Steam Error Code 105 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Steam Error Code 105 means Steam cannot connect to the internet or cannot reach Steam's servers. You will typically see the message 'Unable to connect to Steam network' alongside this code. This is a connectivity problem — your internet works, but Steam cannot get through. Fixing your DNS settings or firewall resolves this in most cases.

Affected Models

Steam on Windows 10
Steam on Windows 11
Steam on macOS
Steam on Linux

Common Causes

Steam is blocked by your firewall or security software
Your DNS server cannot resolve Steam's server addresses
Steam's servers are temporarily down for maintenance
A VPN or proxy is preventing Steam from connecting
The Windows Hosts file has been modified to block Steam

How to Fix It

Flush your DNS cache. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run: ipconfig /flushdns — then restart Steam.

A corrupted DNS cache can prevent Steam from finding its servers even when your internet is working fine.
Change your DNS to Google's public DNS. Go to Network & Internet Settings > Change Adapter Settings, right-click your connection > Properties > IPv4 > Properties. Set Preferred DNS to 8.8.8.8 and Alternate to 8.8.4.4.

Your ISP's default DNS servers are sometimes slow or have outages. Google's servers are reliable and free.
Check Steam is allowed through your firewall. Go to Control Panel > Windows Defender Firewall > Allow an app. Make sure Steam is listed and both Private and Public boxes are checked.

If Steam is not in the list, click Allow another app and add Steam.exe.
Disconnect any VPN and try Steam again. If it connects, the VPN is the cause. Configure split-tunneling in your VPN to exclude Steam.

Some VPN services block gaming platforms. Try a different VPN server or location.
Check Steam's status at store.steampowered.com/stats or steamstat.us. If Steam is experiencing an outage, wait and try again later.

Steam occasionally has planned maintenance windows during off-peak hours.

When to Call a Professional

Steam Error 105 is almost always fixable yourself. If you are on a school or work network and Steam is blocked, only a network administrator can unblock it. For home users, the DNS flush and firewall steps below solve this in most cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Steam worked fine yesterday and now shows Error 105. What changed?

Common overnight changes that cause Error 105: a Windows update reset your firewall settings, your router updated its firmware and changed firewall rules, or an antivirus update added Steam to its blocked list. Check your firewall exceptions first — it is the most common cause of sudden Steam connection failures.

Can I play offline games while getting Error 105?

Yes. Put Steam into Offline Mode by going to Steam > Go Offline. Games you have installed and previously played can be launched in offline mode. Note that some games require an internet connection to verify licenses — those will not work offline even in Steam's Offline Mode.

My browser can access store.steampowered.com but the Steam app shows Error 105. How?

Browsers and desktop apps use different connection methods. A firewall rule can block Steam's app connection protocol while allowing browser access to the same website. This means Steam's servers are reachable — but the app's specific connection is blocked. Fixing the firewall exception for Steam.exe resolves this.