Troubleshoot Steam Game Not Launching Issue

January 25, 2024 Lee Bowman

Struggling to get your Steam game to launch? Here’s how to troubleshoot the issue.

Check for updates: Make sure your game and Steam client are both up to date. Sometimes outdated software can cause compatibility issues.

Table of Contents

Running the Game with Administrator Privileges and in Compatibility Mode

If the game is still not launching, you can try running it in compatibility mode. To do this, right-click on the game’s executable file, select “Properties”, go to the “Compatibility” tab, and check the box that says “Run this program in compatibility mode for:” Then, choose a previous version of Windows from the dropdown menu. This can help the game run as if it were on an older version of Windows, which may resolve compatibility issues.

By running the game with administrator privileges and in compatibility mode, you may be able to troubleshoot the issue and get the game to launch successfully. If the issue persists, you may need to explore other troubleshooting methods such as checking for updates, verifying game files, or disabling antivirus software.

The trouble with troubleshooting is that trouble shoots back.” – Unknown

Ensuring Operating System and Graphics Drivers are Up-to-Date

To troubleshoot a Steam game not launching issue, ensure that your operating system and graphics drivers are up-to-date. Check for Windows updates by clicking on the Start button, then selecting Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Install any available updates. For graphics drivers, visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer and download the latest drivers for your specific graphics card model.

After updating your operating system and graphics drivers, restart your computer to apply the changes. Once your computer has restarted, try launching the Steam game again to see if the issue has been resolved.

It’s important to keep your operating system and graphics drivers up-to-date to ensure compatibility with the latest games and software.

Verifying and Repairing Game Cache Files

Open Steam and go to your Library.
Right-click on the game that is experiencing issues and select Properties.
Go to the Local Files tab and click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.
Wait for the process to complete and then try launching the game again.

Closing Unnecessary Programs and Checking for System File Damage

Closing Unnecessary Programs: If your Steam game is not launching, it may be due to other programs running in the background. Close unnecessary programs and processes using Task Manager to free up system resources for the game to run smoothly.

Checking for System File Damage: System file damage can also prevent Steam games from launching. To check for this, run the System File Checker tool by typing “sfc /scannow” in the Command Prompt and pressing Enter. This will scan for and repair any corrupted system files.

It’s important to ensure that your Windows operating system is up to date with the latest patches and updates. Run Windows Update to download and install any available updates for your system to fix any compatibility issues that may be causing the game not to launch.

In addition, make sure that your antivirus software is not blocking the game from launching. Add an exclusion for the game’s executable file in your antivirus settings to prevent it from interfering with the game.