Steam is refusing to open for a large number of users. As soon as they try to open Steam, either it doesn’t open or it closes within a few seconds of opening. Steam servers can become congested at times, preventing you from accessing Steam content, but the vast majority of the time, the problem is with your computer.
Steam Won’t Open on Windows and Mac
The Steam experience is hampered by corrupted Steam files and other apps. But there’s no need to panic. Here are some workarounds for the Steam Won’t Open issue in Windows 10 that you may try.
Make a backup copy of the system before attempting any fixes.
1. Restarting the Steam service
Steam frequently prohibits a game from relaunching since it is running in the background. You can do this by shutting down and restarting the Steam processes that are operating in the background.
Step 1: To begin, right-click anywhere on the Taskbar and choose “Task Manager” from the menu that pops up.
Step 2: Next, select the Processes tab. Look for the Steam processes in the list. Select Steam from the list, and then click “End task.” If you don’t notice any Steam processes, try a different approach.
In order to complete the steam processes, repeat step 2 as many times as necessary. Afterwards, re-start the steaming.
2. Restarting
Restarting your computer is one of the quickest and easiest fixes for the Steam Won’t Open issue.
The first step is to open the Start menu by clicking on it. Then, tap the Power button and select Restart. Try opening Steam again after the computer has been restarted. To open it, use the next procedure if you are unable to.
Solution 2.1: Disconnect All External Devices But the Most Essential
External devices, such as USB drives, printers, hard drives, additional keyboards, and many others, impede the Steam process.. Remove them from the Steam before reopening it.
3. Using the Windows Update
Additionally, if your Windows 10 operating system hasn’t been updated recently, it may be responsible for the Steam Won’t Open issue. Take the following actions to ensure that your Windows operating system is up to date:
Step 1: To begin, select “Settings” from the Start menu.
Step 2: Next, in the settings panel, select “Updates & Security.”
Step 3: Select Windows Update from the list on the left side of the screen. Then, under the Update status column, click the button Check for updates.
Step 4: Restart your computer to take effect the updates you just installed.
4. Have Your RAM tested
During the installation procedure, RAM issues may arise, which can cause problems with Steam. Check your RAM by following these steps:
Step 1: Exit all running applications. Now, type “mdsched” in the search box and pick “Windows Memory Diagnostic” from the results.
Step 2: You’ll get a popup. Take a look at what’s going on by clicking “Restart.”
Step 3: Your system will restart when a RAM check has been completed. After the system has been restarted, go to the Start menu, type “event,” and then click “Event Viewer” from the search results.
Step 4: Pick “Windows Logs” from the left side of the pane and select “System.” Then, right-click the “System” option and select “Filter current log.” To select this option, first click “System” in the menu on the left.
You can now pick “MemoryDiagnostics-Results” from the drop-down menu next to “Event sources” in the Filter Log window.” Afterwards, simply press the Ok button.
Step 5: Upon returning to the Event Viewer window, you should notice two “Events” in the filtered log. The details for each event can be accessed by clicking on it. If there are no mistakes, proceed to the next step. Step 8: Continue if errors are found.
Step 6: Replace your RAM sticks if you have a RAM issue and restart your computer. Then repeat steps 1 through 7.
One at a time, swap out all of the RAM sticks. Replacing the sticks that experienced issues is a good idea. Check to see if the CPU use has returned to normal after replacing the damaged RAM sticks.
5. Fix the Steam System
Backup your game data beforehand before you attempt this procedure. To fix the steam, perform these steps:
Step 1: First, locate the Steam folder and open it. Follow these steps to access the folder in which Steam has been set up: This PC > File Explorer > Windows C: Using the Windows C search bar, type in steam apps. Afterwards, right-click on the “steam apps” folder and select “copy.”
Step 2: In the “steam apps” folder, right-click once more and choose “Open file location.” In the third and last step, you’ll need to head over to the Steam website and grab the Steam installer. Run the installer after the download is complete. Follow the onscreen instructions to fix the files.
Try opening Steam again after this. You can try the following technique if you are unable to open Steam. If you can open Steam but cannot access your saved game data, copy the “steam apps” folder from “My Documents” back into the Steam folder and remove the file with the same name from there.
6. Reinstalling Steam
Make a backup copy of your game files before attempting this procedure, as some data from online games may be lost even if you have a copy of the game files. Your Steam account, however, should grant you access to them.
Step 1: First, shut down Steam. There should be no Steam processes running in the background at all. Right-clicking the taskbar will bring up the Task Manager, where you can end the background process.
The “Processes” tab should be selected next. Search for the Steam process in the list of processes and click on it to start it. You’re done with this task. Go to step 2 if there’s no Steam process going.
