Steam might not be opening because of the VPN you're using, or because your OS is outdated. You can try turning the VPN off and updating to the latest OS version.
I've been using Steam for a while, and it's stopped working for me on a couple of occasions. The first time around, I was easily able to fix it, as I figured that my VPN was acting up. But the problem popped up a second time a few months ago, and it took longer to fix.
I touched on how I took care of the problem and all the other ways that you can fix it too.
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There are a bunch of different ways that you can get Steam to start working again. But before I get to them, first check whether the Steam servers are down. It wouldn't be a surprise if the Steam processes are malfunctioning because of this. All you have to do is check their server status page.
If you're feeling impatient, you can reach out to the Steam support team and ask them when their servers will be back up again. They should be able to give you an estimate.
Let's talk about all the ways to fix Steam won't open now.
Although you generally can use VPNs with Steam, there's a chance that the particular VPN that you're using is malfunctioning. So, you're not able to work on Steam tasks anymore. I'd recommend that you try disconnecting from the VPN, then checking again.
The process to follow is relatively simple, no matter the type of VPN that you're using. You only have to launch the virtual private network, and then click on the Disconnect button (or anything that resembles it).
You can try restarting your computer. It's relatively easy and can clear any minor glitches that are causing Steam to stop working properly.
Here's what you do on Windows computers:
Here's what you do on Mac computers:
Steam and all your other programs that require the internet won't work if you're having network issues. This can be easy to fix, as you might just be far away from your router. You can try moving closer to it before you launch the Steam client again.
But if this doesn't work, you can try disconnecting and reconnecting back to your Wi-Fi, or even restarting your router.
If you're still having trouble, you can get the Steam client service to work by connecting to another Wi-Fi connection. The one you're on might just be acting up because of issues from your ISP's end, like their towers being down.
There's a chance that your Antivirus program is causing the issue. It might be thinking that your Steam files (and Steam's installation folder) are a threat. You can check this by temporarily disabling your Antivirus software.
Now, there are quite a few different anti-virus software out there. So, the below steps to follow are somewhat general. Here's how you can get your Steam tasks to launch again:
You might be able to get Steam working again by updating your operating system. It may be outdated and bugging out. If your OS is outdated, you probably already know. You might have been getting update prompts asking you to download the latest OS version.
Before you go and update your operating system, make sure that you have a stable internet connection first. The update can take forever, otherwise.
Here's how you can update Windows:
Here's how you can update Mac computers:
Instead of having to update your operating system, you can go ahead and update the drivers on your computer. They might be outdated and in need of new firmware. If this is what you're facing, you once again would be getting prompts telling you that your drivers need an upgrade.
When it comes to Mac, you automatically update your system drivers the moment you update your OS. So, you don't have to worry too much about this. You can check what I mentioned earlier and update Mac from there.
There are 2 different ways that you can update outdated drivers on Windows. One of them is easier than the other. Here's method 1 to update drivers:
Here's method 2 to fix your video card drivers:
If you're still having trouble, there might be some major software problems on the Steam client. There's really nothing that you can do, other than uninstall and then reinstall Steam again.
Here's what Steam users can do on Windows:
Here's what Steam users can do on Mac:
You might not be able to run Steam because of corrupt system files. If this is what you're facing, you'd not only deal with Steam not opening but you'd also be stuck with your operating system acting up.
There's a second method to try, but it's only available for Windows computers. Here's how you can try it out to open the Steam game again.
I've reserved probably my most comprehensive fix for you at the end - I'm talking about using your computer's System restore feature. Now, it's something that you can only do on Windows computers. But basically. you'll revert your computer to its previous state.
If there were any hardcore software problems that weren't letting you work Steam-related processes, this should clear it up. You don't have to worry about losing your personal files, and the restoration will only work on the System files.
Of course, you'll only be able to use this feature if you've made a restore point before. If this is something you have done, then here's what you do:
If Steam won't open, you don't have to worry, as there are a bunch of different ways that you can fix the problem. Probably the easiest is closing any VPN that you might have running. But also, you can try restarting your computer.
I'd also recommend that you try running Steam with the latest OS version, and to make sure that your antivirus is not affecting your Steam installer.
Hopefully, you found all of the points that were run through useful and aren't dealing with the Steam won't open issue anymore.
