not synchronized with Steam Cloud.
- Keep your Steam library folders and avoid deleting them unnecessarily.
- Record custom launch options and controller settings if you need them.
Reinstall the client to the existing location rather than uninstalling Steam and deleting everything. Valve says this can resolve client or service-file problems while preserving installed games, but warns that a full uninstall can remove game content (Steam installation troubleshooting). The official installer is at store.steampowered.com/about.
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12. Use Network reset only as a last resort
Windows 11
- Open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings.
- Select Network reset, choose Reset now, and restart.
Windows 10
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > Status.
- Select Network reset, choose Reset now, and restart.
Microsoft says this removes installed network adapters and their settings, then reinstalls them. Saved Wi-Fi networks may need to be joined again, and VPN clients, Hyper-V switches, or other virtual networking may need reconfiguration (Microsoft Network reset details). It is excessive for a Steam-only fault until the less disruptive steps have failed.
When none of these fixes work
Contact Steam Support with:
- Exact error code and a screenshot
- Windows edition and build
- Steam client version, if shown
- Which Store, Community, profile, friends, login, or download feature fails
- Whether the browser works and whether a hotspot works
- VPN, proxy, antivirus, or firewall products in use
- Results of the DNS reset and cache-clearing steps
- Whether other Steam devices on the same network are affected
Unexpected advertisements, hijacked clicks, or redirects inside Steam may indicate spyware, adware, malware, or browser hijacking rather than a routine DNS problem. Valve discusses those possibilities at its security and access guidance; scan the PC and remove suspicious software.
The Bottom Line
Treat -102 and -137 as connection-path errors, not as proof of one broken Windows component. Check Steam status, test another network, then work through proxy/VPN, firewall, DNS, cache, router, and client repairs in that order. Keep security enabled, avoid blind port forwarding and registry tweaks, and escalate to Steam Support when the evidence points beyond the PC.
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