# Steam will only say "Could not connect" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 27, 2015, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-will-only-say-could-not-connect/720938 "2015-05-27T04:14:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-will-only-say-could-not-connect/720938/1 "2015-05-27T04:14:49Z")
Steam simply will not log in, even though it connected and installed updates, immediately after booting. Can anyone think of what else to try? I’m online, clearly, and Steam and Steam Web Helper are allowed in the firewall rules. I’ve used Steam on this network before without having to forward ports. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-will-only-say-could-not-connect/720938/2 "2015-05-27T23:00:38Z")
Answer: First, move Steam.exe to another folder to make sure, then delete all files in all other Steam related folders except Steamapps. Steamapps has the game files, so save them. Delete everything but Steam.exe and the Steamapps folder. Make a new Steam folder in Program Files (x86), or wherever it was originally, and put Steam.exe back in there. Run the program, and it will remake the needed files, and you should be able to connect. If this doesn’t work, but the phrase “could not connect” into the search box on the Steam forums. That’s how I found this solution that worked for me. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-will-only-say-could-not-connect/720938/3 "2015-05-27T23:36:33Z")
I have a problem with Origin, where it just keeps freezing my computer. I’ve deleted everything Origin and attempted to reload the .exe from their web page, and it freezes my computer again. I’ve given up trying after about six hours of frustration and chatting with their customer support, but I’ll go back to it sometime in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-will-only-say-could-not-connect/720938/4 "2015-05-28T05:34:17Z")
Here are the required ports for Steam > **[Steam Support :: Required Ports for Steam](https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/2EA8-4D75-DA21-31EB)** > [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I have a problem with Origin, where it just keeps freezing my computer. I’ve deleted everything Origin and attempted to reload the .exe from their web page, and it freezes my computer again. I’ve given up trying after about six hours of frustration and chatting with their customer support, but I’ll go back to it sometime in the future. Which of course is utterly unrelated to the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-will-only-say-could-not-connect/720938/5 "2015-05-28T06:37:40Z")
I found the real fix for me. I had allowed Steam through Windows Firewall, turned off the firewall, uninstalled the internet filter, and done the procedure I outlined above. That procedure only worked until I exited the program. I then reinstalled it entirely. Then I noticed on their troubleshooting page: “Peer Guardian is not compatible with Steam. Please disable Peer Guardian before launching Steam to avoid connection issues.” [Steam Support :: Secure connection failed, No Steam logon, or A connection to the VAC servers could not be made](https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7579-RPSX-6098&l=english) I went through the blocked IP addresses for Valve, and allowed them permanently in Peer Block. Steam now boots great, and doesn’t ask for a new login. Remember, you can use shift-click to select many addresses in your blocked list, and allow them permanently, all at once. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-will-only-say-could-not-connect/720938/6 "2015-05-28T19:51:44Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Here are the required ports for Steam > [Steam Support :: Required Ports for Steam](https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8571-GLVN-8711) > Which of course is utterly unrelated to the OP. And therefore worthy of your contemptuous comment? ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-will-only-say-could-not-connect/720938/7 "2015-05-28T23:36:45Z")
Required ports are a good note, and one of the Valve troubleshooting notes. I just don’t think the router owner here would have known how to block anything. So I was trying other things before getting involved in a situation with someone who’s picky about his equipment and thinks that others mess it up. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-will-only-say-could-not-connect/720938/8 "2015-05-28T23:51:44Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > And therefore worthy of your contemptuous comment? I’m sure **Askance** was just pointing out that it probably should have been its own thread, rather than piggybacking on a thread completely unrelated to Origin. I find it unlikely you’ll get any help on an off-topic hijack attempt. As the subject of its own thread, much more likely.