Steam error code e502 l3 tends to appear from time to time, keeping users from purchasing games or even accessing certain portions of Valve’s storefront. If you can’t access your shopping cart or other features, here’s how to fix e502 l3.
How to Fix Steam Error Code e502 l3
There are several things that may fix Steam error code e502 I3, but only the first is guaranteed to work.
- Be patient and wait things out (since this is a server-side problem).
- Restart your Steam Client.
- Reset your router.
- Reset your computer.
I’ve run into this pesky error a few times over the years, and the only thing that’s worked is waiting things out, trying to access Steam features here and there. It’s not ideal, but it’s typically the solution. Waiting for other users to complete their transactions and relieve the load on Steam’s servers is the best (aggravating) option.
Here’s how to check the status of Steam to see if it’s down or if other users are experiencing issues.
Does Restarting Steam or My Route Even Matter?
Not really. You could try resetting your router and Internet connection just to be safe. You could also close Steam and open it again. And you could also try resetting your computer. But almost 100% of the time, error e502 l3 will fix itself once Steam’s servers become more stable and traffic to the app dies down.
But usually, these are just bandaids, I find, and something to occupy my time until I can access the storefront again. And no: don’t reinstall Steam. Please.
What is Steam Error Code e502 l3? – Answered
Steam error code e502 l3 is a server issue with Valve’s storefront. It appears when Valve’s Steam servers have been overloaded with too much traffic, which tends to happen when there’s a big new release, a large sale, or an event happening like Steam Fest or Mystery Fest.
One instance I specifically remember this error showing up was during the release of the survival horror simulation game, Sons of the Forest, which hit a whopping 260,000 players at launch.
Unlike certain network error codes like 105 and 118, which are client-side network problems linked to router and Internet issues, e502 l3 is often server-side and can’t be fixed by users. Again, it simply means there’s too much traffic on Steam at the moment, keeping you from effectively communicating with Steam.
When Does “We Were Unable to Service Your Request” Show Up?
Typically, the issue appears when trying to access a game page or your shopping cart. You’ll receive a message, such as “There was an error trying to load your shopping cart” or “We were unable to service your request.”
Specifically, it kept cropping up for me when trying to access the Sons of the Forest Steam page, add the game to my cart, and then when trying to complete my purchase. Eventually, I was able to complete the transaction — then wait another 20 minutes before I could install the game.
But that’s that on how to “fix” Steam error e502 l3. I wish there was a better answer or solution, but it’s simply a matter of patience. Let some time pass, then try again. Hopefully, you’ll get past it soon enough!
Published: Nov 16, 2023 02:22 pm