The “Unable to initialize Steam API” error is a common issue that sometimes occurs when players try to start games from Steam. One user’s Reddit post says this about that error: “So, I bought Borderlands 3 on Steam and followed the guide from u/Intelligent-Gaming, but before the game even launches I get an error message that says: ‘Unable to initialize SteamAPI’.” That Steam error can occur for games like Dying Light 2, Hogwarts Legacy, Prey, and many more. This is how you can fix the “Unable to initialize Steam API” error.
Allow Steam Through Firewalls
The “Unable to initialize Steam API” error often occurs because of firewalls that block Steam from launching games. This can happen when Steam isn’t allowed through a firewall. So, try allowing Steam through Windows Defender Firewall’s allowed list like this.
- Press the Windows logo + S key combination, input Windows Defender Firewall, and select the matching search result.
- Click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall to view the allowed list.
The Windows Defender Firewall applet
- Press Change settings to activate the checkboxes.
- Select the Private/Public checkboxes for Steam. If you can’t find Steam, add that app to the list as explained on this Microsoft page.
The allowed apps list for the Windows firewall
- Click OK to save.
Have you installed a third-party firewall on your PC? If so, add Steam to that firewall’s allowed list as well. Note that antivirus tools also have firewall components you might need to check.
Set Steam to Run as an Administrator
Users confirm setting Steam to run with elevated admin privileges can fix the “Unable to initialize Steam API” gaming error. This is how you can configure the Steam gaming client to run as an administrator.
- Right-click on the Steam desktop shortcut with which you open the software and click Properties.
- Next, click Compatibility to go to that tab.
- Select the setting with the Run this program as an administrator label.
The Compatibility tab
- Click Apply > OK to set the new administrator option.
Opt-Out of the Steam Beta Participation
Have you opted into the Steam Beta? If so, try opting out of Steam Beta because that’s not a stable version. You can opt out of Steam Beta participation like this.
- Start Steam to open that gaming client
- Click Steam and Settings.
- Select Interface in Steam Settings.
The Interface tab
- Click No beta on the Client Beta Participation drop-down menu.
Disable Third-Party Antivirus Apps
Some users say they’ve needed to unblock games within third-party antivirus (such as Comodo) to fix the “Unable to initialize Steam API” error. So, try temporarily disabling third-party antivirus shields before starting games from Steam. You can usually do that by right-clicking their system tray icons and selecting options for disabling antivirus shields.
If disabling third-party antivirus works, you’ll know it was responsible for the “Unable to initialize Steam API” error. I don’t recommend leaving your antivirus shield off. Instead, try unblocking affected games by adding them to the antivirus utility’s exceptions list.
Reinstall Steam
Reinstalling Steam is a last resort resolution that has worked for some players who’ve needed to fix the “Unable to initialize Steam API” error. However, note that doing this will also remove all games installed with Steam. This Steam page tells you how you can uninstall Valve’s gaming client.
The Programs and Features applet
To reinstall, go to this Steam download page and click Install. Click the File Explorer taskbar shortcut to open the folder containing the downloaded Steam setup file. Double-click SteamSetup.exe and go through the steps in the setup wizard to install.
Those five potential resolutions usually fix the “Unable to initialize Steam API” error on Windows PCs. If they’re not enough, I advise submitting a support ticket to the Steam help service for more potential fixes. You can do that by clicking Contact Steam Support on this help page.
