Recently (nearly) all the Steam Workshop skins I add just sit there with a BlueArrow.  (You know the one).  I used to encounter 1/100 skin id's that didn't work, but after the last two Rust Updates, I've found that number is flipped to only 1/100 skin ID's actually downloading.  I have a 1gb fiber connection to my rust server, and the gaming pc i use with it, runs on the same local network. It too has access to that 1gig fiber connection.  

When i check the client i get a message stating : Skin Download Timed Out: <skin ID #> 

and then it just sits there...   I understand the plugin just pushes the # to the client.  But what i'm wondering is...

1) Is there a way to force my server to download the skins and store them on my server?
2) Is there a command I can do, that will perhaps increase the Skin Download Timeout time? (so it can take longer if thats what it needs)
3) What do the other skin plugins require a SteamAPI key for? (like Skinbox or PlayerSkins)  
4) Could steam have changed something that makes the API key required before it'll let the connected clients download said skin ID's?

I know this is a lot of questions, but if you could please take the time to answer them as clearly as possible, perhaps I can get this issue solved and share the solution with others, as right now I know of about 8 other server owners who are experiencing the exact same issue..  Beleive me, we would all love you get it resolved...  I'd hate to have to try buying other skin plugins just to see if one of them works for me.. :(

Thanks In Advance,
James

I'm so sorry, but I'm really not seeing where you told me why they need the steam key..  I saw where you asked me back "Why would your server need a steam key?" and that's why I said idk why the other programs want one. lol..

So at this point I'm just curious why the other programs would possibly need the key.  Or what they would use it for?

ok. If that doesn't work, try this.  Get out of the game.  Uninstall Rust.  From within Steam, right click the game and choose "Uninstall". Once completed, Exit Steam completely. (right click and "exit" from task bar. Just hitting the X isn't enough)..  Now go to the Rust install directory (C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\) and from here DELETE the "RUST" folder and all it's contents.  Now Restart your computer.  Launch Steam, and reinstall Rust.. 

Let me know if that works for you or not.
James

ok I'll try and let you know ..thank u :)

This worked for me on all the machines i had an issue with skins not downloading...  If you delete that stuff, it will take a while to redownload the skins depending on your internet connection speed.  If you look inside the content folder, you'll see another folder with a 6 number name.  Inside that wil be a list of all the skins your system has already downloaded... 

By clearing out the files above, your system should've been triggered to redownload all the skins.  but like i said, it'll take awhile... it took my system on a 1gig fiber connection about 30-45mins before i got all my skins to work again... Also, if you have any "bad" skins inside your "skins" plugin, it'll hault the download process as well.  So if you find  it downloads 10 then the rest are just sitting with a blue circle arrow, try removing the 1st skin with a blue arrow.  And sadly, you'll have to go through every skin type and verify it's good.

If you still have trouble, send me a message and I'll link up with you on discord and see if i can get yours working too..

James

So I've been able to add new skins again an ALL of them are downloading and working perfectly now..  If anyone has trouble getting skins to download, feel free to message me, and i'll try to help you get it resolved...

And thanks to Misticos for answering all my questions and putting up with me along the way.. lol

James