To fix the Steam Mobile Authenticator, select the correct account, enter a fresh Steam Guard code, and correct your phone’s clock if codes are still rejected. When QR scanning or sign-in notifications fail, use a manual code instead. Save your recovery code before clearing app storage or reinstalling Steam.
The short version
- Rejected codes: Choose the account you are signing into and enter a newly generated code promptly.
- Phone time: An inaccurate clock can cause Steam to reject authentication codes.
- Alternative sign-in: Your phone can generate manual Steam Guard codes offline when scanning or notifications are unavailable.
- Recovery first: Preserve your recovery code before deleting local app data or reinstalling Steam.
| Fix or option | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Select the correct account | You have multiple Steam accounts |
| Enter a fresh code | The previous code was rejected |
| Install Steam Mobile | You installed Steam Chat or Steam Link |
| Correct iPhone time | Your clock is inaccurate |
| Resynchronize Android time | Automatic date and time are incorrect |
| Correct Samsung Galaxy time | You need Samsung’s date and time controls |
| Enter a manual code | QR scanning or notifications fail |
| Use QR approval | You want another sign-in option |
| Use notification approval | Your enrolled authenticator receives alerts |
| Restore camera permission | Steam cannot access the camera |
| Enable Steam notifications | Sign-in alerts do not appear |
| Disable notification suppression | A Focus or mode hides alerts |
| Allow Pixel background usage | Steam’s background activity is disabled |
| Restore Android connectivity | Online approvals or app loading fail |
| Allow iPhone cellular access | Steam cannot connect without Wi-Fi |
| Close and reopen Steam | The app is unresponsive |
| Restart your phone | Reopening Steam does not help |
| Update Steam | An app update is available |
| Update your phone | App trouble persists and an update is available |
| Clear Android cache | Steam continues malfunctioning |
| Save the recovery code | You are preparing to erase local app data |
| Generate backup codes | You need emergency sign-in codes |
| Reset Android app storage | Other app fixes fail and recovery is ready |
| Reinstall Steam Mobile | App trouble persists and recovery is ready |
| Transfer the authenticator | You have a replacement phone |
| Recover account access | Your authenticator is inaccessible |
| Add the authenticator again | You regained access and none is enrolled |
| Contact Steam Support | Setup, recovery, or app problems remain unresolved |
Try a fresh code for the correct account
Open Steam Mobile, select Steam Guard, and use the blue account dropdown to choose the account you are signing into. Select Show Steam Guard code, then wait for the next code and enter it promptly on the Steam sign-in screen. Codes refresh every 30 seconds, so a previously generated code may no longer work.
Make sure you are using Steam Mobile. Steam Chat and Steam Link do not provide the authenticator. If you installed the wrong app, get Steam Mobile from Valve’s mobile download page, which also offers an Android download for phones without Google Play.
Correct your phone’s date and time
Valve identifies incorrect phone time as a cause of rejected authenticator codes. Check the clock before resetting the app, especially when a fresh code for the right account still fails. After correcting the time, generate another code and try signing in again.
On iPhone, connect to the internet and open Settings > General > Date & Time, then enable Set Time Automatically. Apple also calls this switch Set Automatically; use the automatic-time switch shown on your phone. For automatic time zone detection, enable Setting Time Zone under Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services.
If your iPhone’s time remains wrong, disable the automatic setting and correct the date, time, or Time Zone manually. If you cannot change the automatic-time switch, Screen Time or an organization’s device profile may restrict it. Ask the parent or device administrator to resolve that restriction.
On Android, open Settings > System > Date & Time. Turn off Automatic Time Zone and Automatic Date & Time, temporarily change the date and time, then turn both automatic settings back on. Android manufacturers use different labels for these controls.
On Samsung Galaxy, use Settings > General management > Date and time, then enable Automatic date and time and Automatic time zone. If network time is unavailable or incorrect, disable those switches. Correct the values using Set date, Set time, and Select time zone.
Switch to another way to sign in
Use manual code entry when the scanner or a notification fails. Open Steam Guard > Show Steam Guard code in Steam Mobile. Enter your credentials on Steam, choose code entry, and enter the current code; your phone can generate it without an internet connection.
For QR sign-in, open the Steam client or website sign-in screen. Open Steam Guard on your phone, scan the displayed Steam QR code, review the sign-in details, and approve your request.
Notification approval provides another option when an authenticator is already enrolled. Enter your Steam account name and password on the sign-in screen, then open the resulting Steam Mobile notification and confirm your sign-in. If no alert arrives, use a manual code and check notification settings next.
Restore camera access and notifications
If Steam cannot access the camera on iPhone, open Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and enable Steam if it is listed. Reopen the Steam scanner afterward. This permission change addresses camera access, not rejected authentication codes.
On Android, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > Steam > Permissions > Camera, then choose Allow only while using the app. Also check Settings > Security and privacy > Privacy > Privacy controls and enable Camera access. System camera controls depend on your Android version and device.
For missing iPhone alerts, open Settings > Notifications > Steam and enable Allow Notifications, then choose your Alerts. On phones with Notification Delivery, select Immediate Delivery instead of Scheduled Summary. Open Control Center > Focus and tap the active Focus to turn it off if it is hiding the alert.
For Android alerts, open Settings > Notifications > App notifications > All apps > Steam and enable notifications and the relevant categories. Turn off Do Not Disturb in Quick Settings if it is suppressing notifications. Category names vary by device.
On Pixel, also check Settings > Apps > App battery usage > Steam > Allow background usage. Enable background usage if it is disabled; Google generally recommends Optimized. This setting controls background operation and does not correct inaccurate code timing.
