Are you getting a “There seems to have been an error initializing or updating your transaction” error on Steam?
Here’s the second part of the error, “Please wait a minute and try again or contact support for assistance”.
The error message happens due to server overload or a caching issue.
Server overload happens when there are too many people purchasing a game.
In this quick guide, you’ll learn how to fix “There seems to have been an error initializing or updating your transaction” on Steam.
- Why is my transaction pending on Steam?
- How to fix “There seems to have been an error initializing or updating your transaction” on Steam
Why is there a transaction error on Steam?
There is a transaction error on Steam because of server overload or a caching issue.
Server overload happens when there are too many people purchasing a game.
For example, if a popular game is just released, thousands of people might be trying to purchase the game.
This surge in traffic can overwhelm the servers, leading to slow response times, timeouts, or system failures.
How to fix “There seems to have been an error initializing or updating your transaction” on Steam
To fix “There seems to have been an error initializing or updating your transaction” on Steam, you can try changing your beta participation settings or clearing your download cache.
You can also try disabling your IP proxy/VPN, waiting a while, or contacting Steam support.
Fix 1: Change beta participation
- Open the Steam app and select “Steam” at the top left corner.
- Select “Settings” and select “Interface”.
- Select the “Client Beta Participation” dropdown box.
- Change your Client Beta Participation to the opposite one (e.g. from “Steam Beta Update” to “No beta chosen” and vice-versa).
- Select “Restart Now” to restart Steam and try making the purchase again.
Fix 2: Clear download cache
- Open the Steam app and select “Steam” at the top left corner.
- Select “Settings” and select “Downloads”.
- Select “Clear Cache” next to “Clear Download Cache” (this will restart Steam).
- Open Steam, log in to your account, and try making the purchase again.
Fix 3: Disable your IP proxy or VPN
- Steam will reject purchases that are made through anonymous proxies.
- To fix this, disable your IP proxy or VPN, restart your computer, and try making the purchase again.
Fix 4: Wait for a while and check back later
- If a popular game is just released on Steam and you’re trying to purchase it, it might fail because too many people are trying to purchase it at once.
- To resolve this, you must wait for some time (e.g., 30 minutes, 1 hour, 3 hours) and try making the purchase again.
Fix 5: Contact Steam support
- Contact Steam support here: help.steampowered.com.
- Select the categories you need help with (e.g. Purchases > I can’t complete my purchase on the Steam Store > Game or other software).
- Steam will reach out to you with instructions to resolve the issue.