Step 2: Just as with the last technique, locate the Steam folder on your computer and make a backup copy of the game file. To get started, go to the Start menu and type “Steam.”
Then, right-click on the Steam.exe file and pick “Open file location” from the menu.
Look in the “steam apps” folder for the file you seek. Afterwards, copy the steam apps file and paste it in “My Documents.”
Step 3: After that, select Steam from the list by looking for it. In order to remove the app, click the Uninstall/Change button. Restart your computer afterward.
Step 4: From there, go to the Steam website and download the Steam installation. Run the installer after the download is complete. Follow the onscreen instructions to fix the files. For your stored game data, copy the “Steam apps” folder from “My Documents” to the Steam folder and erase any files that share that name.
7. Changing The Date and Time
Steam always collects real-time data from your computer, which includes the date and time of the current session.. As a result, Steam will not launch if the date and time entered are incorrect. To get your date and time settings in sync, follow these instructions:
Step 1: In the search box that appears when you click on Start, begin by typing “Control Panel.” After that, go to the Best match area and select the Control Panel. A Control Panel window will open. Click “Clock and Region” in this box to go to Step 2.
Step 2: Choose “Date and Time” as the third step. A pop-up window will open, and the Internet Time tab will be selected. Now, select “Change settings” from the drop-down menu.
Finally, check the box labelled “Synchronize with an Internet time server.” Select “Update now” from the drop-down menu. Press the Ok button once the update is complete.
Check to see if you can open Steam now. If Steam Won’t Launch, try the next option.
8. Performing a Hard Drive Error Check
After a long period of use, storage devices can become faulty and need to be repaired to fix the Steam Won’t Launch issue.
Step 1: Type “File Explorer” into the search box in the Start menu and click “Best match” to open it.
Step 2: Click “This PC” on the window’s left sidebar. Right-click on the drive you wish to fix and then follow the on-screen instructions.
Step 3: Next, select “Properties” from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: You’ll see a pop-up. Make sure that the “Tools” tab is selected and the “Check” button is clicked. The “Scan drive” button must be clicked if the error check programme has identified faults.
Step 5: Relaunch Steam after the scan is complete and close the window.
9. Remove Your Antivirus Software
Third-party antivirus software may also prohibit Steam from opening due to online games’ usage of elements that mislead antivirus software into believing it is harmful software.
Check to see whether your Windows Defender has been disabled. If another antivirus programme is interfering with your system. It’s also possible to have two antivirus apps operating at the same time.
Here are the steps you need to take to deactivate Windows Defender:
Step 1: When you press the Windows and R keys on your keyboard simultaneously, you’ll go to the Run box. Enter “regedit” in the text field and press the “Ok” key. Then, open the folders in the following sequence: To get to the Microsoft policies, go to HKLM/Software/Policies/Microsoft.
Step 2: Finally, select “Windows Defender” as the final option. On the right side of the window, double click “DisableAntiSpyware” item from the list. But if this option does not exist, you will have to make it.
Select “New” from the context menu by right-clicking on the blank area. Then, pick “DWORD (32-bit) Value” from the menu. Once you’ve given it a name, press Enter.
Step 3: Click on it once it’s been created. Change the current value data to “1” and then save the file. Select “Ok” from the “Ok” drop-down list.
10. Determine Steam
If you’re using a service that compresses data to save bandwidth, this could cause issues with Steam.
To see if the problem is with your Internet Service Provider, try connecting to a different network and selecting a new service provider. When Steam Won’t Open because your Internet Service Provider is to blame, the only thing you can do is switch providers.
11. Drivers Updated
However, it will take some time for this approach to work, but it will ensure that older drivers are not interfering with Steam functionality.
Step 1: Press the Windows and X keys on your keyboard at the same time. Select “Device Manager” from the drop-down menu. Choosing the first sort of device will expand it, as shown in Step 2. Once you’ve done so, select “Properties” from the drop-down menu.
Step 2: Click “Driver” and then “Update Driver” to complete the process. Select “Search automatically for updated driver software” from the pop-up that appears. Alternatively, you can download and manually install the most recent version of the driver from the manufacturer’s website.
Searching will begin in Step. Once the search is complete, you’ll see a message display on your screen. A notice stating that “the best drivers are already installed” will appear if your driver is current. If this is the case, the system will perform an automatic driver update.
Finally, try to see whether you can open the Steam application.
12. Disabling Overclocking
Overclocking is the process of increasing the speed of your computer. The performance will be improved, but there is a chance that the memory will become corrupted. “Steam Won’t Open” might be fixed by disabling overclocking.”
Step 1: Click on the Start button and type “Settings” into the search field that appears. You’ll then have access to the settings menu.
