[Updated May 2023] Steam Won’t Open? Here’s How to Fix It!

• Sometimes Steam servers are incredibly congested and prevent you from accessing your Steam content, but in most cases, when Steam won’t open, the problem is related to your computer.
• To repair Steam Errors, Download Fortect PC Repair Tool
• Restarting your computer is always the quickest and easiest way to fix Steam, not opening issues.

According to widespread reports, many popular programs, including Steam, have malfunctioned when running under earlier versions of Windows 10.

However, it is not always the fault of Windows. Other programs and Steam file corruption can interfere with your Steam experience. Although it can be very frustrating when you can’t open Steam, you don’t have to feel helpless. If you have trouble opening Steam, read on to discover 17 methods to fix Steam issues in Windows 10.

Common Reasons Why Steam Won’t Open

It’s essential to understand that various factors can contribute to Steam’s inability to open or function correctly on your computer. Identifying the root cause can help you resolve the issue more effectively. Here are some common reasons why Steam may not open:

1. Outdated Windows or Steam version: As mentioned earlier, running Steam on an older version of Windows 10 or an outdated Steam client can cause issues. It’s crucial to keep your system and applications up to date for optimal performance.
2. Corrupted Steam files: Over time, Steam files can become corrupted, leading to errors and issues when trying to open or run the application. Regularly clearing the cache and cookies, or repairing the Steam client, can help prevent this problem.
3. Antivirus interference: Some antivirus programs may mistakenly identify Steam as a potential threat and block its execution. Temporarily disabling your antivirus or adding Steam to its whitelist can resolve this issue.
4. Network-related issues: Problems with your router or internet service provider (ISP) can prevent Steam from connecting to the internet, hindering its performance. Restarting your router or checking your ISP’s status can help identify and resolve these issues.
5. Outdated or incompatible drivers: Your computer’s hardware drivers play a crucial role in ensuring that all applications, including Steam, run smoothly. Outdated or incompatible drivers can cause Steam to malfunction or not open. Regularly updating your drivers can help prevent this problem.

First: Perform a System Backup Before You Fix Steam

Creating a system backup is always a good idea to ensure you don’t lose any files or data during computer repair. The following steps will help you if you don’t know how.

Step #1

Press the Windows key and click “Settings.”

Step #2

In the window that appears, click “Update & Security.’ Then select “Backup” from the left panel.

Step #3

Connect an external drive, such as a USB drive to your computer. Click “Add a Drive” and then choose the drive you attached.

Backing up your computer usually takes a while, but Windows will create the backup on the drive for you.

Methods to Fix Steam Not Opening on Your Computer

Fix 1: Restart Steam

Sometimes the exe file runs in the background, preventing it from launching Steam. If you stop the Steam client processes and try restarting it, Steam opens.

Step #1

Right-click on the taskbar and select “Task Manager” from the open menu.

Step #2

Select the “Processes” tab. Find the Steam processes that are listed, particularly the Steam.exe file. Click on a Steam client process and click on “End task.” If you don’t find any Steam processes, continue to the following method.

Step #3

Repeat step #2 until all the Steam processes, including the Steam.exe file, are closed. Then try restarting Steam.

Fix 2: Use the Advanced Repair Tool (Fortect) to Fix Steam

Fortect is a robust program designed to automatically find and repair issues on your PC that might be causing Steam not to function correctly. If the Steam client doesn’t open, we recommend scanning your PC with Fortect.

Follow the steps below to download and install Fortect on your PC.

Please note that you may need to temporarily disable or deactivate your antivirus to keep it from interfering with utility programs like Fortect.

Step#1

Step#2

Accept the license terms by checking the “I Accept the EULA and Privacy Policy” to continue.

Step#3

You can view the scan details by expanding the “Details” tab.

Step#4

To set an action, expand the “Recommendation” tab to either choose “clean” or “ignore.”

Step#5

Click “Clean Now” at the bottom of the page to begin the repair process.

If nothing happens and Steam won’t open, continue with the following method.

Fix 3: Restart Your Computer

Restarting your computer is always the quickest and easiest way to fix the Steam app not opening issues.

Step #1

Open the Start menu and click on the Power icon. Then, click “Restart.”

That is all there is to it. Once the computer has rebooted, try to restart the Steam app again. If it doesn’t open, continue to the following method.

