How do I contact Steam support directly? Steam support and the subtleties of its work Steam support mail

In the event of insoluble problems with the operation of a Steam account or games purchased through this service, many users prefer not to waste time searching for information on the Internet, but immediately contact the technical support service. This is primarily due to the theft of accounts, items and other situations in which a number of actions should be taken immediately. In this article, we'll show you an affordable way to contact Steam Support.

It used to be much easier to write a letter to the specialists of this service than it is now. In recent years, the service has significantly revised its help section, and now, instead of the available buttons, it is suggested to first read a number of information that can help in fixing the problem. However, from time to time this is not enough, and users decide to personally contact support by sending them an email. Consider available ways treatment.

Method 1: Login to your account is possible

When you have the opportunity to log into your profile, this significantly improves the situation and facilitates the further way of contacting representatives of Steam.

Steam client

Using the program running on your PC, you can easily get access to all sections of the service's help, where, among other things, you can start a correspondence with the support service.


The text of the question need not be translated into English, since the company also has representatives of Russian-speaking support. However, according to the statements of some users, the Russian-speaking department processes requests more slowly.

Browser

If you need to access through a web browser (for example, in situations where the client cannot be started), all actions will be exactly the same, with a few exceptions. To go to support, you need to go to any Steam page and click on "Support".

A page similar to the one that can be launched through the Steam client will open. Further actions are no different from those described above.

Method 2: Login to your account is not possible

Because of the break-in, forgotten password, problems with the mobile authenticator and other difficulties, the user cannot even log into his account. In such a situation, the circle of solving problems for him is greatly narrowed, which, however, is obvious: it is unlikely that any other problems will be of interest to a player who cannot even enter his profile. If the web browser window "Support" all the time it will transfer you to the authorization form, through the same window opened with the help of the client, the list of available solutions to problems is reduced in advance.


Additional Information

Users who have previously made calls to technical support may remember that in the service it was possible to create a special support account, through which a dialogue with a Steam help representative was conducted. Now this function is not available, and the possibilities of communication with the support have been significantly curtailed. Nevertheless, you can still contact us with help on various questions, and the answer will come to the page of your request and will be duplicated to the contact email.

Now you know how to contact the service of those Steam support to solve problems related to games, payment or account in this gaming system.

For any Steam issue that you’re having that’s not unlocking your account, go to the Steam support home page. Sign in using your Steam Account name and password by clicking the box on the left that says “Sign into Steam.”

  • After you enter your name and password, click “login.”
  • Create a support account if you don’t already have one. If you have never submitted a ticket for support help, click “Create account” in the upper right corner of the screen to make a support account. This account is different than your regular Steam account, so you don’t already have one unless you have specifically contacted Steam support in the past.

    • If you have submitted a ticket to Steam support in the past, you can log in to your existing support account by clicking “Sign in to your support account” in the upper right corner of the screen.
  • Choose “Steam” to get to the Steam section of support. The next page allows you to choose if your problem is with a “Game” or with “Steam.” Select Steam to view some troubleshooting articles under topics including account issues, billing, how-to’s, and a Steam glossary.

    • Try browsing the articles posted to see if your question can be answered without you sending a ticket to support.
  • Click “Contact Steam Support” to submit a ticket to Steam support. If browsing articles doesn’t answer your question, you can submit a ticket describing your problem directly to a support person. Clicking “Contact Steam Support” will bring you to the page where you submit a ticket.

    • The “Contact Steam Support” button is on the right of the page, underneath “Can’t find the solution?”
  • Fill in all boxes on the Ask a Question page. The ticket page has 2 boxes where you type the subject of your problem, and then your question. Be as specific as possible when describing your problem so the person reading it can help you the best they can.

    • For instance, if you are having trouble trading games and got a message in your account saying your trading privileges were removed, type something like “Account is trade banned” in the subject. Then explain the messages you are getting and things you cannot do in the large question box.
    • Remember to be polite when asking your questions, since the support person reading them would like to help you the best they can.
  • Select answers for the other drop-down menu boxes on the page. The rest of the page has questions that prompt you to choose an answer from a drop-down menu: Language, Your Email Address, Product, Category, Additional Information, and Operating System. Choose an answer from each menu that most applies to you.

    • If your email address has been compromised and that is part of the problem you’re reporting, click “Add Alternate Email Address” under the Your Email Address drop-down menu to provide Steam with a new address to reach you.
    • You may have to provide a CD Key if you have never connected a method of payment to your account. This information should be available to you in previous emails from Steam.
  • What is Steam. What you need to know before buying a game.

    An Internet connection is required for the Steam environment to work - to install it, register your copy of the game in it, and update it. An update is required - without this, the game will not start. For all games except Counter Strike: Source, its size is negligible. The size of updates for Counter Strike: Source is currently about 130 Mb. If the size of what is being downloaded from the Internet is much larger than this figure, install the game from the disk.

