Fix Invalid Depot Configuration Steam Error on Windows 10 2023

Steam is a digital video game distribution service that allows users to purchase, download, install and play games. It also provides the user with automatic game installation and update, as well as community features such as friend lists and groups, cloud backup, and voice and chat functionality in the game. If when you try to install or update a game on Steam you meet the Invalid deposit configuration error on Windows 10, then this message can help. In this article, we will identify the known likely causes that can trigger the error, and then provide possible solutions that you can try to help resolve this issue.

You can meet the Invalid deposit configuration Steam error message on Windows 10 / 8.1 / 7 due to one or more (but not limited to) of the following known causes;

Obsolete Steam client.
Defective DNS address.
Participation in the beta program.
Authorization problem.
Steam Client Bootstrapper as a startup item.
Corrupt or damaged appmanifest.acf file.

Steam Error – Invalid Deposit Configuration

If you are faced with this Invalid deposit configuration problem, you can try our recommended solutions in the order presented below and see if it helps to fix the problem.

Update the Steam client to the latest version
Clear the DNS cache
Force Steam Update
Activation / deactivation of the beta program
Run the Steam client from the location of the installation folder
Disable the Steam Client Bootstrapper startup item
Modify the game application manifest by removing the configuration of MountedDepots.

Let’s take a look at the description of the process involved in relation to each of the solutions listed.

1]Update the Steam client to the latest version

In some cases, you will encounter Invalid deposit configuration problem because you are using an outdated version of the Steam client. Steam is fully capable of updating automatically, but if the automatic update function is faulty and cannot update the client automatically, you will receive this error message.

In this case, you can get Steam to update automatically by simply restarting the app. You can also force the store update by going to the ribbon bar at the top of the Steam client and clicking on Steam> Check for Steam Client Updates.

If that doesn’t resolve the issue, you can uninstall the Steam app, then download and install the latest version from the Steam website.

Note: To keep the game installations, move the Steamapps folder (under this location C: Program Files (x86) Steam) from the Steam folder before uninstalling the Steam client, otherwise you will have to reinstall all of your games from scratch. Also be sure to restart Windows before reinstalling Steam. Then you can move the Steamapps folder back to the Steam folder.

Then try to update or install a game and see if the problem persists, if so, go to the next solution.

2]Clear the DNS cache

If the Invalid deposit configuration error message was caused by a network problem, clearing the DNS cache would likely resolve the problem.

To clear the DNS cache, do the following:

Press Windows key + R.
In the Run dialog box, type steam: // flushconfig then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an elevated command prompt.
Click on Yes at the UAC prompt.
Once you are prompted by the Clear the download cache dialog box click Okay to empty your local download cache.
Now open Steam again and log in again with your account.

Try updating or installing a game and see if the problem is resolved. Otherwise, go to the next solution.

3]Force Steam Update

To force the Steam update, check the system tray in the taskbar and make sure the Steam app is closed, then browse to your Steam installation folder (here) C: Program Files (x86) Steam) and delete everything except Steamapps folder, User data folder, and Steam.exe file.

After cleaning the Steam folder, restart your computer.

When the next startup sequence is complete, launch Steam from the main executable. After the integrity check, it will automatically download and install the latest version.

Thereafter, you can try to install / update the game that previously triggered the Invalid deposit configuration error and see if the problem has been resolved. Otherwise, go to the next solution.

4]Activation / deactivation of the beta program

In this solution, depending on your current state, turning on or off the Steam beta program may resolve the Invalid deposit configuration Mistake.

Here’s how:

Launch the Steam client.
In Steam, use the ribbon bar at the top to click on Steam> Settings.
In the Settings menu, select the Account menu from the vertical menu on the right, then go to the right pane and click on the Change button associated with Participation in the beta.
In the beta participation screen, change the Participation in the beta drop-down menu to the item that is not currently active.
Click on Okay to save the changes.
Restart Steam.

Check if the problem is resolved. Otherwise, go to the next solution.

5]Run the Steam client from the location of the installation folder

Some affected users have reported that running Steam from the installation location (C: Program Files (x86) Steam) instead of a shortcut corrected Invalid deposit configuration Mistake. To do this, check the system tray in the taskbar and make sure the Steam app is closed, then go to your Steam installation folder and double click Steam.exe to launch the digital store.

Now try to update / install a game and see if the problem is resolved. Otherwise, go to the next solution.

6]Disable the Steam Client Bootstrapper startup item

In this solution, you will need to disable the Steam Client Bootstrapper, then clear the Steam download cache and launch Steam from the installation folder.

Here’s how:

Press Windows key + R.
in the Run dialog box, type msconfig and press Enter to launch System configuration.
Inside of System configuration go to the window Start tab and click Open Task Manager.
On the Startup tab of Task Manager, right-click Steam Client Bootstrapper and choose Disable.
Then press the Windows key + R to call up the Run dialog again.
In the Run dialog box, type steam: // flushconfig and press Enter to delete the Steam download cache.
When prompted by the Steam confirmation prompt, click Okay Continue.
Finally, navigate to the location of your Steam installation (the default location is C: Program Files (x86) Steam), double-click on the Steam.exe to launch Steam.

Now try to update / install a game and see if the Invalid deposit configuration the error is resolved. Otherwise, go to the next solution.

seven]Modify the game application manifest by removing the configuration of MountedDepots

In this solution, you must modify the .acf file belonging to the game that triggers the Invalid deposit configuration Mistake. By removing all MountedDepots config part of the file, several users concerned reported that Steam had validated the game (recreated the MountedDepots part) which ended up solving the problem.

Proceed as follows:

Start by making sure Steam is completely closed. Check your system tray in the taskbar to make sure Steam isn’t running in the background.
Go to the SteamApps folder in the default location (C: Program Files (x86) Steam).

If you installed Steam in a custom location, access it instead.

Right click on the first appmanifest.acf file and open it with a text editor – preferably Notepad ++.
Once you’ve opened the file with a text editor, tap Ctrl + F to open the search function.
Then type MountedDepots and hit enter.
When you find the right part of configuration, select the whole section and click on Remove.
Then use the ribbon menu at the top to save configuration and exit the file.
Then go back to the Steamapps folder and repeat the same action as above with the rest of the appmanifest.acf the files you have there.

Once the MountedDepots game has been deleted for each game, restart Steam and let it validate the game files that have been changed.

Now try to install / update the game that previously failed and see if the issue has been resolved.

I hope any of these solutions will solve the problem for you!