[Solution for Windows] Fatal Error: Steam needs to be online to update but was set...

[Faliwn]

Ok, so when I started Steam today, I got the error of "Steam needs to be online to update but was set to offline mode" and couldn't even start Steam. My solution was this:

Originally Posted by Faliwn

1. Close all instances of Steam and make sure it isn't running.
2. Open regedit.exe (by clicking the start-up bar/windows logo on the taskbar and typing in "regedit" in "Search Programs and Files")
3. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER, then to Software, and then to Valve.
4. Press on the "Steam" folder and to the right, registries should pop up.
5. Right click "Offline" and click "Modify Binary Data".
6. Set it to 0 (if it is at 1 under Data)

Restarted Steam and it updated. This worked for me, but I'm not sure if it would work for anyone else. I had found the solution after looking for the solution itself and only finding Mac answers, to which I modified for Windows users.

If the above solution doesn't work, try this from Hal853:

Originally Posted by hal859

Well, as I stated in my previous ... mine was set to 0 in the registry and still no joy. I've got it downloading now. Here's what I did.

I went into the control panel and opened Administrative Tools>Services.
I right-clicked Steam Client Services and selected Properties.
(For some reason my startup type was set to Manual)
I set to Automatic and rebooted.

instant success... but hella slow download.

If both of these solutions don't work, then my only suggestion would be to uninstall and reinstall steam, since that has solved the issue for some people (though I myself would really hate to do that). I'm not a computer wizard unfortunately, so troubleshooting isn't really my thing. Just to add, registries can be dangerous to mess around with so don't go changing random values in all your entries.

Another possible solution (Credit to earthquaker501):

Originally Posted by earthquaker501

I had the same problem.
Dont know if this fixed it, or if it fixed itself while I was fiddling about.

But I went to the steam folder(c:\steam) and started the SteamTmp.exe, this started steam normally. Then I closed steam after checking the account was indeed online and started up steam normally again.
That started the update.

Again I dont know if its a solution but atleast it worked for me

Edit: I'm a PC user too

(Tell me if you didn't want your solution up here, I'll take it off)

[iRobotZombie]

+Rep

Cheers

[Trebis]

This worked for me. Thank you!!!!

[xenoaroe]

You are my hero.

Thanks!

[J-Man]

Thanks man! It works fine now! I wonder what even caused this and for multiple people? It was working fine for me yesterday and I did not even put Steam in offline mode o.O

[iCon_of_sYn]

Mine is 0 and I still get the error. Ideas?

[arnolder]

+Rep

But, why did that automatically happen in the first place?

[hal859]

Originally Posted by iCon_of_sYn

Mine is 0 and I still get the error. Ideas?

Mine's set to 0 as well. It just starts to download and then chokes at a random amount...

... then BOOM... "Steam needs to be online to update"

[Eric®]

You sir are a wizard, Thank you.

[hal859]

Well, as I stated in my previous ... mine was set to 0 in the registry and still no joy. I've got it downloading now. Here's what I did.

I went into the control panel and opened Administrative Tools>Services.
I right-clicked Steam Client Services and selected Properties.
(For some reason my startup type was set to Manual)
I set to Automatic and rebooted.

instant success... but hella slow download.

[TheJayBelmont]

Comes up with a Invalid DWORD - what should i put into the modify binary?

EDIT; got it to work again

[Dav3]

+1 This fix worked great for me - thanks muchly!
Normally i'm logged in when these updates are released and I just push the Restart Steam button - though this update must have gone live when my PC was off :/

[DrHarvey12]

Cheers dude. +Rep

Never had this happen before though and not set Steam to offline recently either. Hope it's a one-off!

[DeadWhiteRabbit]

+Rep

You, sir, just saved me from deleting all of my games and reinstalling Steam per a friend's instructions. Thank you.

[True]

Looks like to work for me, thanks a ton!