Fix 4: Clear Steam’s Cache & Cookies

Sometimes, cached data or cookies might cause issues for Steam app users. If Steam won’t open, you can try clearing its cache by manually deleting the necessary files. Here’s how to do it:

1. Close the Steam app completely, including any background processes. To do this, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager. Look for any Steam-related processes (like Steam.exe, steamwebhelper.exe, or steamerrorreporter.exe) and click on them, followed by “End Task” or “End Process” to close them. Be sure to close all Steam tasks.
2. Press Win+R to open the Run dialog box.
3. Type: %temp%\..\Local\Steam\htmlcache into the Run dialog box and press Enter. This will open the Steam cache folder.
4. Press Ctrl+A to select all files and folders within the cache folder, then press Shift+Del to delete them permanently. Confirm the deletion when prompted.
5. Now, go back to the Run dialog box (Win+R), type: %appdata%\..\Local\Steam\cookies, and press Enter. This will open the Steam cookies folder.
6. Press Ctrl+A to select all files within the cookies folder, then press Shift+Del to delete them permanently. Confirm the deletion when prompted.
7. Restart your computer.
8. Launch the Steam app again to see if the issue has been resolved.

Please note that clearing the cache and cookies will remove some browsing data and website preferences from the Steam browser. However, it should not impact your installed games, saved game data, or Steam settings.

Fix 5: Update Windows

Another fast way to resolve the issue is to make sure your Windows 10 operating system is updated. A faulty update may cause the problem in some cases, but a more recent update resolves the issue. To update Windows 10, follow these steps.

Step #1

Click on the “Settings” icon in the Start Menu.

Step #2

In the Settings window, choose “Updates & Security.”

Step #3

Choose “Windows Update” from the list that appears on the right. On the left, click “Check for updates.” You can find it under “Update status.”

Step #4

If updates are installed, you must restart your computer before they go into effect. To do this, click on the Start menu “Power” icon and select “Restart.”

Continue if you are still not connected.

Fix 6: Restart the Router

Sometimes a simple restart is needed to fix Steam not opening.

Step #1

Shut down your computer. Then shut off your router.

Step #2

Unplug your router and wait two minutes before plugging it back into the power outlet. Wait another two minutes. Turn the router on again.

Step #3

Once your router is back on, turn on your computer.

Fix 7: Test Your RAM

The RAM can develop memory problems that interfere with Steam, especially during installation. RAM problems also cause gameplay issues. The following method allows you to check your RAM.

Step #1

Close any open programs and save your work. Type “mdsched” into the Start menu and select “Windows Memory Diagnostic” from the list.

Step #2

In the pop-up window, choose “Restart now and check for problems.”

Step #3

Your computer will run a memory check and restart. The review can take a while, but it is essential not to interrupt it. When the computer finishes the examination and is completely rebooted, type “event” into the Start menu and select “Event Viewer.”

Step #4

On the left side of the window, open the “Windows Logs” menu and click on “System” once.

Step #5

Now, you need to click “System” again, but this time use a right-click, which will bring up another menu. Choose “Filter current log.” You would be unable to select this option if you did not left-click “System” first.

Step #6

In the Filter Log window, click on the drop-down menu next to “Event sources.” Scroll down (the menu is quite long) until you find “MemoryDiagnostics-Results.” Place a checkmark in the box next to that and click “OK.”

Step #7

This will return you to the Event Viewer, where you should have about two “Events” listed in the filtered log. Click each event and look at the information provided. If no errors are detected, go on to the next method. You do not have issues with your RAM hardware. If you see an error, you need to continue to Step #8.

Step #8

If you have a problem with your RAM, the only way to fix it is to replace your RAM sticks. If you prefer, you can test each one by shutting down your computer and removing all the sticks except the one you are testing. Then you can reboot your computer and rerun steps #1-7.

Repeat this with all the sticks. Replace any that had errors with factory-recommended RAM sticks. When you have replaced all the faulty RAM sticks, check to see if the System and Compressed Memory have returned to normal CPU usage.

Fix 8: Repair Steam

Steam client’s installer has a built-in repair feature that can automatically fix Steam. Before using this method, you need to back up your game file.

Step #1

To do this, you must open the steam directory folder where the Steam.exe file is installed. By default, you should be able to find it by typing “File Explorer” into the Start menu and opening it.

Then choose “This PC” on the left menu. Select “Windows C:” on the right. Type “steamapps” into the search bar.

Now, right-click the “steamapps” folder and “Copy” it to your Documents file.

Step #2

Right-click on the “steamapps” folder and choose “Open file location.” Locate the Steam.exe file in the folder.

Step #3

Visit the Steam website and download the latest Steam installer. Run the Steam installer after it finishes downloading. It should allow you to repair the files, including the Steam.exe file, when you run them. Select that option and follow any onscreen prompts.

