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Steam “loading user data” error causing major issues – Valve’s store down a second time in a week
Some Steam users are encountering a “loading user data” error that can prevent the launcher from opening games or reaching the store. The disruption matters because affected users may be unable to play or use Steam features, while reports continued to rise and Valve had not commented.
Reports began increasing at about 8am ET on October 26, although experiences varied: some users could access Steam normally, while others were stuck in an endless loading loop even after restarting. The issue appears to affect the launcher, so the web store may still work; some users reported that redeeming a code or buying and downloading a game preceded the error. It is Steam’s second reported outage in a week, following a brief store disruption on October 21.
In short
- Some users cannot get past Steam’s “loading user data” screen.
- Reports rose from about 8am ET, while access varied.
- The web store may work; Valve had not commented.
Explained simply
Steam is a digital shop and service run by Valve, where people buy, download and play computer games. Its launcher is the programme users open to reach their games, account details and other features.
When the launcher has trouble loading account information, users may lose access to games or parts of the service, even if Steam’s website still works. Reports of problems can vary between users, and a reported outage does not necessarily mean everyone is affected.
A second reported disruption in a short period may draw attention because Steam is widely used by players and game makers. Problems with the service can affect both people trying to play and those buying or downloading games.