Baldur’s Gate 3 Content Servers Unreachable Error: How to Fix

Many eager fans jumped at the chance to play Baldur’s Gate 3 on Steam. However, some players encountered a frustrating BG3 “Content servers unreachable” error when trying to download or update the game. This vague error message can be annoyingly ambiguous.

This comprehensive guide will explain common causes for the content servers unreachable issue and walk you through various solutions to try. We aim to provide actionable troubleshooting steps so you can resolve the problem and enjoy Baldur’s Gate 3 as soon as possible.

The BG3 Content servers unreachable error indicates that Steam is unable to connect to the servers that provide the game’s content. This prevents the Steam client from downloading, updating or verifying game files.

Some common causes include:

• Problems with your internet connection – Issues like network congestion, DNS failures, or an unstable WiFi signal can prevent Steam from reaching content servers.
• Issues on Steam’s end – Sometimes increased traffic or server outages cause widespread connectivity problems for Steam users.
• Compatibility problems – Anti-virus software, firewalls, or other programs may block Steam from accessing servers.
• Corrupted local files – Rarely, problems with the Steam client files or game files on your PC may trigger the error.

The error is often intermittent and resolves on its own. But solutions exist for persistently unreachable servers.

Here are 12 troubleshooting steps to resolve the Baldur’s Gate 3 content servers unreachable error, arranged from easiest to more advanced solutions.

1. Restart Your Computer and Modem

Before diving into Steam-specific fixes, first rule out any problems with your local network connection.

Restart your computer and modem/router to refresh your internet connectivity. This clears any network issues that may have built up over time and interrupted the connection.

2. Restart the Steam Client

Simply exiting and relaunching the Steam client can surprisingly resolve common errors. Restarting flushes any corrupted data and re-initializes the connection.

Completely close Steam by right-clicking the icon in your system tray and selecting “Exit”. Then launch Steam again.

3. Verify Integrity of Game Files

If your game files have become corrupted or changed, Steam may fail to reach the servers for updates.

Use Steam’s built-in verification tool:

1. In your Steam library, right-click on Baldur’s Gate 3 and select Properties.
2. Go to the Local Files tab.
3. Click Verify Integrity of Game Files.

This scans for inconsistencies and restores any missing or altered files.

4. Change Your Steam Download Region

Your proximity to Steam’s download servers can affect connectivity. Steam allows you to manually select a download region – try changing to a different location.

1. In the Steam menu, go to Settings > Downloads > Download Region.
2. Select a different city or country from the list. Some options to try are New York, Dallas, Amsterdam.
3. Restart Steam for the change to take effect.

This connects you to a different data center which may resolve server reachability issues.

5. Launch Steam as Administrator

Some users have reported “content servers unreachable” errors that were fixed by launching Steam with admin rights.

To do this in Windows:

1. Close Steam if it’s open.
2. Locate the Steam executable file (usually “C:Program Files (x86)Steamsteam.exe”).
3. Right-click and select Run as administrator.
4. Try downloading or updating Baldur’s Gate 3 again.

Running as admin allows full access to Windows resources which may be required for connectivity.

6. Temporarily Disable Antivirus and Firewall

Overzealous antivirus or firewall software can sometimes interfere with Steam connecting to remote servers.

Adding exclusions for Steam can resolve this. We recommend trying to disable them temporarily as a test:

Windows Defender / Firewall:

1. Open Windows Security settings.
2. Under Virus & Threat Protection, turn off Real-time Protection.
3. Under Firewall & Network Protection, turn off Windows Defender Firewall.

Third-party antivirus:

1. Right-click the antivirus icon in the system tray and look for an option to disable it. Each antivirus is different.
2. You may need to uninstall your antivirus app completely if simply disabling it does not work. Reinstall it afterwards.

Other firewalls:

1. Look for options to disable or make exceptions for the firewall in Windows, or in the firewall’s own software interface.

Again this is just a temporary test – make sure to re-enable your antivirus and firewalls afterwards!

7. Flush Your DNS

Corrupted DNS records can prevent Steam from locating content servers. Flushing the DNS forces your PC to reacquire fresh data.

In Windows:

1. Open Command Prompt as admin.
2. Type ipconfig /flushdns and hit Enter.

On Mac:

1. Open Terminal
2. Type sudo dscacheutil -flushcache and enter admin password.

Flushing DNS often fixes connection issues across many programs by refreshing outdated mappings.

8. Powercycle Your Network Devices

As mentioned earlier, seemingly unrelated network problems can affect Steam connectivity.