Step 2: Select “Updates & Security” from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Click “Recovery” on the left side of the window and then “Restart now” in the Advanced part of the startup menu. As a follow-up, click on “Troubleshoot,” then “Advanced Options,” and finally, “UEFI Firmware Settings” from the “Choose an Option” menu.
UEFI menu will show after the computer restarts. Select “Reset to default” from the menu. Finally, quit BIOS and save the modifications you’ve made.
13. Disabling Compatibility Mode
Only Windows 10 is compatible with Steam. When a gaming problem occurs, Windows 10 may automatically activate Compatibility Mode. Since Compatibility Mode may be to blame, Steam will alert you about it.
Using Compatibility Mode on Windows 10 is not recommended since it can interfere with Steam. In addition, Windows 10 hides the fact that it has been altered, therefore you must edit your registry.
When using this method, make a copy of the registry before doing so. Follow the instructions up to step 6 to create a registry backup.
Step 1: Shut off all instances of Steam. Simply right-click on the Taskbar and select “Task Manager” from the drop-down menu.
Step 2: After that, select the Processes tab from the ribbon. Look for the Steam processes in the list. Select Steam from the list, and then click “End task.” Otherwise, proceed to step 3 if you aren’t seeing any Steam processes.
Step 3: In File Explorer, type “Steam” and then right-click “Steam.exe.” Select “Properties” from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Select “Compatibility” from the “Selection” menu. This tab’s “Apply” button can be used to remove all of the selections here. Finally, click the “Change settings for all users” button. Check to see sure all other options have been unchecked as well. Finally, click “Apply” and then “OK.”
Then, click the “OK” button to exit the Properties box.
Step 5: Finally, see if you’re able to fire up Steam. Keep reading if the warning shows on your screen and you are unable to start Steam. On your keyboard, type in “Run” and then press Windows and R. Enter “regedit” in the text field and press the “Ok” key.
Step 6: Expand the “HKEY CURRENT USER” and then the “Software” folders from the window’s left side. Select “Microsoft” to proceed. Next, expand each folder in turn, as follows: AppCompatFlags > Layers -> Windows NT > CurrentVersion
Step 7: A list of registry entries will show on the right side of the screen. Right-click on the Steam.exe entry after searching for “Steam.exe.” Then, choose the “Delete” option to remove the entry.
Select the AppCompatFlag folder once more, this time selecting “Compatibility” and then “Persisted.” Delete the “Steam.exe” file from the right side of the screen as you did in the previous step.
Once you’ve returned to the top of the list, click on “HKEY LOCAL MACHINE.” The folders should be expanded in the following sequence: AppCompatFlags -> Layers -> CurrentVersion -> Microsoft -> Windows NT -> Software. If you don’t see a Layers folder, simply move on to the next step. Otherwise, proceed to step one and delete the “Steam.exe” file.
Finally, close the Registry and try to open the Steam.
14. Clean Booting your System is Option Number
In order to resolve the Steam Won’t Open error, try restarting your PC without any third-party software. Even when you clean boot your system, the key Microsoft apps are operating, and the software that tends to change the system, network activity can still interfere with Steam when you do this.
Step 1: First, log in as an administrator to your computer. To open the Run window, hold down the Windows key and the R key at the same time on your keyboard. Enter “msconfig” in the run box and click “Ok.”
Step 2: The second step is to open the System Configuration window. Select “Services” from the menu bar. Then, select “Hide all Microsoft services” from the drop-down menu. Finally, click the “Disable all” option. Click “Open Task Manager” under the “Startup” tab.
Step 3: Task Manager will appear in Step 4. Choose “Startup” from there. After that, choose everything on the list and click “Disable.” Shut down the Task Manager! The final step is to press the “Apply” button in the System Configuration box to save the changes. Press “OK” to finish.
Restart your computer to complete the process. Check to see if you can open Steam after restarting the computer.
15. Reinstalling the Operating System
If Steam Won’t Open after you manually created a system restore point, you’ll need to go back to that point and restore the system. As a result, by going back to the point before the problem arose, this approach will assist you in fixing the Steam Won’t Open issue.
Step 1: A good place to start is by selecting “Start” and typing “Settings” into the search bar. Afterwards, click on the Settings tab.
Step 2: Click “Updates & Security” under “Settings.” Restart your computer by selecting “Recovery” on the left side of the pane and clicking “Restart now” in the Advanced startup section. A “Choose an option” window will display when the system has been restarted. Select “Troubleshoot.”
Click “Advanced choices” in the next step. Select “System Restore” from the “Advanced Options” menu.
Your system will then be brought back in time to the time you selected.
Conclusion
Follow the suggestions listed above to resolve the Steam Won’t Open error, and if that doesn’t work, look for a bug in the Steam software itself. Steam customer service is also available.
