How to Fix Steam Download Stuck at 0 Bytes

Why Downloads Stay at 0 Bytes

A download stuck at 0 bytes means Steam cannot begin writing files to disk or cannot reach the content server. This is different from slow speeds — nothing transfers at all. These fixes address the most common blockers.

Step 1 — Pause and Resume the Download

In your Library, right-click the game and choose Manage → Pause, wait five seconds, then choose Resume. This forces Steam to renegotiate with the download server and often clears a stuck queue entry.

Step 2 — Check Free Disk Space

Steam needs more space than the listed game size for decompression and updates. Right-click your install drive in File Explorer → Properties and confirm you have at least 20–30 GB free beyond the game's size. Move or delete files if space is tight.

Step 3 — Clear the Download Cache

Go to Steam → Settings → Downloads and click Clear Download Cache. Restart Steam, log back in, and retry the download. Corrupted cache entries frequently cause 0-byte stalls.

Step 4 — Change the Download Region

In Settings → Downloads, open the Download Region dropdown and pick a nearby region — try your second-closest option. Click OK and restart the download. Overloaded regional servers can refuse new connections.

Step 5 — Verify Download Restrictions

Still in Settings → Downloads, make sure Limit bandwidth to is unchecked or set high enough. Also confirm no download schedule is active under Download Restrictions that pauses transfers during your current time window.

Step 6 — Flush DNS and Restart Router

Open Command Prompt and run ipconfig /flushdns. Power-cycle your router (unplug 30 seconds, plug back in). Network DNS caching issues can prevent Steam from resolving CDN endpoints.

0 Bytes Fix Summary

• Pause and resume the download
• Ensure enough free disk space
• Clear Steam download cache
• Switch to a different download region
• Remove bandwidth limits and schedule restrictions
• Flush DNS and restart your router