    Steam is a system for delivering content to a user's computer via the Internet, created by Valve Software. Subscribers to this online service can download games from the Half-Life series, the entire line of the popular online shooter Counter-Strike and many others to their computer, as well as timely download the latest updates and modifications.

    Steam provides:
    - free access already purchased and activated games, as well as demos and free games such as Codename Gordon,
    - free updates for games immediately after their release,
    - news about upcoming game updates, new releases and other important events,
    - the ability to search for servers you are interested in with certain games, settings, rules, etc. using appropriate filters,
    - the ability to download game modifications for free, as well as write them yourself using the Source SDK, also distributed free through Steam, etc.

    The key, pasted into the disc box, is Steam's confirmation of the purchase of the game. Be sure to check right in the store for the availability of the key!

    You can download the Steam client from here - http://steampowered.com/download/SteamInstall.msi. Those who bought a disc with the game do not need to download anything. The client installation file is located on the game disc.

    All games from Valve, including collections published by Buka:
    Audiosurf ()

    Counter-Strike: Source ()
    Half-Life 1 Anthology ()
    Anthology of Counter-Strike 1 ()
    Half-Life 2 New Year's Edition ()
    Half-Life 2. Best Game of the Year. Collector's Edition ()
    Half-Life 2: Episode One ()
    Half-Life 2: The Orange Box ()
    Half-Life 2: Episode Two ()
    Portal ()
    Portal 2 ()
    Team Fortress 2 ()
    Saints Row 2 ()
    Warhammer 40 000: Dawn of War II ()
    R.U.S.E. ()
    Darksiders ()
    Red Faction: Armageddon ()
    Warhammer® 40,000®: Dawn of War II® - Retribution ™ ()
    Sniper Elite V2 ()% 0A
    Warhammer% C2% AE% 2040,000% C2% AE:% 20% D0% 9A% D0% BE% D0% BB% D0% BB% D0% B5% D0% BA% D1% 86% D0% B8% D0 % BE% D0% BD% D0% BD% D0% BE% D0% B5% 20% D0% B8% D0% B7% D0% B4% D0% B0% D0% BD% D0% B8% D0% B5% 20 (% D1% 82% D0% BE% D0% BB% D1% 8C% D0% BA% D0% BE% 20Warhammer% C2% AE% 2040,000% C2% AE:% 20Dawn% 20of% 20War% 20II% C2 % AE, Warhammer% C2% AE% 2040,000% C2% AE:% 20Dawn% 20of% 20War% 20II% C2% AE% 20-% 20Chaos% 20Rising% E2% 84% A2% 20% D0% B8% 20Warhammer % C2% AE% 2040,000% C2% AE:% 20Dawn% 20of% 20War% 20II% C2% AE% 20-% 20 Retribution% E2% 84% A2% 20 ( http: //site/cgi-bin/show.pl? id = 539)
    require activation via Steam. Without Steam, these games are not distributed or work. This is Valve's policy, which the company strictly adheres to.

    Make sure Steam will work on your computer before purchasing. Through a regular dial-up connection (ie via a modem), Steam works without problems, but you may have to spend a lot of time downloading updates. Also, it is useless to try to play over the network via a modem - the network latency will be too high.

    Also, a connection via ADSL and a dedicated line with a dedicated external ip-address should not cause problems. Connections via GPRS modem, wireless networks or using shared access or proxy (which is typical for corporate networks, ie "from work") can cause errors.

    Steam VPN usually works fine, but steampowered.com warns that Steam VPN is not suitable.
    Problems have been noticed with displaying the list of servers, but that's probably all. In any case, it is very easy to check if Steam will work for you (http://steampowered.com/download/SteamInstall.msi) - - download the Steam client (1.6 Mb). If you can install it, run it, and register, you're fine. You can play one of the free games or demos.

    How to start playing.

    2. Insert a disc. The Steam installation will start. If the installation does not start, open "My Computer", then find there the drive in which the disc with the game is installed, click on it right click and click "Autostart".

    3. Click next, next, next until Steam is installed. Along the way, you can choose a place to install (the Games will be installed in the same place where the steam itself is installed), etc. To agree with the license agreement, you need to scroll through it to the end, then the "I agree ..." checkbox will become active.

    4. Once installed, Steam will either launch itself or you will launch it. It will update its files for a while. If the update hangs for a long time, it is better to contact your network administrator or Internet provider, because it is connected with your connection (see point 1).

    5. After the update, Steam will start and prompt you to either create an account (account), or use an existing one. Answer the questions of the account creation wizard, everything is extremely simple there. Attention - you need to come up with a "password" yourself, and the key pasted on the box of your disk has nothing to do with it. You will need it further. It is highly recommended that you provide the correct answer to Secret Question, because if you forget your password, then, without remembering the answer to the secret question, you will not be able to recover the password and play the games you purchased.

    6. Then log into the Steam system under your account (enter your username and password).

    7. Run Disk Autoplay again, click Install again.

    8. Steam will prompt you to enter the key. The key is written on a piece of paper pasted into the box. When activating the key, a disc must be inserted. When the key is activated, all games associated with it will appear in the "my games" list on Steam.