Try to launch Steam once the repair is complete. If Steam doesn’t open, continue with the following method. If you can open the Steam client but cannot access your saved game data, simply copy the “steamapps” folder in “My Documents” back into the Steam folder and replace the file of the same name there.

Fix 9: Reinstall Steam

Like the previous method, you must back up your game files before performing this method. When you reinstall and restart Steam, data from your online games may be lost even with a backup. You should, however, still be able to access them through your Steam account.

Step #1

Completely exit the Steam client and make sure none of its processes are running in the background by right-clicking on the taskbar and choosing “Task Manager.”

Step #2

As in the other methods, click on the “Processes” tab. Click on a Steam Client process, and click “End task.” If no Steam Client processes are running, continue to Step #3. If more than one Steam Client process is running, continue clicking each process and “End task” until all the Steam Client processes are closed.

Step #3

As with the previous method, back up your game file by finding the Steam folder on your computer. Type “Steam” into the Start menu. Open the file folder named Steam.exe by right-clicking on it and choosing “Open file location.”

Step #4

In the Steam folder, find the file named “steamapps.” Copy this file to the “My Documents” folder by right-clicking it and selecting “Copy.”

Step #5

Now, open the Start menu and type in “Control Panel” without the quotations.

Step #6

Click “Uninstall a Program.”

Step #7

Find the Steam icon on the list and click it. Then click Uninstall/Change and confirm you wish to uninstall Steam. When Steam has finished uninstalling, restart your computer.

Step #8

Go to the Steam website and download the latest Steam installer to reinstall Steam. Open the Steam client installer on your computer, and follow the onscreen prompts. To access your saved game data once you are done reinstalling Steam, copy the “steamapps” folder in “My Documents” back into the Steam folder (replacing the folder of the same name) once Steam is fully installed.

If the Steam files became corrupt, so the repair could not fix them, reinstalling Steam should have fixed the error. If it didn’t, continue to the following method.

Recommended: Fortect System Repair Tool – Fix Errors & Speed Up Windows Automatically

Fix 10: Update Your Date and Time Settings

Steam collects real-time data from your computer. This process involves your date and time settings, and if these are off, it can prevent Steam from launching.

Follow these steps to make sure your date and time settings are synchronized.

Step #1

Type “Control Panel” into the Start menu without quotation marks. Click on the Control Panel option at the top of the list.

Step #2

Select “Clock and Region” from the Control Panel window that appears.

Step #3

Next, choose “Date and Time.”

Step #4

Select the tab that says “Internet Time in the pop-up window.” Then click “Change settings….”

Step #5

Make sure the box next to “Synchronize with an Internet time server” has a checkmark. Then click “Update now.” When the update is finished, click “OK.”

Now, double click on Steam and see if it will open. Hopefully, this resolves the issue. If Steam still fails to open, continue with the following method.

Fix 11: Check Your Hard Drive for Errors

Any storage device can become corrupt, especially after long-term or heavy use. Checking your drive for errors (and having it automatically repaired) can fix these issues that may prevent Steam from opening.

Step #1

Open the Start menu and click the File Explorer icon. Alternatively, you could type “File Explorer” into the Start menu and click that on the list.

Step #2

Scroll down to “This PC” and click it on the left side. Now, right-click on the drive you want to fix.

Step #3

Select “Properties” from the drop-down menu.

Step #4

Select “Tools” from the tabs at the top of the pop-up. Then click the “Check” button. Choose “Scan drive” if the Error check app says it hasn’t found any errors.

Step #5

When the scan is complete, close the window and see if you can open Steam.

Fix 12: Uninstall a Third-Party Antivirus

Sometimes third-party antivirus programs interfere with Steam because online games use copyright protection features that trick antivirus programs into thinking it is malicious software. If you suspect a third-party of antivirus software is causing computer problems, you should check to ensure Windows Defender (Microsoft’s built-in antivirus software) is deactivated.

Running two antivirus programs (such as Windows Defender and a third-party antivirus) simultaneously can cause many problems because the two can interfere with each other. To find out how to deactivate Windows Defender, click here.

Step #1

With Windows Defender disabled, check to see if you can access the webpage. If you can’t, you need to uninstall your antivirus software to fix the Steam won’t open problem. Press the [X] and [Windows] keys on your keyboard together. Click on “Settings.”

Step #2

Choose “Apps” in the Settings window. Scroll until you find your antivirus program in the “Apps & Features” submenu. Click on it, and then click the “Uninstall” button.

Step #3

Click on the Start menu Power icon and restart your computer.

