Steam by Valve is one of the leading video game distribution services for Windows and macOS. A service that started as a means to deliver automatic updates for Valve games now boasts a collection of over 35,000 games developed by globally renowned developers as well as indie ones. The convenience of simply logging into your Steam account and having all purchased & free games on any operating system has managed to wow gamers around the world. The long list of gamer-friendly features such as the ability to text or voice chat, gameplay with friends, capture and share in-game screenshots & clips, auto-updates, becoming part of a gaming community have established Steam as a market leader. In today’s article, we will be discussing Steam Error code 118 or e502 l3 something went wrong and how to fix it for uninterrupted gameplay stream on Steam!
How to Fix Steam Error Code e502 l3 in Windows 10
With a huge chunk of gamer population relying on Steam, one would assume the program to be absolutely flawless. However, nothing good comes easy. We at TechCult, have already discussed and provided fixes for a number of Steam-related issues. We were unable to service your request. Please try again later error, like others, is pretty common and encountered when users are attempting to complete a purchase, particularly during a sales event. Failed purchase transactions are followed by a laggy Steam shop.
Contents
- How to Fix Steam Error Code e502 l3 in Windows 10
- Why is Steam Showing Error Code e502 l3?
- Check Steam Server Status UK/US
- Method 1: Troubleshoot Internet Connectivity Issues
- Method 2: Uninstall Anti-cheat Programs
- Method 3: Allow Steam Through Windows Defender Firewall
- Method 4: Scan for Malware
- Method 5: Update Steam
- Method 6: Reinstall Steam
Why is Steam Showing Error Code e502 l3?
Some of the possible reasons behind this error are listed below:
- Sometimes Steam server might not be available in your region. It could also be due to a server outage.
- You might not have a stable internet connection and thus, unable to connect to Steam store or SMITE .
- Your Firewall might have restricted Steam & its associated features.
- Your PC might be infected with unknown malware programs or viruses.
- It might be because of conflicts with third-party applications that you recently installed.
- Your Steam application might be corrupt or outdated.
The silver lining of being an application used by pro-gamers is that they will find the fix for a problem even before the developers do so. So, while there is no official report on the error, the gamer society has narrowed it down to six different fixes to get rid of Steam Error e502 l3.
Check Steam Server Status UK/US
Steam servers are known to crash every time a major sale event goes live. In fact, they are down for the first hour or two of a major sale. With an immense number of users rushing to buy a heavily discounted game to the corresponding number of purchase transactions occurring simultaneously, a server crash seems plausible. You can check out the status of the Steam servers in your region by visiting Steam Sstatus webpage
- If the Steam servers have indeed crashed, then there is no other way around to fix Steam error e502 l3 but, to wait for the servers to come back up again. It takes their engineers generally a couple of hours to get things up and running again.
- If not, try the solutions listed below to fix Steam Error e502 l3 in Windows 10 PCs.
Method 1: Troubleshoot Internet Connectivity Issues
Quite obviously, if you are looking to play a game online or perform an online transaction, your internet connection needs to be spot on. You can test the internet speed by using online tools. If the connection seems to be shaky, firstly, reboot the router or modem and then run the Network Troubleshooter as follows:
Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to launch Windows Settings
Click on Update & Security, as shown.
Navigate to Troubleshoot menu and click on Additional troubleshooters.
Select the Internet Connections troubleshooter and click Run the troubleshooter, shown highlighted.
Follow the on-screen instructions to fix issues if detected.
Also Read: How to Add Microsoft Games to Steam
Method 2: Uninstall Anti-cheat Programs
With online games becoming the lifeline for many, the need to win has increased exponentially too. This has led to some gamers resorting to unethical practices like cheating & hacking. In order to counter them, Steam is designed to not work with these anti-cheat programs. This conflict can prompt a few problems including Steam Error e502 l3. Here’s how to uninstall programs in Windows 10:
Press the Windows key, type Control Panel, and click on Open, as shown.
Set View by > Small icons, then click on the Programs and Features.
Right-click on anti-cheat applications and then, click Uninstall, as depicted below.
Method 3: Allow Steam Through Windows Defender Firewall
Third-party programs like Steam are sometimes restricted from accessing the network connection by either Windows Defender Firewall or by strict third-party antivirus programs. Temporarily disable the anti-virus program installed on your system, and ensure Steam is allowed through the firewall by following the below steps:
Launch Control Panel as earlier.
Set View by > Large icons and click on Windows Defender Firewall, as shown.
Click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall present in the left pane.
In the following Window, you will be presented with a list of allowed apps and features but to modify their permissions or access. Click on the Change Settings button.
Scroll down the list to find Steam and its associated applications. Tick the box Private and Public for all of them, as illustrated below.
Click on OK to save the new changes and close the window. Try completing the purchase now on Steam.
Method 4: Scan for Malware
Malware & virus are known to upset day-to-day computer operations and cause a number of issues. One of them being Steam e502 l3 error. Perform a complete system scan using any specialized antivirus program you might have installed or the native Windows Security feature as explained below:
Navigate to Setting > Update & Security as shown.
Go to the Windows Security page and click on Open Windows Security button, shown highlighted.
Navigate to the Virus & threat protection menu and click on Scan options in the right-pane.
Choose Full Scan in the following Window and click the Scan now button to start the process.
Note: A full scan will take at least a couple of hours to finish with the progress bar showing the estimated time remaining and the number of files scanned thus far. You can continue using your computer meanwhile.
- Once the scan is completed, any and all threats found will be listed. Immediately resolve them by clicking on the Start Actions button.
Also Read: How to Disable Steam Overlay in Windows 10
Method 5: Update Steam
Finally, if none of the above methods did the trick and the Error e502 l3 continues to annoy you, try updating the Steam application. It is quite possible that the current version you have installed has an inherent bug and developers have released an update with the bug fixed.
Launch Steam and navigate to the menu bar.
Now, click on Steam followed by Check for Steam Client Updates…
3A. Steam – Self Updater will download updates automatically, if available. Click RESTART STEAM to apply the update.
3B. If you have no updates, Your Steam client is already up-to-date message will be displayed, as follows.
Method 6: Reinstall Steam
Furthermore, instead of simply updating, we will be uninstalling the current version to get rid of any corrupt/broken application files and then installing the latest version of Steam afresh. There are two ways to uninstall any application in Windows 10: one, through the Settings application and the other, through the Control Panel. Let’s follow the steps for the latter:
Click on Start, type Control Panel and click Open.
Set View by > Small icons and click on Programs and Features, as shown.
Locate Steam, right-click on it and choose Uninstall, as depicted below.
In the Steam Uninstall window, click on Uninstall to remove Steam.
Restart the computer after uninstalling Steam for good measure.
Download the latest version of Steam from your web browser, as shown.
After downloading, run the downloaded SteamSetup.exe file by double-clicking on it.
In the Steam Setup wizard, click on the Next button.
Choose the Destination folder by using the Browse… option or keep the default option. Then, click on Install, as depicted below.
Wait for the installation to be completed and click on Finish, as shown.
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Let us know which method resolved the Steam error code E502 l3 for you. Also, drop your favorite Steam games, its issues, or your suggestions in the comments section below.