    9. Wait until the installation is complete and do not disconnect your computer from the Internet, otherwise steam will try to download the entire game.

    10. To run the game, you need to update it to 100%. This will take a while, especially if you have a slow connection. For more details, see the corresponding section of this FAQ.

    Insert the disk, click install from disk autorun, wait for the installation to finish, wait for the update to finish.

    Also, the following may help:
    1. Log into Steam under your account and delete the game files that were downloaded from the Internet (right-click on the name of the game in the "Library" tab and select "Delete content").
    2. Insert the first installation disc into the drive.
    3. Close Steam (Steam> Exit).
    4. Click Windows keys+ R to bring up the Start window
    5. In the window, enter the line:

    for 32-bit systems:

    "C: \ Program Files \ Steam \ Steam.exe" -install E:

    for 64-bit systems:

    "C: \ Program Files (86) \ Steam \ Steam.exe" -install E:
    Replace E: with your DVD drive letter
    Replace the path C: \ Program Files \ Steam with another if you installed Steam in a different folder.
    6. Click OK. Steam will launch and immediately begin installing from disk.

    Disconnecting Steam from the Internet or transferring it to offline mode can also help.

    Try using the "Activate via Steam" button in the "Games" menu

    Accounts (accounts) and keys Steam. Recovery of accounting information.

    To run the Steam client, you need to create an account. Steam identifies you by this it as the user and the owner of the licensed copy of the game. If you do not have an account, you will be prompted to create one. Your account information, along with all the keys that you have activated for it, lies on the Valve server - so you cannot spoil or destroy it in any way.
    When registering, be careful and write down all the information somewhere - login, password, e-mail and the answer to the secret question. Once you enter the key, it will be permanently associated with this account. After that, you no longer need the key itself - it is already activated. You only need to remember the username and password for your account.

    No, just the first time. Once you enter the key, it will be linked to your current Steam account. In theory, you don't even need a disk. if you have a fast and cheap internet, you can download the Steam client (http://steampowered.com/download/SteamInstall.msi) and then download games through it by going to Steam under the account for which you entered the key.

    Attention- the key can be activated only for one account and only once! In addition, carefully check whether you entered the key correctly - if you enter it incorrectly, such an error is also sometimes issued. Note that some numbers and letters, such as 0 and O, are similar and can be easily confused.
    If this is not your case, then you must contact Valve within 90 days to reset the key. To do this, you need a photo of the key and receipt. How to write in support of Valve read here:
    http://supportwiki.steampowered.com/ru/Contacting_VALVe_Billing_and_Support
    Unfortunately, we cannot do this procedure, because we do not have the right to take personal data from you (login, password), and we also do not have access to the database of accounts and keys

    Unfortunately, almost all Valve game discs in Ukraine are defective. Therefore, we can recommend returning the disc back to the store.

    The game can also be bought in Russia or directly through Steam from Valve on the website www.steampowered.com

    As you know, our versions of games from Valve are not intended for sale outside the CIS. Steam has a regional control system that will not allow launching a game registered with our key outside of Russia and the CIS.

    Steam has a mechanism called Regional Protection, which prevents the activation of our Russian games outside our country. This is necessary for the impossibility of using our - cheap games abroad.

    Sometimes, when the provider changes the ranges of IP addresses to former foreign ones, Steam may mistake you for a resident of the country to which they belonged. If this happens, you will see a message in the "My games" menu that the games are not installed, and when you try to start, a window will appear with an error:
    "This game has been activated with a product code that is only valid for a specific geographic region."

    In this case, you need to send the following information:


    1. Your Steam login.
    2. The name of the collection with which you have problems.
    3. Your IP address as shown on http://www.whatismyip.com.
    4. Country and city where you live, name and website of your provider.
    5. Screenshot of the error (press PrintScreen, open any image editor, for example Paint: Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Paint; press "paste", save in jpg / jpeg format) or its exact text.

    Updates and play without internet. Backups.

    No way. The game will not start until it is updated. Wait for the update to finish. Also check which language is displayed in the game properties, on the Language tab.

    This means that from the moment the disc was printed, updates for the game were released. Connect to the internet and wait for the game to update to the end. This procedure is mandatory, in order to start the game, you need to have its status on Steam "100% - Ready".

    An internet connection is required to install Valve games (see above). In the future, you can play without being connected.
    In the "file" menu, click on the button "Go offline ...", Steam will ask whether to go offline, click "Restart in offline", then disconnect your internet connection.

    Most likely, the last time the game ended incorrectly. Steam now checks the integrity of the cache before launching the game. To do this, he needs a connection. Connect to the Internet, restart Steam, find the game you want in the list, open its properties and check the integrity of the cache. Or just start the game - Steam will check it automatically. After that, you can launch Steam offline again and play.

