The Steam Deck continues to be the go-to PC handheld for many and it doesn’t look like this demand for it is going to wane anytime soon. Valve has been doing some incredible work at supporting its handheld and the Deck’s popularity is evidence of that. However, like any other piece of hardware, there are some issues with it that players really want to get rid of. And one of them happens to be the focus of this guide. To be more specific, we will be looking at the issue that makes a game’s download get stuck at 0%.
Downloading content (0%) – This is what players see when this issue occurs. Even after waiting for a long time, the Deck is simply unable to download anything. Don’t worry, though! By the end of this guide, you will know everything there’s to know about how to fix it and enjoy your games. So, without much further ado, let’s go ahead and take a look at all the available workarounds for this issue.
Steam Deck stuck at downloading content 0% : How to fix it?
The following workarounds will help you deal with this issue. Try these and see which ones are of help to you.
Check your internet connectivity –
First and foremost, check your internet connectivity. Make sure that the speed is good and that the network isn’t down. If using Wi-Fi to connect to the internet, disconnect all other devices connected to the Wi-Fi except for the Steam Deck. You can even try restarting your router to see if that helps.
Use Ethernet/ Wired connection–
In case you’ve been using Wi-Fi so far and are encountering this issue, we suggest that you use Ethernet instead. Ethernet is generally pretty fast compared to Wi-Fi and just might be the thing you need to take that download from 0% to 100%. However, if even connecting the Deck to ethernet doesn’t help then check out other fixes.
Switch to Desktop Mode –
As suggested here, you can also switch to Desktop Mode and start the download in that mode, if the issue occurs constantly in Gaming Mode. To enter Desktop Mode, press the Steam button on the Deck and navigate to the Power option. It’s right at the bottom of the sidebar. Next, when the pop-up menu opens, select Switch to Desktop option. Voila! You are now in Steam Deck’s Desktop Mode.
Force Proton version –
As mentioned in the previous link, another alternative is to force Proton on the game that isn’t downloading. Just select the game with this issue and press the Options button. Now, navigate to Properties, switch to the Compatibility section, and checkmark the Force the use of a specific Steam Play Compatibility tool checkbox. When that’s done, select any Proton version from the drop-down menu and see if the download moves from 0%. Choosing Proton Experimental might do the trick.
Make sure that Proton versions are installed correctly –
It seems like Proton versions not being installed correctly is also another cause for issues like this one. The fix for it, as suggested here, is to first find the Proton version that’s not installing correctly. You will find it in your Steam Library. Once found, select Settings or click on the cogwheel icon. Next, switch to Compatibility, and select Steam Linux Runtime 1.0 (scout) from the drop-down menu. Now, install from its library. Do note that you will have to switch to the Stable channel for this, as changing compatibility on the Beta channel wouldn’t work.
And that’s all you need when it comes to resolving this error. You can also take a quick look here if you want to know how to deal with Hades II crashing or not working on your Steam Deck. Lastly, keep following DigiStatement for more such content. Also read: Best Kingdom Come Deliverance Steam Deck Settings for high FPS & performance