Step #4

If Steam won’t open up, reinstall your antivirus and move on to the following method. If Steam does open, ensure the steam.exe file is running correctly. You can try reinstalling the third-party antivirus if a Windows update corrupted it.

If the problem reappears after you reinstall the antivirus, you must uninstall it and find another third-party antivirus or turn on Windows Defender and use that. You should never use the Internet without antivirus protection active on your computer, even if you are gaming on a website you trust and have confirmed the proper functioning of the steam.exe file to fix Steam won’t open issues.

Fix 13: Check if Your Internet Provider Is Interfering With Steam

Although this is generally not a problem unless you have recently changed Internet providers, it is one thing that is simple to check if you have access to a second network from a different provider. If the plan or provider you are using saves bandwidth by compressing data, it can cause severe problems with Steam’s operation.

The only way to test if this is the cause of Steam not opening is to open Steam when you connect to a different network with another provider. If your Internet service provider is the reason Steam will not open, the only thing you can do to resolve the issue is to change providers.

Fix 14: Update Drivers

So far, we have covered many quicker methods to ensure Steam opens correctly. However, if none of them have worked, this method should help. Sometimes if Steam won’t open, it’s caused by outdated drivers on your computer.

Step #1

Access the device manager by pressing the [X] and the [Windows] keys together. This opens the Quick Link menu, where you must choose “Device Manager.”

Step #2

Click the first type of device to expand it. Now, right-click on the name of the first device listed and click “Properties.”

Step #3

In the driver tab, choose “Update Driver.”

Step #4

When you click Update Driver, you will see an option to have the computer automatically search for driver software. Choose this option. Alternatively, you can note the current driver version and check on the manufacturer’s website for the latest version.

You can manually download and install the latest version from the manufacturer’s website if you do not have the latest version.

Step #5

The computer should perform an automatic search. If your driver is up-to-date, you will see a message stating you already have the best driver installed for that device. Otherwise, the computer should automatically update the driver.

Close the pop-up window once the search (and update if needed) is finished. Return to the device manager window (and Step #2) and follow the instructions for the next device until you have checked for driver updates on all the types of devices and device drivers listed.

Step #6

Once you have checked for updates for every driver on the list, restart your computer.

Again, try to launch Steam to see if it will open. If nothing happens and Steam doesn’t open on your computer, continue the following method.

Fix 15: Disable Compatibility Mode if Steam won’t Open

Steam is designed to run on the latest version of Windows (Windows 10), and Steam has a compatibility mode for users with an older version of Windows. Sometimes Windows 10 is proactive and automatically sets Compatibility Mode when various game errors occur, especially for Steam users.

In general, Steam will warn you that running the program in Compatibility Mode is not recommended if this is the problem. Steam users should be aware that Compatibility Mode is not recommended on your Windows 10 computer because this can interfere with the way Steam runs.

Please note that you must ensure you have performed a registry backup before continuing with this method. If you do not know how to back up your registry or are not an advanced user, you should not continue past step #6. Only advanced users should attempt editing their registries.

Step #1

First, you must exit Steam and any open Steam games and stop any Steam processes running. To prevent the processes, right-click on the taskbar, and select “Task Manager.”

Step #2

Now click on the “Processes” tab. Click on a Steam process, and then click “End task.” If you don’t find any Steam processes, continue to Step #3. If you find more than one Steam process, continue clicking each process and “End task” until all the Steam processes are closed.

Step #3

Type “Steam” into your File Explorer and right-click “Steam.exe.” Select “Properties.”

Step #4

Open the tab that says “Compatibility.” Make sure nothing has a checkmark next to it. Then click “Apply.”

Step #5

Now, click “Change settings for all users.” Again, make sure nothing has a checkmark next to it. Click “Apply” and “OK.”

Step #6

Click “OK” again to close the properties window.

Step #7

At this point, you should check to see if Steam will launch. Only continue if Steam does not launch, and you still see the Compatibility Mode warning. To continue, press the [R] key and the [Windows] key on your keyboard to access the Run box.

Type in “regedit” without quotation marks and hit  [Enter]. If you see a warning about the app making changes to the registry, click “Yes” to continue.

Step #8

Open the following drop-down lists on the left side of the Registry Editor window. First, click “HKEY_CURRENT_USER” and then “Software.”

Step #9

Continuing, click “Microsoft.”

Step #10

Now, choose “Windows NT” then “CurrentVersion” then “AppCompatFlags” and finally, “Layers.”

Step #11

After you open layers, the right side of the window should display a list of registry entries. You need to find “Steam.exe” right-click on it, and choose the option to “Delete” the entry.

