As of May 21st, 2025, Valve has updated their compression algorithm to be more CPU and I/O efficient.
This change is not compatible with old clients that could still run on Windows 7 and future content changes will be made using this compression algorithm, resulting in a loss of access to downloads and updates.

As Valve has ended support for Windows 7 since January 1st, 2024, and therefore won't update their client for the use of Windows 7, your officially supported options are:
* Upgrade to Windows 10 (End of Life by October 2025 unless paying for ESU)
* Upgrade to Windows 11
* Install Linux Mint and play Windows only games using Proton

Its about older Windows versions being less used and Steam not having a big demand for keep updating the client for less used OSes
I have mixed feelings about this, specially when there are players that play a lot of retro games (and even some that would not run on W10 or W11) but I think using a Linux distro that would run fast in a older (slower) system would be fine, specially because Proton works fine with mostly of older games
If your machine is older, try Lubuntu or Xubuntu too

People always keep saying that older games wont run but never list them!
MOST older games can be run with a few tweaks...and if it can run on win 7 then it can run on win 10...................if it can run on win 10 then it can run on win 11

Originally posted by Hitsuga:

EN:
Recently most old OS users have started to experience download problem with most of games. I do understand that this issue was formed because of weak points and protocols in older OS, but why to completely abort its support?

Well Valve ended support for all those OS'es years ago. Which means they don't:

1. Consider unsupported OS'es when they make decisions
   
2. They don't test changes to the system on unsupported OS'es
   
3. They don't support unsupported OS'es

But what you're really asking them to is to provide support for unsupported OS'es.Well, the reality is this day was always coming. And anyone in denial about that needs to wake up. Upgrades are a core feature of the PC platform, and no matter what you do to delay them you can't stay stuck in the past and expect everyone to accommodate you.

Originally posted by Hitsuga:

Okay, don't allow to update it, but at least let older OS users to download products!

LOL what do you think bargaining for support for an unsupported OS is going to get you really? Do you think you represent a significant demographic? You don't. You've watched features and functionality whittle away, and didn't think it would ever hit a critical component? That was foolish. And it's not like these warnings weren't covered in every topic about end of support for OSes.

Originally posted by Hitsuga:

Not all users do enjoy using new OS, and not all users have an opportunity for it! I know that there's not much of ppl using older OS, but still they do use Steam!
What do you guys think on this matter? Is it for the best or worst?

If you choose to use an obsolete OS, that's your choice. But all the inconveniences that choice entails are self-inflicted. And expecting the whole rest of the world to support your old OS in perpetuity is wholly unreasonable. This has all been covered before, upgrade or live with the consequences.

Originally posted by Hitsuga:

(Note that most users will see description: Content servers are unavailable/Unreachable)

No, most users run supported OS'es and hardware, and so they don't have any problems. A tiny minority of deluded holdouts may see that message, they can stop deluding themselves anytime they want.

Originally posted by CrisFNORD:

Its about older Windows versions being less used and Steam not having a big demand for keep updating the client for less used OSes
I have mixed feelings about this, specially when there are players that play a lot of retro games (and even some that would not run on W10 or W11) but I think using a Linux distro that would run fast in a older (slower) system would be fine, specially because Proton works fine with mostly of older games
If your machine is older, try Lubuntu or Xubuntu too

What Valve is doing is not special or unique. This is the way computing has always worked. So your feelings on the matter are moot my friend. There's nothing to discuss the decisions were made ages ago. Holdouts need to upgrade or find a new hobby. They have options, refusing to act on them doesn't force anyone's hand to continue support forever.

Originally posted by Hitsuga:

EN:
Recently most old OS users have started to experience download problem with most of games. I do understand that this issue was formed because of weak points and protocols in older OS, but why to completely abort its support? Okay, don't allow to update it, but at least let older OS users to download products! Not all users do enjoy using new OS, and not all users have an opportunity for it! I know that there's not much of ppl using older OS, but still they do use Steam!
What do you guys think on this matter? Is it for the best or worst?
(Note that most users will see description: Content servers are unavailable/Unreachable)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RU:
Недавно большинство пользователей старых ОС стали испытывать проблемы с загрузкой игр в стиме. Я понимаю, что решение о прекращении поддержки связано с уязвимостями в старых ОС, но зачем прекращать возможность загрузок продуктов? Ладно, хрен с ним, не обновляется клиент. Но не у всех есть возможность использовать новые ОС, у некоторых и вовсе печки ещё с 2010-х. Я понимаю, что таких людей мало, но они всё же есть и, как бы странно это ни звучало - используют клиент стима.
Что думаете про полное прекращение поддержки на старых ОС? К лучшему сделано или к худшему?
(пользователи видят надпись "файлы загрузки повреждены/не поддерживаются/ошибка загрузки контента)