Restore the connection for online actions
Setup, online approvals, and app loading need a working connection, even though manual code generation works offline. On Android, open Settings > Network & internet, switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, and retry the action. Some phones call this settings area Connections.
For a stalled Android connection, enable Airplane Mode, wait 10 seconds, and disable it. If your home Wi-Fi connection has failed, unplug the router for 30 seconds before reconnecting power. Retry Steam after the connection returns.
On iPhone, open Settings > Cellular and enable Cellular Data. Scroll to the app list and enable Steam so it can connect without Wi-Fi. Cellular access requires an active data plan.
Reopen Steam and restart your phone
Close and reopen Steam when the app itself is stuck. On Android, the Pixel path is Settings > Apps > See all apps > Steam > Force stop > OK. Launch Steam again and retry the action that failed.
On an iPhone with Face ID, swipe up from the bottom and pause to open the app switcher. On a model with a Home button, double-click Home instead. Swipe Steam’s preview upward, then reopen Steam.
If reopening does not help, restart your phone. On Pixel 6 and later, hold Power + Volume Up, then tap Restart; on Pixel 5a and earlier, hold Power for approximately 30 seconds or until it restarts. Other Android phones use their manufacturer’s restart controls.
On an iPhone with Face ID, hold the Side button and either Volume button, then drag the power-off slider. Home-button models generally use the Side button alone, while the first-generation iPhone SE uses the Top button. Wait 30 seconds, then hold the appropriate Side button or Top button until the Apple logo appears.
Update Steam and clear the Android cache
Install a Steam update before deleting any app data. On Android, open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, and select Manage apps & devices > Updates available, then update Steam. On iPhone, open App Store, tap your profile icon, select App Updates, and install an available Steam update.
Check for a phone software update if Steam continues malfunctioning. On Pixel, open Settings > System > Software update and follow the update prompts. On iPhone, back up your phone, connect it to power and Wi-Fi, then open Settings > General > Software Update and select Download and Install for an available update.
Android also lets you clear Steam’s local cache. Use Settings > Apps > See all apps > Steam > Storage & cache > Clear cache, then reopen Steam. Cache clearing is separate from Clear storage, which erases local app data and requires recovery preparation.
Save recovery access before resetting the app
Before clearing storage or reinstalling, open Steam Guard, tap the gear icon, and select Recovery Code. Store that code securely somewhere other than your phone. Deleting local data can remove authenticator access, so do not assume a reinstall will preserve it.
You can also generate emergency sign-in codes through Account Details > Manage Steam Guard > Get Backup Codes, completing SMS verification. An unused backup code can replace a generated authentication code at sign-in. If you cannot secure recovery access, use account recovery before attempting a reset.
As a last resort on Android, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > Steam > Storage & cache > Clear storage > OK. Some phones label the action Clear data. This erases local app data, so keep your recovery information available.
To reinstall on Android, open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, and choose Manage apps & devices > Manage > Steam > Uninstall. On iPhone, touch and hold Steam, then select Remove App > Delete App > Delete. Download Steam Mobile again through Valve’s mobile download page after preserving recovery access.
If parental controls prevent app deletion on iPhone, ask the parent to allow Deleting Apps. If your phone is managed by an organization, contact its administrator to resolve the restriction.
Transfer or recover an inaccessible authenticator
With a replacement phone, sign into Steam Mobile and choose Move Authenticator. Alternatively, select I no longer have access to my authenticator and verify by SMS. Transferring the authenticator imposes a two-day trading and market restriction.
For a lost phone, deleted app, or sign-in lockout, open Steam’s sign-in recovery. Choose I deleted or lost my Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator, identify your account, and complete its verification options. The options depend on your account and the access you still have.
Once you regain access, add the authenticator again only if none is currently enrolled. Open Steam Guard > Add authenticator, supply your phone number, enter the verification code, and save the recovery code. Use the resend link if the setup text does not arrive. Removing an enrolled authenticator is a separate action that resumes email-based Steam Guard and blocks trading and market selling for 15 days.
If setup, recovery, or app problems remain unresolved, open Steam authenticator support and select My issue isn't listed. Describe the failing action and complete the requested account and contact verification. Further options depend on your account access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Steam verification text not arriving?
After repeated requests, wait several minutes to an hour before trying again. Check that your message inbox has space and that your carrier supports messages from six-digit senders. Also check Telegram where Steam uses alternate delivery.
What should you do if Steam rejects your phone number?
Enter your number in international format with the correct country code. If Steam rejects a VoIP number, use a supported mobile or prepaid number.
Can you set up Steam Guard without a phone number?
During Add authenticator, select I don't have access to a phone number below Next and follow the offered verification flow. That setup option does not bypass an existing locked authenticator.
Why are trades still on hold after the authenticator starts working?
Adding an authenticator does not clear existing holds, and trades during the first seven days can still receive holds. Read the restriction displayed for your trade or market action and wait for its stated expiry. Steam Support cannot override these restrictions.
Which phone versions support Steam Mobile?
Valve’s mobile product page lists iOS 15.1 or later and Android 7.0 or later. Its authenticator FAQ lists older minimum versions, so use the product page requirements and confirm compatibility in your phone’s app store.
What if email-based Steam Guard codes do not arrive after recovery?
Check your account’s email inbox and spam folder, and allow messages from [email protected] and [email protected]. Exit Steam and sign in again to request another code. Contact Steam Support if no code arrives after three hours.