Please note that you may find other Steam entries or entries for individual Steam games. Deleting these other entries could cause problems with the associated games the next time you attempt to launch them.

Step #12

In the same AppCompatFlag folder on the left, click on “Compatibility” and then “Persisted.” Again, look for a “Steam.exe” file to delete. If you find one, right-click on it and delete it.

Step #13

You need to scroll back to the top of the left menu and close the “HKEY_CURRENT_USER” folder. Instead, open “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.”

Step #14

In this folder, open the following in order: “SOFTWARE” then “Microsoft” then “Windows NT” then “CurrentVersion” then “AppCompatFlags” and finally, “Layers.” If you do not see this exact folder, continue to the next step.

If you find the folder and see a Steam.exe file, delete the Steam.exe file as in the previous steps.

Step #15

Now close the registry and try to open Steam.

This method also works if Steam will open, but you have trouble opening Steam games. Merely find the game in the Steam folder on your computer; right-click on the game, select properties, and follow steps #4—#6 above.

Fix 16: Disable Overclocking

Overclocking is when you set your computer above the manufacturer’s settings. Although the boost gives you more performance power, it can cause excessive file and memory corruption issues and cause your computer to run at higher temperatures.

If Steam won’t open and you adjusted your computer to overclock, you need to undo those settings. The UEFI/BIOS differs for each processor, so these steps are general.

Step #1

Type “Settings” into the Start menu, and select the Settings option.

Step #2

In the Settings window, choose “Updates & Security.”

Step #3

Now, click “Recovery” on the left and then choose “Restart now,” which is found under “Advanced startup” on the right.

Step #4

You should see the “Choose an Option” menu. Click on “Troubleshoot.” Then, choose “Advanced Options” and click UEFI Firmware Settings.

Step #5

The computer should restart and take you to the UEFI (or BIOS) menu. At this point, you need to look for something that says “Reset settings to default” or “Return to default” or something similar. Choose that option.

Step #6

Save your changes, and exit the BIOS.

Fix 17: Do a Clean Boot

If third-party apps interfere with Steam, restarting the computer without these running should fix the issue. When you do a clean boot, it reboots the computer with only the necessary Microsoft apps running. Any third party software that changes the operating system itself, disk, or network activity can interfere with Steam, especially for Steam users.

These programs and services run in the background, such as ad-blockers, web-optimizers, system cleaners, proxies, and performance boosters, among other things.

Step #1

Log in as an administrator. Once logged in, press the [R] and the [Windows] keys together. Type “msconfig” in it without quotation marks, and click “OK.”

Step #2

In the System Configuration window, click the “Services” tab. Ensure that “Hide all Microsoft services” has a checkmark next to it. Click the button to “Disable all.”

Step #3

Now, click the “Startup” tab in the System Configuration window. Then click “Open Task Manager.”

Step #4

When the Task Manager opens, click the “Startup” tab if it isn’t already open. Select each item you find and click the button to “Disable” it if it isn’t already disabled. When you are finished, close the Task Manager. Remember to select Steam and any Steam-related processes to ensure they do not interfere during the clean boot.

Step #5

You should be back in the System Configuration window that is still open. Click the “Apply” button and then “OK.”

Step #6

Now you need to restart your computer. Click on the Power icon on the Start menu and choose “Restart.”

Step #7

Once the computer restarts, attempt to reaccess Steam. Remember to select Steam again after the clean boot to ensure it runs smoothly.

Fix 18: System Restore

If you manually created a system restore point before Steam stopped launching, you can restore your system to that point. Although some of your information might be lost, this method allows you to fix the issue by reverting to a system restore point before the Steam Client starts having problems. You can find out how to turn the System Restore feature on and create a restore point here.

Step #1

As previously mentioned, simultaneously press the [X] and [Windows] keys. Choose “Settings” from the menu that appears.

Step #2

Now, select “Update & Security.” In the Update & Security window, click on “Recovery” on the left. You should see “Advanced Startup” on the right. Click the “Restart now” button found underneath that.

Step #3

You will see the “Choose an Option” menu when Windows restarts. Select “Troubleshoot.”

Step #4

Pick “Advanced Options.”

Step #5

Select “System Restore.”

Step #6

The computer will allow you to pick a restore point and then return it to that point in time.

See Also: How To Enable System Restore In Windows 10

Conclusion:

If none of the above methods can resolve your steam won’t open issue, the problem is likely because of an error in the Steam program itself. Although Steam is prompt at fixing known errors, you should contact Steam support with the list of things you have done to resolve the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions