Fix: Steam Won’t Open

Steam is a world-leading gaming platform with an active and engaged community boasting millions of users.

However, gathering so many users on a platform of that complexity that constantly changes greatly increases the chance of bugs and errors.

Most software errors are usually minor design issues, and it’s typical for computer users to encounter them, even on widely popular platforms like Steam.

However, when Steam doesn’t even launch on your PC, that’s considered a slightly more serious and disruptive problem requiring immediate attention.

Dealing with the same issue at the moment? You’ve come to the right place.

This guide contains reliable solutions for the Steam won’t open problem, so without any further ado, let’s get right into it.

Fix 1: Disable Steam Background Steam-Related Services

If Steam is already operating on your computer, you won’t be able to initiate a new session of the client until the previous one is completely closed.

Occasionally, the app doesn’t close properly, and it continues running in the background while you think it’s completely closed. This means the issue of Steam not launching might ironically be caused by Steam already being open.

Don’t worry, this is a very easy issue to fix!

The easiest way to check if this is the case is by using Task Manager. Here’s the entire process in four steps to make it as straightforward as possible:

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete simultaneously on your keyboard, then choose Task Manager. Alternatively, you can right-click your taskbar and select “Task Manager,” as shown in the image below.
   
2. In the Task Manager, click “Processes” if it isn’t already open by default.
   
3. Find Steam on the list of processes in the Task Manager. Right-click it and select “End Task.”
   
4. Start Steam again by using any shortcut. It should now start properly.
   

If Steam isn’t on the list of running processes in your Task Manager, it probably hasn’t launched. If this is the case, the problem must have been caused by something else.

Fix 2: Check If Your Antivirus Blocks Steam From Running

Antivirus programs are important because they protect your system from malware and other unwanted intruders. However, they sometimes incorrectly flag legitimate apps, including Steam, as threats, preventing you from accessing them.

Virtual Private Networks, PC “boosting” software, and Firewalls can also be troublesome and might prevent Steam from launching.

The majority of Windows 10 users rely solely on Windows Defender, which is not known to cause any issues with Steam. However, if you use third-party antivirus software, it could be causing your issue.

In this official Steam article, the support team provides a list of antivirus programs known to interfere with the experience of Steam users. The list includes McAfee, NOD32, Norton Firewall, and Kaspersky AV, some of the most popular antivirus programs available today.

Try temporarily disabling all of these protective programs and attempt to relaunch Steam.

It is recommended that you do this on a freshly restarted PC, especially if you have already tried launching Steam multiple times.

Fix 3: Restart Your Computer

It isn’t clear why restarting a device can fix significant issues with it, but it remains one of the most reliable methods for solving problems with digital technology.

There might be an unresponsive service running in the background, which you can’t find, or a driver could have failed to launch correctly, preventing Steam from opening. Even if it doesn’t fix the issue, restarting your PC will at least help you eliminate these possible causes.

Turning your PC off and on again could help you finally launch Steam successfully. If it doesn’t, you might need to completely reinstall Steam.

Fix 4: Re-Install Steam On Your System

Although many users report that reinstalling Steam on their system helped solve the problem, there’s some preparation work you should complete before doing this.

You should first create a backup of your Steam games so you won’t have to re-download them after you reinstall Steam.

This guide will help you create a backup and reinstall Steam on your PC.  

Fix 5: Check If Steam Servers Are Down At The Moment

Some users mistake Steam not starting for it launching but displaying the “Could not connect to Steam network” message.

If Steam starts, but you see this message, it’s still an issue because you cannot play your games library. This guide has some working solutions you can try.  

Fix 6: Try Running Steam As Administrator

This is another simple but effective fix that has helped many users in the past.

To run Steam as Administrator, follow the steps below:

1. Find the shortcut you usually use to open Steam.
2. Right-click it and select “Run as administrator” and confirm your choice.
   
3. Steam should now open correctly if nothing else is preventing your access to the app.

As you cannot do this from your taskbar, you should make a shortcut on your Desktop or your Start Menu before attempting to open the app in Administrator mode.

Fix 7: Use Your Browser To Open Steam In Urgent Situations

This isn’t a direct solution to the problem, but it can help you address any pressing matters while you try to restore your access to the application.

Opening Steam on your browser won’t let you play games. However, if you need to access Steam to initiate an important trade or change your password, you can perform these tasks through your browser.

Utilize this approach during critical moments.

Conclusion

The approaches listed above should assist you in initiating correctly after encountering the Steam won’t open Windows glitch. If you come across this problem, don’t fret too much, as it’s considerably more prevalent and less grave than it appears to be.

Reinstalling Steam usually fixes the problem right away, but before taking that drastic step, you should try some of the quicker and simpler solutions from the list above.