When you talk about online gaming, Steam will always be part of the discussion. You can get instant access to thousands of exhilarating games that will make you jump off your seats. Exclusive deals are available to make every gameplay more thrilling, not to mention exciting perks to upgrade your Steam gaming experience.
Steam is your go-to hub for online gaming. You can connect with other gamers and join communities and groups sharing the same passion you feel. Communities will allow you to meet with other players, chat while playing, and form allies.
However, some Steam users complain that they are unable to reach and connect with their friends on the same Steam network. When playing Steam games on their Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC, they encounter the error “Friends Network Unreachable.” Such a problem will prevent you from discussing and meeting with your Steam friends. The error message appears,
“FRIENDS NETWORK UNREACHABLE.
This failure may indicate that your local network is offline or that the Steam Friends servers are currently offline.”
If you encounter this type of networking issue on Steam, you can try to troubleshoot it with several solutions below to fix the problem. Please note that this error also appears on the Steam desktop client for Mac computers.
TODAY’S DEALS: Check out these limited-time offers on Windows gaming PC on Amazon & Walmart!
How to Troubleshoot & Resolve Steam Friends Network Unreachable Issue on Windows PC or Mac Computer
Steam takes online gaming up a notch for you. But, not being able to reach your Steam friends will put a stop to all the fun. Check out the methods below to know how you can fix the Steam error. Some solutions may work with the Steam app on your macOS device.
Method #1 – Power Cycle your Computer & Network Devices
- Exit Steam and turn off your Windows 10/11 PC or MacBook laptop computer.
- Unplug your computer, router, and modem.
- Wait for at least 1 minute before plugging them back in and connecting to the Internet.
- Turn on your Windows 10/11 PC or Mac and relaunch the Steam app.
Method #2 – Clear Steam Cache and Cookies
- From the home screen, click Steam found on the upper left corner of the screen.
- Select Settings.
- Go to the Web Browser.
- Click Delete Web Browser Cache.
- Click Delete All Browser Cookies.
- Restart Steam.
Method #3 – Opt-Out of Steam Beta Programs
- On the Steam app, click the Steam menu on the upper left corner.
- Go to Settings.
- Navigate to Account.
- Go to Beta Participation.
- Select Change.
- Look for NONE – Optout of all beta programs and select it.
- Click OK.
- Click Restart Steam.
Method #4 – Change your Public DNS
- Launch the Control Panel of your Windows 10/11 computer.
- Select Network and Internet.
- Go to Network and Sharing Center.
- Choose Change Adapter Settings.
- Look for your network and right-click on it.
- Select Properties.
- Go to the Networking tab.
- Check the box next to Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
- Click Properties.
- Navigate to Use the following DNS server addresses.
- For Preferred DNS server, enter 8.8.8.8. For the Alternate DNS server, enter 8.8.4.4.
- Click OK.
- Restart your computer.
Method #5 – Downgrade to Older Software Version of the Steam App
- Look for the Steam icon on your desktop and right-click on it.
- Select Properties.
- Navigate to the Shortcut tab.
- Go to the Target option.
- At the end of the entry, add”-nofriendsui.
- Click OK.
- Check if Steam works. If not, go back to the Target option.
- At the end of the -nofriendsui, add a space and enter –nochatui.
- Click OK.
Method #6 – Reinstall the Steam App
- Click the Start button on your PC.
- Go to Settings.
- Select Apps.
- Choose Apps & Features.
- Click Steam.
- Select Uninstall.
- Now, open the official Steam website and download a new version of Steam.
Which of the solutions above helped you fix the Steam network error? We would love to know what works. You can tell us some more in the comment section below.
