Steam is a popular platform among all game enthusiasts around the globe. This giant gaming platform has lots of perks when it comes to gaming and communication among gamers. Players are allowed to make random purchases from the Steam Store and make an enviable collection. However, Steam is not free from bugs and glitches. One of the most occurring errors in the ‘Steam was unable to sync your files’ issue.
If you have been experiencing the same issue consistently, then you are looking for competent troubleshooting. On the other hand, you must be aware of the reasons behind this Steam malfunction before you dive into solutions. Determining the right reason will give you the advantage to use the best solution to get rid of the ‘Steam was unable to sync your files’ problem.
According to experts, it can be triggered by corrupted user-data files, preferences, and overall configurations. Another probable cause can be corrupted game files, or the Steam server might be down at the very right moment.
It can also generate due to a conflict with third-party antivirus programs or Windows Firewall. Let’s check out the most eligible fixes to eradicate the problem of ‘Steam was unable to sync your files’.
Have a Look at the Server Status of Steam
If you are a gamer, then you might have faced this issue before and seen that it gets solved automatically after a while. There are chances that the Steam servers might be down currently. Steam lets you know about the server status of Steam for different regions.
There are different Steam servers situated in different places such as China, Netherlands, United States, Europe, etc. And, you can learn which server you are connected to right now and how it’s working.
In case you find out that the corresponding server isn’t working properly, then the ‘Steam was unable to sync your files’ is a common problem. Check if the concerned server is marked red. Apart from a Steam server, it can be the Steam Store that might be unable to cope with.
If they are down, then you have to wait a while and the fix is not in your hand. Give it some time and check if the issue still persists. If the servers are up and you can’t find an error with the Stem Store as well, then you have to proceed with the following fixes.
Remove the Folder Named User Data
Navigate to the Steam directory and discover the Userdata folder. This folder consists of your account information, user sync data, and cloud configurations. If this folder gets corrupted, then it can cause a malfunction in Steam.
As a consequence, you have to face the ‘Steam was unable to sync your files’ issue. Here’s how you can mend the problem:
- Launch Task Manager by holding the Ctrl, Shift, and Esc buttons altogether, additionally, quit all Steam client windows.
- Open the File Explorer on your computer. Navigate to the Steam directory.
- Look for the ‘userdata’ folder inside the Steam directory.
- You need to delete this folder. And, if you don’t want to delete the folder, then simply cut and paste this folder to a location on your PC rather than the Steam directory.
Now, you are ready to launch the Steam Client and check whether the same issue is still there. The cloud storage should be now ready to sync your files.
Delete ClientRegistry.blob
If the above fix was of no use, then you can try this one. ClientRegistry.blob is a definite file for the Steam client that takes care of your game-related registration processes. This might frighten you. But, don’t worry; Steam will restore all data when you log in the very next time. This method ensures that you have eliminated almost 30% chances of files being corrupted.
However, you should remember your Steam username and password when you log in next time. So, if you don’t remember your credentials, then we don’t suggest this solution.
Otherwise, you might lose all your progress and achievement in all your Steam-related gaming platforms. If you are pretty confident about your Steam credentials, then you can follow the steps:
- Quit all the windows of the Steam Client. Verify that no Steam processes are running by checking Task Manager.
- Go to the file path ‘C:\Program Files\Steam’. Next, look for the file, clientregistry.blob.
- Right-click on the file and rename it to ‘clientregistryold.blob’. Or, just delete the file.
- Restart your Steam Client, and it should not show you the ‘Steam was unable to sync your files’ issue.
- If the Steam Client doesn’t respond well then you have to go back to the Steam directory.
- Find the ‘steamerrorreporter.exe’ file. Let the application run, and you need to restart Steam.
Go for the Repair Library Folder Option
Another amazing workaround for the ‘Steam was unable to sync your files’ issue is to opt for the repair of the Steam library. Here’s what you need to follow:
- Launch the Steam client. Click on Steam and head towards Settings under the main toolbar.
- Fetch the Downloads tab. After that, you have to click the Steam Library Folders.
- Choose the dedicated Steam Library folder and give it a right-click. The pop-up menu will appear, and you have to click the option, Repair Library Folder.
This will make Steam repair the library folder and address all the glitches. Wait a while to confirm that the process is over. Afterwards, you can check if the issue is resolved or not.
Deactivate Firewall
Steam might be facing conflicts with Windows Firewall. You can disable Windows Firewall to check if it’s the culprit. Go to Windows Defender Firewall. You can set preferences for different applications. Find the Steam Client app and allow it to be on for both public and private networks. Save changes by pressing the OK button.
Besides disabling Windows Defender Firewall, you can set the same for your third-party antivirus. Keep Steam as an exclusion for your antivirus. This should fix the ‘Steam was unable to sync your files’ issue.
Verify Integrity of Game Files
This fix is unskippable for most of the Steam problems. The corrupt game files can be fixed with this specific fix. These are the steps that you need to abide by:
- Launch the Steam app and land on the Library menu that resides under the toolbar.
- Choose the Games menu. You need to select the problematic Steam game.
- After that, you need to right-click the game.
- The Context menu will appear, and you need to click the Properties option.
- Navigate to the Local Files tab. And, click the ‘Verify integrity of game files’ option.
The error message should disappear after the verification completes.
Run Steam in Safe Mode with Networking Enabled
Safe Mode in the Windows environment lets you run your desired application while disabling unnecessary programs. In case you can use Steam in Safe Mode without the ‘Steam was unable to sync your files’ issue, then it’s OK to run Steam in Safe Mode right now.
Now, entering the Safe Mode can vary depending on the Windows version and PC brand you’re using. Just go for ‘Enable Safe Mode with Networking’ when you can access the Safe Mode menu. It will launch your Windows PC with a network connection. Launch Steam and check if you can notice the same ‘Steam was unable to sync your files’ issue.
Furthermore, Refresh Steam Files
Check your Steam client and refresh Steam files. Additionally, delete all configuration files. This should eliminate the ‘Steam was unable to sync your files’ issue. Otherwise, wait a day or two, and if it doesn’t, then contact support executives.
