Getting stuck at the Loading user data.. screen when launching a game from Steam can be frustrating. But you’re not the only one! Many users have been plagued by this issue. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to fix it.
8 Fixes to Try:
- Check if Steam Service is Down
- Fully Restart Steam and Your PC
- Check your Internet Connection
- Run Steam as an Administrator
- Clear Download Cache
- Change the Server Region
- Update Your Graphics Driver
- Advanced Fixes for GeForce NOW Users
1. Check if Steam Service is Down
Before diving into more complex fixes, it’s always smart to make sure Steam isn’t undergoing a shechuled maintenance or experiencing a service-wide outage. If the servers are down, anything from loading your profile to launching games might hang indefinitely. You can quickly see if Steam is down by checking on sites like Downdetector, or you can follow official updates from @Steam_Support on X for server announcements.
If they show Steam is offline, the issue isn’t on your end and there’s nothing you can do about that and patience is the only fix in this issue.
If the service is running smoothly, check your internet connection next to rule out any connection issues. If your network is working fine, go ahead and try the troubleshooting steps listed below.
2. Fully Restart Steam and Your PC
A Steam process may become unresponsive or remain running in the background after a failed launch. Restarting the client and your PC can clear temporary process or resource issues without changing your Steam settings.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Under Processes, look for Steam or Steam Client WebHelper.
- Select the relevant Steam processes and click End task. Repeat as needed until Steam is no longer running.
- Launch Steam again from your desktop shortcut or Start menu.
If Steam is still stuck, restart your computer and try launching Steam again.
3. Check your Internet Connection
Steam needs a working connection to load account information and synchronize data. An unstable connection, VPN routing issue, or network filtering software may interfere with this process.
- Open a browser and visit a few websites to confirm that your internet connection is working.
- If you’re using a VPN or proxy, disconnect it temporarily and launch Steam again. If you aren’t using one, you can skip this step.
- If possible, switch to another network, such as a mobile hotspot, to see whether the problem is specific to your current connection.
- Restart your router if other devices or services are also experiencing connection problems.
If Steam works on another network, your original connection, VPN, firewall, or network configuration may be contributing to the problem. If the issue persists across networks, continue troubleshooting.
4. Run Steam as an Administrator
Steam needs permission to access certain files, folders, and system components during launch. When it freezes while attempting to load your account data, running it as administrator can help it bypass any permission barriers.
- Begin by right-clicking the desktop icon and selecting Run as administrator.
- If that works for you, you can always configure it to run as an administrator every time you launch it. What you have to do is right-click the desktop icon, then select Properties.
- Click on the Compatibility tab, check the box next to Run this program as an administrator, then click Apply > OK.
5. Clear Download Cache
Use this method only if you can get into the Steam client. If Steam is still stuck before you can access its menus, skip to Fix 8.
When you’re stuck at this infinite “Loading user data” screen, clearing your download cache can probably fix the issue. Some cached account data or download files might be corrupted and causing temporary glitches. Below is how you can clear the download cache:
- Open your Steam client. From the top left client menu, click on Steam > Settings.
- Select the Downloads tab, scroll your way down and you’ll find the Clear Download Cache button. Click on it.
- Click Confirm to proceed.
- Once finished, you’ll need to log in to Steam again.
6. Change the Server Region
If you’ve cleared the cache and still get stuck on the Loading user data screen, another easy fix is to change your Steam download region. Sometimes Steam connects to a congested server, causing logins and data to hang. Using a different server could resolve the issue within seconds:
- Open your Steam client. From the top left client menu, click on Steam > Settings.
- Select the Downloads tab, then click on the drop-down menu next to Download region and select another region.
- Relaunch Steam and try to play your game to check if it works. If the issue persists, move on to the next fix.
7. Update Your Graphics Driver
If Steam still freezes on the Loading user data screen, updating your graphics driver is a great next step. A faulty or outdated graphics driver may struggle to render Steam’s interface or communicate with your hardware, causing the client to stall when syncing your account. Installing the latest driver from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel often solves this.
Manually updating graphics drivers can be time-consuming or tricky. If you’d rather skip the hassle, Driver Easy offers a smart solution: it automatically scans your system, detects any device with outdated or missing drivers, including your GPU, and installs the correct, certified versions with a few mouse clicks.
- Download and install Driver Easy.
- Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
- Check if your GPU is flagged in the scan results. If it is, click Activate & Update to update it, or click Update All to update all the missing or outdated drivers on your system.
This will prompt you to start a 7-day free trial or upgrade to Driver Easy Pro. Either option will come with the full set of features, including automatic driver updates, driver recovery, advanced tools, plus full technical support.
- Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
- Launch your game to see if it’s still showing the Loading user data… loop. If your issue persists, try the next fix below.
8. Advanced Fixes for GeForce NOW Users
If you’re encountering “Loading user data…” inside a GeForce NOW gaming session, the issue may involve the Steam login flow within the cloud gaming environment rather than the Steam client installed on your own PC.
The following are workarounds reported by users, not guaranteed fixes. They may not work for every account or session.
8.1. Add a Game to your Steam LIBRARY
Okay, that might seem a bit obscure, but it worked for many users! You can add a free game to your Steam LIBRARY while GeForce NOW is hanging. You can find titles that are Free To Play from Category > Free To Play. However, you may need to do that repeatedly every time you try to launch a game.
8.2. Restart or Reinstall GeForce NOW
A temporary problem with the GeForce NOW app or session may prevent a game from launching correctly. Simply try exiting the current GeForce NOW session, closing the GeForce NOW app completely, then reopening it. Start a new session and try launching the game again.
If you’re using the desktop app and the issue persists across multiple games, consider reinstalling GeForce NOW.
8.3. Delete Certain Files
The stuck loop you’re seeing may be caused by corrupted login or user settings. Deleting those files from the Steam folder may resolve it.
What you have to do is open File Explorer by pressing the Windows logo key + E simultaneously, then head to Steam’s installation folder (usually can be found at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam), and open the Config folder. Delete files like config.vdf, loginusers.vdf, or DialogConfig.vdf. Next time you start Steam, it’ll regenerate them.
That wraps up our complete guide to fixing the Loading user data loop. If you still have questions, feel free to leave us a comment below. We’ll get back to you ASAP, and our community may have some insights too!