How To Fix Steam Invalid CAPTCHA Error on Windows

Last updated on November 19th, 2024 at 12:33 am

Have you ever received an error message saying, “Your response to the CAPTCHA appears to be invalid” when you are filling in the CAPTCHA while creating an account on Steam?

This usually happens when you are filling in the CAPTCHA incorrectly, but what if it still happens after the CAPTCHA is correctly filled out? You are probably facing a Steam invalid CAPTCHA error. We’ll now look at the reasons why this error happens, and what you can do to fix it.

Why Is The Steam Invalid CAPTCHA Error Happening?

The reason why Steam usually shows the error “Your response to the CAPTCHA appears to be invalid. Please re-verify that you’re not a robot below” is because Steam assumes you are a robot.

But the most common causes why you are facing this problem could include issues with your internet connection, using a banned IP address, or an issue with the browser or DNS cache. If you’re experiencing this “Your response to the CAPTCHA appears to be invalid” issue, here are some ways you can fix this problem.

Switch Your Browser

If you are having issues with fixing invalid CAPTCHA errors on Steam, the first method you can try is switching browsers. This can help you see if the browser you are using is causing the CAPTCHA errors.

Troubleshoot Your Internet

A CAPTCHA requires an internet connection to be active so it can verify that the request is made by a human and not a robot. If your internet connection goes down during the CAPTCHA verification process, you will have issues filling in the CAPTCHA. Try checking to see if your internet is working properly.

Check your internet connection by accessing a random website on your browser to if you are currently connected. If the issue is with the internet, you need to try switching your internet connection, if possible, to see if the problem still persists.

Enable Or Disable A VPN

If you are signing into a location where Steam itself is banned, the CAPTCHA may not be verified. If you believe this is the reason why you’re having Steam invalid CAPTCHA errors, enable your VPN.

Doing this will help you to see if the issue is caused by your IP address. If you are creating an account with your VPN enabled, try disabling it. It’s possible that your VPN has been banned from accessing Steam.

Clear Your Browser Cache & Cookies

The Steam invalid CAPTCHA error can also be caused by interference from your browser. Clearing your browser cache & cookies is a great way to fix your invalid CAPTCHA problems. To find out how to do this, check out the article, “How to Clear Cache and Cookies on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge”.

Reset Network Configuration

Resetting your network configuration through Command Prompt is another great way to fix your Steam invalid CAPTCHA error.

Press the Win + R buttons to launch Run. In the Run window, type cmd, then press the Enter button. This will open the Command Prompt window. Type the first line of command mentioned below into Command Prompt, then press the Enter button.

netsh winsock reset

Repeat this until you execute the following 4 commands.

netsh winsock reset
ipconfig /release
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

After performing all the commands successfully, close Command Prompt and restart your PC. After the restart, make sure you are connected to the Wi-Fi network and see if the internet is working.

Switch Internet Protocol Version

It is possible that the Steam invalid CAPTCHA error is caused by the internet protocol version you are using. Due to this, you should temporarily switch to IPv4 and disable IPv6 to see if that fixes the problems you are facing.

Follow these steps to make this change:

In the Windows search bar, type in “Network Connections” and click View network connections in the search results.
Right-click on the network connection you are using and click Properties.
Finally, uncheck the box for Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), then click OK.

Delete Temporary Files

One of the best ways you can fix Steam’s invalid CAPTCHA issues is by deleting temporary files on your computer. To do this, follow these steps:

First, press Win + R to open Run.
Next, type in %temp%, then press Enter
You will now see a window pop-up that shows all the temporary files on your PC. Press CTRL + A to select all the files, then delete them to clear out the temporary files.

Use a Different Device

If you are still having the Steam invalid CAPTCHA error after attempting all the above fixes, you should then try to create an account from another computer. When you are finished signing up, you can then go back to your primary PC, log in to your Steam account, and start playing the game. If you still keep getting the same CAPTCHA error, try contacting Steam support.