    Can. To do this, you need to use the "backup" function in the context menu (right-click) of any Steam application. Backups are executable files, to restore from them, you just need to start them (Steam must be turned off). The files are quite large, because all content of the game is copied, but Steam can cut them into pieces corresponding to CD (670 MB) and single-layer DVD (4.7 GB)

    Each game has its own set of updates that required for installation game developers are releasing updates for what users received maximum quality product. Popular online games receive more updates. Moreover, the user himself pays for the spent Internet traffic to download the update. These are the Steam Terms of Service. Approximate number of updates in megabytes for the following games:

    Team Fortress 2 - over 500 megabytes

    Portal - 90 MB

    Half-Life: Episode 2 - 30 MB

    Counter-Strike: Source - 270 MB

    It is possible to force the installation from disk via steam:
    In the properties of the shortcut, write the value "-install E:"(Separated by a space, without quotes. E:- the letter of your dvd-rom).
    Example: D: \ Games \ steam.exe -install E:

    First, deploy the Steam client to full mode. To do this, click on the yellow arrow in the upper right corner, under the window title. Now you can see the status of all updates as a percentage. To pause / resume the update of a game or perform any other operations with it (deletion, backup copy etc.), right-click on the name of the game and select the corresponding item in the context menu.

    Connect to the internet. Start steam. Select the game you want. Click on it with the right mouse button. Select properties, go to the Local Files tab. Check the integrity of the cache.

    FAQ.

    Perhaps Steam is at startup and was unable to connect to the server during OS boot due to the lack of an Internet connection. Open Task Manager by pressing CTRL + ALT + DEL, go to the Processes tab and end the steam.exe process. Connect to the internet and restart Steam.
    To disable Steam from launching on Windows startup, uncheck the corresponding checkbox in Steam -> File -> Settings -> Interface

    This technique helps many:
    while playing, press Alt + Tab to switch to the desktop, then invoke the task manager (Ctrl + Alt + Delete), right-click on the name of the running game, select "go to processes". For the selected process (for example, hl2.exe) set the lowest priority ("low" or "low").

    Alternatively, you can configure Steam to always start at low priority.
    To do this, you need to turn off Steam, open the properties of the shortcut, DELETE everything that is written in the "object" field, and write there:

    C: \ WINDOWS \ System32 \ cmd.exe / c start "Steam" / low "C: \ Program Files \ Valve \ Steam \ Steam.exe"
    Of course, if you have Windows installed in a folder other than C: \ WINDOWS, or Steam is not installed in C: \ Program Files \ Vlve \ Steam \, you need to register in this line the right paths to the Windows folder and the Steam folder.

    Quite a lot - a few megabytes per hour, depending on your settings. If you have paid traffic, consider this.

    You need to start the game with the -console parameter. Launch parameters are set in the game properties in Steam client... Another way: in the game, press "settings", then "keyboard", "advanced" and enable the "developer console".

    This can be done during game creation by ticking the "Add computer opponents" option.

    To change the number and behavior of bots during the game, use the console commands:
    bot_add - add a bot to an arbitrary command
    bot_add_t - add a terrorist bot
    bot_add_ct - add a special forces bot
    bot_difficulty 0 - bot difficulty level (from 0 to 3)
    mp_limitteams 20 - limit the difference in team sizes (0 - no limit, default 2)
    mp_autoteambalance 0 - teams auto-balancing (1 - enabled, 0 - disabled)

    Start Steam. Go to the "My Games" tab. Choose the game you are interested in.
    Right-click on it - properties and go to the "Language" tab. Choose a language from the list.
    Most often, there is only Russian voice acting on the disk, the other will have to be downloaded from the Internet (~ 300-700 mb).

    To the folder \ Steam \ SteamApps \ your login \ counter-strike source \ cstrike \ maps

    Try to diagnose the problem yourself using the instructions from steampowered.com

    Check the connection

    First of all, make sure your microphone is plugged into the correct port. Usually the color of the microphone plug and the desired port on the audio device is pink.

    Try changing ports. If you are using USB port on the front panel system unit, switch to one of those in the back. If you are using a USB hub, try bypassing the hub and see if there is any difference.

    Update your drivers

    Drivers for your microphone can be found on the headset manufacturer's website. It is also necessary to update the drivers for the sound card.

    Select from the menu Start / Start(1) (on Windows Vista / 7 keystrokes) item Run / Run(2) and write the name of the program in the window that opens: dxdiag(3) -> Ok.

    On the "Sound" tab, you can find out sound card name(1) and driver release date (2).


    Links to drivers for the most popular sound card manufacturers:
    Creative: http://ru.europe.creative.com/support/downloads/
    Realtek: http://www.realtek.com.tw/default.aspx

    Microphone configuration in Windows

    1. Click the button Start and then select Control Panel... In Control Panel select Sounds and audio devices
    2. Click the tab Speech
    3. In the "Speech Recorder" section, make sure your sound card is selected as the default device
    4. Click Volume
    5. Check the volume of the microphone (the slider must be set at least a serine).
    6. Use the hardware test to make sure the microphone is working correctly

    Sound card software conflicts

    Many audio driver packages include programs that are designed to make operating your audio systems easier. Sometimes these programs conflict with the software built into Windows. For example, Creative Mix Console and RealTek HD Audio Manager. Usually these applications are displayed in the tray (in the lower right corner, next to the clock).

    Check the settings in these programs, disable all unnecessary enhancements

    If you suspect that the problem is in additional software, check the website of your sound card manufacturer for a "clean" driver, without any additional software. Then you will need to uninstall the current audio device driver via Add / Remove Programs and install a new driver.

    Checking the microphone settings in the game

    You have now verified that your microphone is properly connected and configured properly in Windows. The next thing to look out for is the in-game microphone settings. Below is an example of a configuration menu:
    You can also test the functionality by clicking Microphone Test. If it works, you will hear your own voice (as well as echo if you are not using headphones!)

    If the microphone is not working, then the problem may be that the microphone switches when you start the game. To resolve this issue, please see the separate article and use the startup options specified in it.

    Applications such as CD recording software can change the Wave-In source from microphone to CD player, so when a player tries to use their microphone in a game, it doesn't work.

    For this reason, the Half-life engine at startup tries to determine if the mixer settings are correct, but not all sound cards support these actions, especially for modern audio cards like Audigy 2ZS Pro.

    To prevent the HL engine from trying to set the Mic Input on its own, you need to register these console variables in your userconfig.cfg file or in the game launch parameters:

    Add the following line to userconfig.cfg:

    voice_forcemicrecord 0

    or to the launch options for each of your games:

    Voice_forcemicrecord 0

    (one of them is enough)

    This will prevent the engine from adjusting the mixer on its own.

    Just in case, check for the following parameters:

    • voice_enable "1"
    • sv_voiceenable "1"
    • voice_scale "0.75"
    • voice_enable "1"
    • voice_modenable "1"
    • voice_dsound "1"
    • voice_modenable "1"

    Please note that the server settings may not allow the use of a microphone.

    It is also necessary to update the codecs: http://li.ru/go?www.3dnews.ru/files/pub/soft/multimedia/codec/klcodec520m.exe

    Conflicting Applications

    Programs such as TeamSpeak, Skype, Ventrilo and others can sometimes interfere with the work of the microon. Try disabling these apps before starting Steam.

    We cannot guarantee that the microphone will work correctly if you use third-party sound control software.

    Feedback / echo
    This kind of noise often occurs when the speakers are on while using the microphone. We recommend that you use a headset with headphones. Some low-grade microphones are omnidirectional, which means they will pick up sounds from all directions - including your speakers. Mute your audio devices and see if your voice quality improves.

    Low volume
    Some microphones require amplification. This can be configured by checking the Windows microphone settings. Follow these steps:

    1. Click the button Start and then select Control Panel. In Control Panel select Sounds and audio devices;
    2. Click the tab Volume;
    3. Click the button additionally
    4. In the opened window "General volume" in the top menu, select "options", Further "properties"... Find a microphone (Mic Volume) in the list that opens, put a checkmark in front of it. Close the list box. Go back to "options" and choose "Extra options"... As a result, we have a microphone volume setting, as shown in picture No. 1
    5. Click on the button "customization" in the microphone column and put a tick in front of microphone gain(picture No. 2)

    Crackle / Distortion

    The most common cause of such interference is a faulty cable or poor connection.

    Also make sure the microphone is not too close to your mouth. If it touches your face or lips when you use it, move it back so that it is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from your mouth. If the microphone itself does not have a visor, try moving it further away.

    Instructions from steampowered.com:
    If the sound quality of your microphone is low and crackling is heard, check and adjust the volume, sensitivity, setting the speed of your Internet connection (it is responsible for how quickly data is sent from the server to the client and vice versa, and can affect the quality of the transmitted speech) and the cl_cmdrate parameter ...

    Users of 56K modems always experience problems with voice quality.

    The cl_cmdrate variable controls how often the client sends updated data to the server, including speech from the microphone.

    The standard value of this parameter is 20. Anything less than 13 negatively affects the quality of the game and, of course, speech. Values ​​above 40 are mostly suitable only when playing on a LAN.

    Adjust the volume and activate the increased microphone sensitivity in the game settings menu, under the "Voice" tab.

    Another way to improve the sound quality is to set the value of the cl_cmdrate parameter to the average FPS (Frames per Second) that you observe in the game (cl_showfps 1 turns on the FPS display, cl_showfps 0 turns it off. Do not leave this parameter enabled, as this may increase latency).

    Unfortunately, most servers running AdminMod change your speed and cl_cmdrate to balance the load. For this reason, it may happen that your microphone works normally for a while and then the sound quality suddenly drops.

    Most players have 2500 baud rates, but DSL / Cable can support 7500 and even 9999.