If you have already tried restarting your PC and modem, also consider powercycling any additional network hardware like routers, managed switches, repeaters, or WiFi extenders.

Turn off all network devices, unplug them from power, and wait 60 seconds before reconnecting and powering them on. This often resolves network quirks that simple reboots do not.

9. Try Using a VPN

A VPN tunnels your internet traffic through an intermediary server, changing your IP address and location. This can workaround proximity issues reaching Steam content servers.

Some free VPNs to try are ProtonVPN, Windscribe, and TunnelBear.

1. Install and launch the VPN software.
2. Connect to a server in a different country.
3. Launch Steam and try downloading Baldur’s Gate 3.

If this fixes the issue, you know it’s related to routing or distance to servers. Consider using a paid VPN for ongoing gaming.

10. Change DNS Server Settings

Hardcoding your DNS servers to public alternatives like Google or Cloudflare’s can improve reliability compared to your ISP’s default servers.

In Windows 10:

1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Change adapter options
2. Right click your active network adapter and select Properties.
3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Click Properties.
4. Change the DNS server addresses to:

Preferred: 1.1.1.1

Alternate: 1.0.0.1

On Mac:

1. Go to System Preferences > Network > Advanced > DNS
2. Replace the existing servers with:

1.1.1.1

1.0.0.1

3. Click OK and Apply.

This may help resolve DNS lookup issues that cause connectivity problems for Steam and other apps.

11. Reinstall or Update Network Adapter Drivers

Outdated, corrupted, or missing drivers for your network adapter can cause general internet connectivity issues.

It’s worth updating your drivers directly from the manufacturer’s website to rule out a driver problem.

To update drivers in Windows 10:

1. Open Device Manager
2. Expand Network adapters
3. Right click your adapter and select Update driver
4. Select Search automatically for updated driver software
5. Restart your computer

On a laptop, you may have ethernet, WiFi, and virtual adapters listed. Be sure to update them all.

Reinstalling Steam after updating network drivers may also help.

12. Reinstall Steam

If you’ve tried every other troubleshooting step, fully reinstalling the Steam client itself may be worth a shot.

1. Backup any important Steam files you want to keep.
2. Uninstall Steam through Windows Add/Remove Programs.
3. Delete any remaining Steam folders (usually in Program Files or Users<name>AppDataLocal).
4. Reinstall Steam from the website and try downloading Baldur’s Gate 3 again.

This removes any corrupted Steam files that may be interfering with connectivity. Fully reinstalling Steam resolves many errors.

Related: How to fix Baldur’s Gate 3 Won’t Loading Issue.

If the content servers remain unreachable after exhausting these troubleshooting steps, it’s time to seek assistance.

The next best steps are:

• Post in the Steam Community Discussions for more help. Steam moderators and other users may have additional advice.
• Submit a ticket to Steam Support. Explain the error and steps you’ve tried.
• Check the Baldur’s Gate 3 support page for updates if the issue appears widespread. Larian Studios may post solutions or announce server outages.

With persistence, you’ll get Baldur’s Gate 3 up and running soon. Content server errors can be frustratingly vague, but this guide should arm you to troubleshoot the problem methodically.

Here are answers to some common questions about resolving Baldur’s Gate 3 content servers unreachable:

Why does the “content servers unreachable” error happen?

This error happens when Steam is unable to connect to the servers that host game content for downloading. It’s often caused by network issues, problems with Steam or your PC, high server traffic, or anti-virus software blocking connections.

How can I tell if the problem is on my end or Steam’s end?

Try downloading content for other games on Steam. If they download normally, the issue is likely specific to Baldur’s Gate 3 servers. Widespread connection problems across Steam suggests a broader issue on Steam’s side.

What should I do if restarting Steam doesn’t fix it?

If restarting Steam doesn’t work, try the advanced troubleshooting steps like reinstalling Steam, using a VPN, changing DNS servers, or updating network drivers. Also check for server status updates from the developer.

Can using a VPN get me banned from Steam?

Technically VPNs are against Steam’s terms of service if used to purchase games from other regions. However, briefly connecting to a VPN just to download game content is unlikely to result in any ban. Many players report safely using VPNs to resolve download issues.

Should I reinstall Steam to fix this?

Reinstalling Steam should generally be a last resort, after trying simpler solutions. But if you’ve exhausted all other options, a clean reinstall of the Steam client may resolve persistent connectivity issues like content servers being unreachable.