Valve supported it for as long as they really could and supported it WAY longer than Microsoft did.

no all old window systems stil luse the same coding, its just a bs push so you now say i basicaly have to instal malware to play my games because you cant just let me use windows 7 which is the exact same damn system thy all have used since? except 10 whe ntehy ruined the OS to make it like xbox live which is not what i move to pc to avoid >:( they also try to make your computer hackable by using anything past 8 because they dont want us doing ANYTHING ...so if this is why i cant download stuff WTH , the coding is not that much different then before, jsut let us have the files, if we cant run the game then it doesnt matter we still can adapt the files ourselves, but to block us from downloading is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ @_@ if this is indeed what im reading

seriously though you cant force people to use a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ program and expect them to be happy, 10 does nothing that 7 and 8 cant do, it just has extra handicaps for developers and not the gamers, so now the games i constnatly am forced to update i cant even download ? WHAT?! does no one ujnderstand how files work? LOL you can download it on windows 1.0 (w/e it was called) it jsut doesnt mean it understands wtf the files are ...jsut bulk download it then let us fix it in the USA we are at risk of government taking our pc and forcing them to share online with random people and such, that is why we refuse to use the new OSs they wont stop making unneccesary updates, were already 200 years ahead of our civilizaiton's developement culturally and we are bbarely able to keep up, thats why people have to stop using this new age garbage and let us have our games, i seriously see 0 reasons to update my OS other then everyone doing BS they dont need to do, sorry i dont want random UI changes and AI controlling every aspect of my life, i just want to download my stuff and move on where life has screwed me out of everything else, dont ♥♥♥♥ me over too.

Yeah we can hope you get hijacked or hacked someday then steam and bank credit card company can use this agaienst you.

Dont go online with outdate system and i doubt you have a clue in all the userdata they get there hands in then you visit the wrong site that will do anything to harm you.

How will you stop scripts that take your data then you visit some who dont play by the rules and will harm you.

ps.
Security will always be a step behind untill they learn what cause this.


Dont come here and tell me not to made a 100% security world not a problem, but then you do that visit a page on a public page will be registarted and use of Personal ID check in.
so dont give me the crap, i can make it so tough that you will hate all the security in the world.

You think you are allowed to login as you see fit, any high end security company can tell you diffrently. ( you can't do anything without keep have to verify after 3 minute station logout for inactivity.

People never know this backside of security. ( it has a cost for to much controll) and lost alot of time with it.)

Any Doman server people can tell you this they can make it so tough, that almost make a fart is a problem.

ps.
1-3 wrong login at a account , lock user. ( yeap a total hell )

And ppl here forget we are not allowed to accuess ppl for being hijackers or hackers, becuase they will not like people get better Security with support OS, but maybe we should start think this that is still aloowed as fare as i know.

You can use win7 but not on online and surfing, moste here forget that part.
i use it for old game or offline gaming, they can always do that.

Originally posted by Carlos100:

People always keep saying that older games wont run but never list them!
MOST older games can be run with a few tweaks...and if it can run on win 7 then it can run on win 10...................if it can run on win 10 then it can run on win 11

Not only that, but Linux actually seems to have better out-of-the-box compatibility with older Windows games than modern Windows does thanks to Proton. Many old games that require a number of third-party tweaks and other fixes "just work" on Linux.
Insisting on sticking with an old and out-of-date version of Windows doesn't make any sense for anyone. All of the excuses I've heard as to why they can't/won't upgrade to Windows 10/11 are literally addressed by Linux:

• "Windows 10 is too bloated and slow."
  Linux is leaner, runs faster, and is more efficient than Windows.
  
• "Windows 10 is basically spyware."
  Linux is open source and no corporation is collecting your data through it for any reason.
  
• "This game doesn't work on Windows 10."
  It probably does with tweaks, and besides. It probably works better under Linux.
  
• Sometimes newer games aren't compatible with Windows 10."
  Newer games aren't compatible with that old version of Windows you insist on using. You may actually be able to play more new games under Linux via Proton than on Windows 7/8.
  Beyond that:
  
• Steam will continue to work on Linux, so you don't need to worry about your OS going out of date anymore.
  
• You'll actually receive security updates and won't be a gigantic security risk anymore.

I think the real reason those few holdouts stubbornly refuse to move from Windows 7 or 8 is because they fear any kind of change. They've grown so comfortable and used to their OS that they've become completely inflexible and incapable of adapting to anything else, or perhaps a better word would be unwilling to adapt. It's willful, stubborn ignorance, and when they eventually fall victim to some unpatched security vulnerability, I guarantee they'll blame anyone and everyone but themselves.