    The speed value also affects how quickly cards and other resources will be downloaded, so it is VERY IMPORTANT to set the value corresponding to the real bandwidth of your channel!

    You can set the connection speed in two ways - through Steam settings, or through the game console.

    While on Steam, go to the File menu, select Settings, then go to the Internet tab and select the setting appropriate for your connection.

    When choosing a speed, be guided not by what is the highest in the list, but what your connection is in reality capable of. Setting it too fast can lead to other problems.

    Another way is to call the console and type "rate 7500" (for example). Knowing how to use the console is very important as it allows you to quickly and easily set up your microphone (bypassing the Steam menu).

    To change cl_cmdrate, you need to use the console.

    Console: If you cannot open the console (the "~" key by default), add the line "-console" to the launch parameters of your game or mod.

    Steam> My Games> Right Click on Game> Properties> Set Launch Options

    Most servers set an upper limit between 5000 and 7500, no matter what speed you specify, and 9999 as the maximum value (standard value, T1) for an internet connection (20,000 is the maximum allowed speed).

    Test your channel: It would also not hurt to check the bandwidth of your connection in order to make sure that the real speed is not lower than what was promised by the provider. To do this, visit http://speedtest.dslreports.com

    Now check your microphone.

    First, enter "voice_loopback 1" in the console so you can hear your voice.

    When finished, enter "voice_loopback 0".

    Then, while you are talking to the microphone, type:

    • rate 2500
    • rate 3500
    • rate 4500 and so on up to 9999
    until the voice quality is acceptable. It is not necessary to check the subsequent values.

    Note: Some servers still use the Miles audio system. Although the sound quality is a little hoarse, unlike new system"Speex", nevertheless, with Speex, problems often occur and the sound deteriorates noticeably under heavy load on the server subnet.

    Test your microphone on multiple servers to see if the problem is with your hardware and not the server.

    Server Settings: Servers have quite a few settings, including those for voice communication. Here short review some of them:

    The codec to be used by the client is determined by the server. Use the following command on your server to migrate to the new system:

    sv_voicecodec voice_speex

    Then these commands to switch between different levels of audio stream quality (also on the server):

    • sv_voicequality 1: 2400 bps (bits per second), lowest quality
    • sv_voicequality 2: 6000 bps
    • sv_voicequality 3: 8000 bps
    • sv_voicequality 4: 11200 bps
    • sv_voicequality 5: 15200 bps, highest quality
    If you want to use the original Miles compression system, add the following option:

    sv_voicecodec voice_miles

    This information, supplemented by more detailed information about the Speex codec and its optimization, was taken from this topic:

    Here is an article from the mailing list archive about the Speex audio compression codec detailing how to enable this new and greatly improved speech compression method in Half-life. It will soon completely replace the current audio compression. But until that happens, this codec is not the default compression method, but it is available to all Steam servers. In general, when the bandwidth allocated for speech is reduced to 6000 bps (quality level 2), the sound quality is better than with the current codec, while when using the high level compression (2400 bps) quality is the same low as the current compression, but different in its manifestation.

    As a small comparison, Speex consumes between 7.5% and 47.5% of the bandwidth, just like the current codec, and with less than 25% bandwidth, the speech quality is generally better than the current codec. This actually consumes more server processor resources, but in most of my tests it is only 1-2%.

    And one more note: 56K modems usually have a free channel width of about 20,000 bps for outgoing traffic and about 40,000 bps for incoming traffic, taking into account the TCP / IP and PPP headers and everything else. So this new codec is MUCH more tolerant of modem users.

    Unfortunately, this codec is only available on Steam-compatible servers. Anyway, for those who do not want to read the newsletter, the basic information is given below:

    First, switch your server to Speex mode:

    sv_voicecodec voice_speex

    So, you have Speex mode running. The next step will be to select the channel resources allocated for Speex, which directly affects the quality of voice communication.

    • sv_voicequality 1 = 2,400 bps, 7.5% of total bandwidth
    • sv_voicequality 2 = 6,000 bps, 18.75% of total bandwidth
    • sv_voicequality 3 = 8,000 bps, 25% of total bandwidth
    • sv_voicequality 4 = 11,200 bps, 35% of total bandwidth
    • Wrong example: D: \ Games \ Steam
      Correct example: D: \ Games \ Steam

      4) Make sure HDD on which you installed Steam uses file system NTFS.

      Answer: Disable antiviruses, firewalls, windows firewall.

      Move Steam to a folder without Russian symbols.
      Wrong example: D: \ Games \ Steam
      Correct example: D: \ Games \ Steam
      And wait until the game is updated.

      If you have Nod32 antivirus installed, install the latest version, or uninstall it altogether.

      Check the integrity of the cache.

      Online game. Servers. Connection. Steam issues.

