Many players utilize the Steam gaming client for launching their Windows PC games. However, sometimes Steam doesn’t start or open when players need it to. One user reported their Steam software not launching in a forum post like this, “Just a few days ago, Steam keeps crashing whenever I open it when it checks for available updates.” Players can’t access and launch their library of games when Valve’s gaming client doesn’t open for them. This is how you can fix Steam not starting on a Windows 11/10 PC.
Read also: 7 Ways to Speed Up Steam Downloads for Games
Close Steam Background Processes
A widely confirmed way to fix Steam not starting is to close all Steam-related background processes with Task Manager. Steam startup issues can arise because your PC gets a little confused when there are already Steam-related processes running in the background. So, try closing all Steam-related processes with Task Manager like this.
- Right-click any empty part of the Windows taskbar to select the Task Manager utility shortcut.
- First, look for Steam processes under Apps. Right-click any Steam processes you see there to select End task.
- Next, look for Steam-related things under Background processes. Here you’re looking for processes like Steam (32-bit) and Steam Client WebHelper.
- Select every background Steam process you can find there and click End task to terminate it.
Steam processes in Task Manager
- Try starting your Steam gaming client again.
Run Steam With Administrator Rights
Some users also say they’ve fixed Steam not starting by running Valve’s gaming client with admin rights. This is a relatively simple fix to apply that will give the Steam games client full system rights. You can set your Steam software to run as an administrator like this.
- Right-click your Steam desktop shortcut and select Properties.
- Go into the Compatibility tab within the Steam Properties window.
- Select Run this program as an administrator > Apply to set that option.
The Run this program as an administrator checkbox
- Click OK to close the Steam Properties window.
Run the Steam Flushconfig Command
Steam://flushconfig is a handy troubleshooting command that can resolve a wide variety of Steam issues. That’s like a reset command for Steam that refreshes its files and restores its default state. This is how you can try fixing Steam not launching with that command.
- Press the Windows logo and X keys on your keyboard at the same time and select Run on the shortcuts menu.
- Input steam://flushconfig into the Run dialog.
- Click OK to execute the flushconfig command.
The steam://flushconfig command
- Select OK if a Clear Download Cache message prompt appears.
- Restart your PC and then open Steam’s installation folder.
- Double-click the Steam.exe file to start the gaming client from there.
Delete the Appcache Folder
A corrupted appcache data folder is a potential cause for Steam not starting. You can remedy this by erasing the appcache folder to clear it as follows.
- Right-click the Steam shortcut on your desktop to select Open file location.
- Click the appcache folder once to select without opening it.
The appcache folder
- Select Explorer’s Delete option on its command bar or within the Home tab to erase the selected folder.
Disconnect Unneeded External Peripherals
Some users confirm that disconnecting unneeded peripheral devices has fixed Steam not starting on their PCs. For example, one user said this on Reddit: “I had a similar problem and tried everything, eventually it was the external monitor. If you use the laptop with an external monitor try to unplug it and run Steam only on the laptop monitor.”
So, try disconnecting (unplugging) peripheral devices that aren’t essential from your PC. This includes things like secondary external monitors, gamepads, USB drives, joysticks, and USB hubs. If you utilize an external keyboard with a laptop, try disconnecting that as well.
Delete the Steam Beta File
Erasing the beta file is another way to fix Steam not starting that’s worked for some users. If you utilize the beta build of Steam, this is a potential fix worth trying. These are the steps for erasing the Steam beta file.
- Open the Program Files > Steam installation directory within File File Explorer.
- Double-click the package subfolder in Steam’s folder.
The package folder
- Right-click the beta file and select Delete if you can find it in the package folder.
Reinstall Your Steam Software
Reinstalling is the last troubleshooting method you should try to fix Steam not starting. I say this because uninstalling Steam also removes game content on your PC. However, you can back up Steam game content before uninstalling. This Steam guide page tells you how to uninstall Valve’s gaming client and back up games.
The Programs and Features applet
To reinstall Valve’s gaming client, bring up this Steam webpage. Click the Install Steam button there. Double-click the SteamSetup.exe file in the folder that includes it to run the setup wizard and select to install the software from there.
The Install Steam button
Other Possible Ways to Fix Steam Not Starting on a Windows PC
If Steam is still not starting for you after applying the potential fixes above, there are other troubleshooting methods worth trying. These are some other possible ways to fix Steam not starting:
- Temporarily disable the Windows Security or third-party antivirus shields before starting your Steam software. If this works, add Steam to the antivirus tool’s exclusion list.
- Add Steam to the allowed list for Windows Defender Firewall.
- Check if the Steam server is down on this status page. If it is, wait a day or two before you try to start Steam again.
- Update Windows 11 or 10 by clicking Check for updates in the Settings app.
Applying those potential fixes for Steam not starting will likely kick-start Valve’s gaming client for most users. I don’t promise guaranteed solutions, but the resolutions above have worked for many users who’ve needed to fix Steam not opening. However, you can submit a support ticket from this Steam help page if more potential fixes are required.
