Steam is a popular game distribution platform with a massive game library. However, you may see a ‘Steam must be running to play this game’ error when launching a game on Steam. This error will mainly knock on your door if your computer is missing Steam or its installation directory is corrupted.
Fortunately, it’s easy to get rid of this error message. This guide has all the working methods to fix the ‘Steam needs to be running to play this game’ error on Windows 11. So let’s get started.
1. Install Steam on Your Computer
As mentioned earlier, the ‘Steam must running to play this game’ error usually appears when your computer lacks Steam. Many AAA titles require the Steam client for authentication. So you will need to install the Steam client on your computer. If you deleted it or it is missing. you will have to download and install the Steam client on your computer to fix the error. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Visit the official Steam website using the link below.
Step 2: Click the Install Steam option in the upper right corner.
Step 3: Click Steam Settings.
Step 4: Once the executable is downloaded, open it.
Next, select the default language, location, and other options in the setup wizard. Finally, tick the Run Steam box and click Finish.
Now enter your credentials to log into your Steam account. Once logged in, launch the game that throws the error and check if it reappears.
2. Launch Steam with Admin Rights
Another effective solution to get rid of the error message is to launch Steam with administrative privileges, then open the game through the game library. To do that, follow the instructions below:
Step 1: Right-click on the Steam client and select Properties.
Step 2: Switch to the Compatibility tab.
Step 3: Check the box Run this program as an administrator.
Step 4: Click Apply and OK.
Step 5: Double-click the Steam client to open it. If the User Account Control window pops open, click Yes to grant administrative privileges.
Go to the Steam game library, launch the game and check if the problem persists.
3. Download the latest Steam client update
If you’re having issues even after launching Steam with administrative privileges, there may be a problem with the Steam build on your computer. You’ll need to download the latest Steam client update to fix that. Follow the steps below to do that:
Step 1: Launch the Steam client and click on the Steam option from the top left corner.
Step 2: Select Check for Steam Client Updates from the context menu.
The Steam Self Updater window will open and download any available updates. Then restart the client and check for the problem.
4. Game integrity verification matters
The ‘Steam must be running to play this game’ error can appear if important files are missing from the game you are trying to launch. Fortunately, you can use Steam’s Game File Integrity Verification feature to download missing files. Here’s how to do it for your game:
Step 1: Open the Steam client and go to Gallery.
Step 2: Right-click the game with the error and select Properties.
Step 3: Select Local Files from the left sidebar.
Step 4: Click the Verify Game File Integrity option in the right pane.
The Steam client will now start scanning the game files and comparing them to the files currently on its server. Then it will automatically download the missing game files.
5. Opt out of the Steam Beta account
You can use your Steam beta account to access upcoming features before anyone else. But sometimes, using an unstable beta release can cause many of the same problems as the current one.
As a workaround, you will have to opt out of your Steam beta account. You can do that by following the steps below:
Step 1: Open the Steam client, click on Steam in the top left corner and select the Install option.
Step 2: In the Settings window, select Accounts from the left sidebar.
Step 3: Click the Change button in the Join Beta section.
Step 4: Click the drop-down icon, select NO – Opt out of all beta programs and then click OK.
6. Delete custom files
Another major reason behind the error could be any custom files you downloaded for the game causing the error. For instance, if you downloaded any mods or applied any cheat codes on GTA 5, you will probably get an error when launching it.
To get rid of the error message, remove any mods, hacks or any other custom files you have installed on your game.
7. Reinstall the game
If you are still facing the error Steam must running to play this game, you have no other choice but to reinstall the game. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Open the Steam client and go to Gallery.
Step 2: Right-click the game in the left sidebar, move the cursor to Manage and select Uninstall.
Step 3: Click Uninstall again.
After uninstalling the game, go to the Store and re-download the game.
Enjoy uninterrupted gaming
No one likes to be interrupted while playing their favorite game. But if you are facing the error Steam must running to play this game, now you know the cause of the error and how to fix it.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