      This error is related to your internet connection. First of all, make sure you are connected. Steam can work without a connection, but if this error occurs, then a connection is needed. If you connected but the problem persists, see the next question. If you access the Internet via a dial-up modem, try reinstalling Steam in a DIFFERENT folder, without Russian symbols.
      Wrong example: D: \ Games \ Steam
      Correct example: D: \ Games \ Steam

      1. Virus or Trojan. It is necessary to check the system with an antivirus and some anti-Trojan program.

      2. Firewall. If you have a firewall, you need to teach it to skip Steam. ZoneAlarm does not work correctly with Steam, the setting will not help here, it, or any other firewall / antivirus, must be disabled.

      3. Please note that Steam executable files change frequently due to updates, and some firewalls may interpret this as an attempt by a virus or Trojan to impersonate Steam - usually this behavior can also be configured and / or disabled in the firewall.

      4. Built-in Windows firewall or antivirus. Both should be disabled. Antivirus can usually be disabled by right-clicking on its tray icon (next to the clock) and choosing something like "disable real-time protection". Windows Firewall is turned off in the connection properties, on the "advanced" tab. Network programs running on your computer, such as: P2P clients, all sorts of servers (Web, ftp, and so on), "Internet accelerators", "anonymizers", separation programs (ie ICS) and restrictions (for example , NetLimiter) access.

      5. Connection through a proxy server or topology with double NAT translation (with one NAT everything works fine).

      6. Blocking ports on the side of the provider.

      No. Everyone needs their own account, and, accordingly, their own key.

      Most likely, you simply do not have all the necessary ports open (see the list in the corresponding part of this FAQ. But using the server list is optional: all you need to know is the IP address and port of the server. After that you can add the servers to " Favorites "or connect using the connect console command. For example, like this: connect 217.199.212.12:27016
      The latter case, by the way, is the most reliable - if you can't connect to the server, the first thing to try is to connect via the console.
      Where can I get server addresses?
      Many fan sites run their own servers for different games. In addition, the addresses of many "fast" servers, that is, those with a minimum ping for residents of Russia, are in a special thread of our forum:

      You can also try the following method:
      1. Turn off Steam completely, through the file menu - exit.
      2. Download the file:
      3. Unpack the archive. Place the resulting file "MasterServers.vdf" in the ... \ Steam \ Config folder (see where you have installed Steam itself). Replace the existing file there with the new one.
      4. Right-click on the "MasterServers.vdf" file, select "properties", check the "read-only" checkbox. Click apply.
      5. Start Steam.

      Players can experience a huge number of problems when buying, installing or using a digital product: software and games. Support services for a particular game should help in resolving emerging issues, as well as trading floor where the purchase was made.

      First of all, I would like to note that if a problem arose with a specific game, it has nothing to do with its purchase, gifts or other products, then it is most advisable to find its own technical support. In most cases, it works quickly and efficiently. Unfortunately, not all companies provide such a service, and sometimes the problem is so unusual and rare that it is really difficult to attribute it to any particular product. It is in such cases that it would be most reasonable to write to Steam technical support.

      Where and how to find Steam technical support?

      Steam technical support can be found in the top panel at home page service. In order to ask your question, you will have to create separate account, which will not be tied to your game page in any way. This is necessary for maintaining anonymity, as well as for security reasons. You can come up with a completely different nickname, and link your account to a new mail. It all starts on this page: support.steampowered.com

      Before write to support the Steam service, carefully study the already existing sections. It is very likely that one of them will contain the answer to your question. The page has not been translated into Russian, but it will not be difficult to deal with the translator. Everything is cleverly divided into topics, games and problems.

      How to write about a unique problem?

      It is very important to understand how to write correctly in support of Steam in order to receive an answer to your request at least within a week. First of all, mentally formulate your question and define it to one of the existing categories. By selecting the green button on the right side of the site, which will redirect you to the page for filling out the request, you will go to the main part of the application.

      Let's say you wanted to buy an EVEOnline game, paid for it via WebMoney, but did not receive the product. You cannot solve this problem on your own. In the first step, you need to indicate the product with which you are having problems. When you start typing the name, you will see prompts from the system in the form of pictures with game logos. Click on the appropriate one to confirm your choice. Then select a category, in our case it will be "Purchase and payment" - "Product not received after payment."

      Step 2 will require basic knowledge of English. If you do not know this language at all, try to formulate your thought as much as possible simple language, without phrases, abbreviations or other specific language forms, and then translate the resulting text into Google Translate. The Subject field indicates a general issue, for example: IboughtEVEOnline, butIdidn'tgetit.

      In the large field below, you can specify the details: date of purchase, card or WebMoney details, participation in the promotion, and so on. The field to the right indicates your Steam account and payment method, and at the very bottom - mail. Next, the application is sent for processing. The average response time, assuming the request is directed to the correct section, is about a week.

      The Steam service is a popular online playground that contains a large number of popular computer and console games. Here you can play both completely free and for money. Most free products have built-in stores that sell character items, interface decorations, sound theme changes, and the like.

