How To Fix Steam Game Won't Launch Issue?

Are you tired of clicking “Play” on Steam, only to be met with silence? You’re not alone! In this article, we’ll dive into the frustrating world of Steam games refusing to launch and provide you with simple, effective solutions.

To fix a Steam game that won’t launch, verify the game’s files, update your graphics drivers, disable background applications, and ensure your antivirus isn’t blocking the game. If necessary, reinstall the game and Steam.

Say goodbye to wasted time and hello to uninterrupted gaming!

Table of Contents

How To Fix Steam Game Won’t Launch Issue?

Recently, several cases have made it hard for an individual to launch a steam game citing problems such as ‘steam game won’t launch’. There can be several reasons behind it. Some of them are as follow. Here we go with few fixes to solve :

Check Specifications

In many cases, the game’s specifications do not match with the computer, so the game doesn’t launch. So the mentioned specifications signify the gaming system requirements.

Some of the common requirements of the game are :

Operating system
Central processing unit
RAM
Graphics card
Storage

Before launching the game, it is always recommended to check the specifications of a computer or laptop with the gaming requirements.

Check Out Window Update And DirectX Version

Before troubleshooting method, it is always recommended to examine and restart the computer and then check out the window update. If it is not updated, do update it. It will add new features and fix out the bugs and the steam game won’t launch error will be fixed

Along with it, examine the DirectX version of the computer is updated or not. You can follow the below steps to determine the DirectX version.

Select the start button.
Type Dxdiag in the search button and then press Enter.
A new tab will open. Select the System tab.
Click on Select Information.

The given information tells you about the DirectX version of your window.

Run As Administrator

Run as an administrator means the allowance of special permission to the steam game. It has occurred because the window might have restricted due to the formation of damages in the window system. But sometimes, certain programs must perform their tasks otherwise the ‘steam game won’t launch’ will not be solved. You can run the steam game launcher as administrator after using these steps-

Right-click on the steam application and then click on Run as administrator. Right-click on the steam application.
Select Properties.
Click on the compatibility option.
Tick out the option “Run this program as an administrator.”
Click on Apply and finally click OK.

Run In Compatibility Mode

Compatibility mode allows the older version of the operating system to be compatible with the newer version of the window.

Here are the steps for using the compatible mode:

Right-click on the steam game launcher.
Select Properties.
Click on Compatibility mode.
Check” Run this program in compatibility mode.”
Select the option from the drop-down menu.
Click on Apply.
Lastly, select OK.

Verify Integrity

This is another method to fix Steam Game won’t launch error. Integrity verification means the checksum of all the game files with the steam server. It usually matches out all the requirements that the server asks for the game to be launched. The server won’t launch the game if it is unsuitable. Verification helps launch the steam by fulfilling and downloading all the files, which help smooth running.

Follow the given below steps for verification:

Firstly, open the steam application.
On the top left corner, click on the option Library.
Select the game which you want to verify in the list given.
Along with it, right-click on Properties.
Select the Local Files option on the left side of the screen.
A new tab will open. Finally, select the Verify Integrity of Game Files option.

The verification will take the time to match all the files and download the ones which have not been downloaded earlier. After the verification, the game will launch, and there will be no hinder in playing.

Re-Login To The Steam Launcher

To log in to the steam launcher, one must have to Clear Downloaded Cache. It helps out in clearing all the corrupted files, which hamper the launching of the game. Consequently, it also reloads all the files for the smooth functioning of games. Hence, solving the problem of steam game won’t launch.

Here are the steps to re-login the steam launcher:

Open steam application.
Click on the Steam option on the top left corner of the steam application.
From the Dropdown Menu, select the Setting option.
A new tab will pop up on the screen.
Kindly select the Clear Downloaded Cache option.
Finally, click on OK.

It will sign out the steam application first. Then you can log in to the steam and check out whether the issue has been resolved or not.

Update Drivers

One must have the updated graphic driver in the system to avoid the error of steam game won’t launch, which helps you to play the game at better frames per second. In addition, the graphic driver helps in clear animation of the game, which provides gaming vibes to the gamers. In case the graphics drivers are not updated, there is zero chance of the steam to be launched.

To check out the graphic drivers, you can follow these simple steps given below-

Click on the Start menu.
Select the Device Manager in the pop-up menu.
In the new tab of Device manager, select the Display Adapter Option.

There can be two options: your operating system has the NVIDIA graphic card or Intel HD Graphic Cards. If you have an Intel HD card, select the next option VMWare SVGA 3D.

Click on the Update option.
Secondly, Click on Browse My Computer For Drivers.
Thirdly, Click on Next.
The updated drivers will successfully launch the game.
If you have NVIDIA graphic drivers, Click on Drivers.
Select Check for Updates.

If the drivers are already launched, the launcher will recommend you with the updated notification. Note: If the above process does not resolve the trouble, you can uninstall the graphic card and install it again from the respective websites.

Add New Library Folders

There are lots of chances where the operating system went run out of space. In such cases, we choose the new drive to relocate the steam launch. It provides extra space to the library folder which allows the game will run trouble-free. To fix out such problems, we use many simple and technical ways for steam game won’t launch problem.

Here are the steps to add a new library folder:

Click on the Steam option on the top left corner of the steam application.
Select the Setting option.
In the setting drop-down list, click on Downloads.
Select the Steam Library Folders.
Next, click on Add New Library.
After this, select the drive where you want to add the new folder.
Give the name to the new folder.
Finally, click on the Make Default Folder.
Click on OK.

FAQs

Why won't my Steam game launch?

There could be several reasons, including corrupt game files, outdated drivers, or compatibility issues. Check for updates and verify the game files through Steam.

How can I fix a Steam game that won't launch?

Try verifying the game files, updating your graphics drivers, running the game as an administrator, or checking for software conflicts.

What does it mean when Steam says 'Preparing to Launch' but the game doesn't start?

This usually indicates an issue with the game files or a software conflict. Verifying the game files or performing a clean boot may help.

Can antivirus software prevent a Steam game from launching?

Yes, sometimes antivirus software can falsely flag a game file as malicious. Try adding the game's folder to your antivirus exceptions list.

What should I do if a Steam game crashes on startup?

Check for updates, verify game files, update drivers, and ensure your system meets the game's requirements. If the issue persists, contact Steam support.

Conclusion

Now you have to restart the application and check out if the issue has been resolved or not. The above-mentioned steps are proven with accuracy. We hope you have learnt how to resolve the Steam game won’t launch error.

Tony Polanco

Tony, computing writer at Automaticable, covers laptops, tablets, Windows, iOS. Off-duty, he indulges in comics, gaming, speculative fiction, and excessive Twitter use. Non-nerdy side includes rocking out at concerts and hitting NYC bars.