[SOLVED] Steam Error Message – Missing File Privileges

If you use Steam to play your favorite games, you may have already encountered the Steam Error message “Missing File Privileges.” This error message from Steam is one of the most common error messages that most Steam users encounter every once in a while.

In most cases, this is caused by outdated or corrupt game files. Although this may be annoying, this error message can easily be fixed by performing some troubleshooting steps.

Here’s our guide on how you can fix the Steam Error Message – Missing File Privileges.

First Method – End the “igfxEm Module in Your Task Manager

The igfxEm Module is the executable file of the Intel Graphic Executable Main Module. This process runs in your background if you are using an Intel Graphics Card. However, there are some AMD and NVIDIA graphics card uses this executable file too.

1. Launch the Task Manager using the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keyboard shortcut. In the Processes tab, look for the “igfxEm Module” and click “End Task”

2. Close out the Task Manager and launch Steam. Update your game to see if the issue has already been fixed.

Second Method – Repair the Steam Library Folders

If a single file inside the Steam library folder has been corrupted or missing, it can cause the Missing File Privileges error in Steam. In this case, you need to repair your Steam library folders.

1. Launch Steam and click on the “Steam” button located on the upper left corner of the Steam homepage and click on “Settings”

2. In the settings menu, click “Downloads” from the list of options found on the left-hand side. Next, click on “Steam Library Folders” under Content Libraries.

3. Right click on the folder inside the Steam Library Folders and click “Repair Library Folder”

4. Once the process is complete, launch your game to run the update and check if the issue persists.

Third Method – Change Your Download Region

Changing your current download region may fix the problem since the current server you are on may currently be experiencing technical issues.

1. Open your Steam Client.
2. On top of the Steam Client, click on “Steam” among the choices you can find horizontally.
3. From the drop-down menu, choose “Settings”.

4. In the settings menu, click “Downloads” from the list of options found on the left-hand side.
5. Choose an alternative region from the “Download Region” option. Ideally, you should pick a foreign location that is not too far from your area.

6. Consider switching to a further region if the first one still didn’t work.

Fourth Method – Verify the Integrity of the Game Files

By verifying the integrity of the game files in your Steam account, Steam cross matches the versions on the current files in your computer to the latest versions in the Steam servers. If they happen to determine that there are outdated files in your system, they will automatically replace them for you.

1. From the Steam Homepage, click on “Library”

2. Right click on the problematic game and click on “Properties”

3. On the next window, click on “Local Files” and click “Verify integrity of game files” and wait for the process to be complete. This process may take a while so be patient with it.

4. Once Steam has completed the verification procedure, relaunch the game to confirm if this step has fixed the problem.

Fifth Method – Give Steam Administrator Privileges

Giving full admin privileges to Steam may fix the Steam Error message “Missing File Privileges. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Go to the location of the Steam folder in your computer by right clicking on the Steam icon on your desktop and click “Open file location”

2. Right click on the Steam folder and click on “Properties”

3. In the folder properties, click “Security” and then click “Advanced”

4. In the advanced security options, click on the first and second rows and click “Edit”
5. Make sure both have the “Full Control” option checked and then click on “OK”

6. Relaunch the Steam client and check if the issue has been solved after performing these steps.

Our Final Words

As you have noticed, there’s nothing to get stressed about if you encounter the Steam Error message “Missing File Privileges.” All of the troubleshooting methods that we have provided are very easy to follow and perform.