      Many players are faced with the need to contact the technical support of the Steam service. This happens for various reasons: someone has stolen things from the account by the owner's negligence, someone cannot figure out how to perform certain actions correctly, someone else has been hacked into an account and has lost access to it. By contacting the steam support department, you can quickly fix such problems and restore justice.

      Do I need to register to get help on Steam

      If a person is an active player of the service in question, then he can use the support service by default and no special registration is absolutely required for this. As soon as a person opened an account on Steam, he automatically gets the opportunity contact the technical department and ask for help with its difficulties.

      Registration on this site is carried out in a completely standard way and without problems - the first thing you need to do is download launcher Steam, which literally takes up a couple of megabytes. Next, it starts downloading and installing the entire application, which ultimately needs to be launched. The next step is to select the registration point and enter the required data. After confirming your account by e-mail, you can safely use it.

      Technical support section in Steam

      To contact technical support representatives in order to get any help or clarification from them, just find in the running Steam program button titled"Contact support", or follow the links https://support.steampowered.com or https://help.steampowered.com/ru/.

      The system will immediately prompt the user to select the subject of his request, as well as to clarify information about the product in which there are problems. It is important here to indicate the data accurately so that they are adequately processed by the appropriate specialists.

      In a special field, you must describe your problem in detail and in understandable language, it is advisable to confirm it with additional information - screenshots, receipts for a completed purchase, etc.

      FAQ

      Since the number of users on Steam is in the tens of millions, it is quite natural that very often the administration is asked very similar stereotyped questions. In order not to answer the same thing every time, special section called Frequently Asked Questions. Here are the most important answers to the problems that players often face.

      You can find this section on the Steam website quite simply - you just need to go to the community website, find the section “ Management", Then select the sub-item regarding support and find there the sub-item with the most frequent questions... You can also find a search string on the site and enter a request for frequently asked questions there. This is how you can find not only the official, but also many useful user guides.

      Where to write to the support service

      To safely get answers to your questions in Steam Help, you need to log in to the service website, select the item " Support»And fill out the proposed form. You need to indicate in it topic of appeal, select a product and a category, the question for which one is of interest, and also in the special field "Your question" enter detailed information about what happened and ask for specific assistance.

      Everything is quite simple, but many beginners will not be able to take advantage of this opportunity - for a start need to spend on your account at least $ 5.

      Can I contact by phone or Skype

      With a detailed study of the Steam website, no mobile number or Skype addresses for asking for help cannot be found. Most likely, at the moment there is simply no such possibility, although it is possible that there are some American numbers where you can call, but you need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to speak English there.

      Using communities and groups

      With the current development social networks almost every major service strives to be present in them, create its own large community and try to maintain an active life in it. In the case of Steam, this is completely true - the official group of the site is even in Russian In contact with. It is available at https://vk.com/steam.

      To contact here with your question, you just need to correctly compose your message and send it to one of the administrators indicated on the page. You can also write a question in one of the existing discussions and user conversations that admins often look at.

      How long to wait for an answer

      If you have successfully sent your message to the moderators for consideration, then a logical question arises - how long will you have to wait until you are deigned to answer. Russian service steam support - complete unpredictability and it is impossible to answer after how much they answer. The answer may come in 20 minutes, in a day or in 3 days - it all depends on how he ended up in the queue for consideration, whether it was correctly drawn up and whether the problem is urgent.

      When can Steam get things back?

      If a player has become a victim of trouble and lost items in his game account, he can expect that they will be returned. But only in some cases.

      If there was a deception

      If a person was impudently deceived and took possession of his items, you need to immediately contact the steam support and tell about what happened, confirming your story with some facts (screenshots, etc.). If the administration considers the story to be true, then the player's things will be returned to the player, and the cheater will be blocked.

      Cases of non-payment

      If the player was obliged to commit a certain payment, after which he got access to extended content, then after he is late for the required payment, his capabilities will also be curtailed. Fixing the problem in this case is extremely simple - you just need to pay for the selected game.

      Account hacking

      If a player's account has been hacked, then when contacting support, it will be unambiguously restored and all the things that were stored on it will also be returned. This is a typical procedure that many people face.

      May not be returned

      Many scammers try to lure items from the administration for free, portraying victims of theft and deception. Naturally, they are calculated very quickly and do not get what they want. If you want to join them, then be sure - you won't get much from Steam in this way.

      Also stolen or somehow lost items may not return if a person has not provided enough evidence in his favor and the administration simply cannot verify the veracity of his words.

      What is VAC protection

      VAC stands for Valve Anti-Cheat and is a proprietary development of a company created to combat dishonest gamers. This protection appeared back in 2002 and has been constantly improving since then. If a person trying to cheat in a game protected by VAC, it will most likely be calculated, and his account will be permanently blocked. Valve is very critical of cheaters. And if there is even a suspicion, then the account is blocked without the possibility of recovery:

      This is the information you should know about Steam and how, if necessary, to defend your rights here. Usually, contacting the support service gives the desired result, and the administrators restore the violated justice.