There are many reports about Steam keeps freezing, crashing and not responding issue either on start up or randomly. The issue is not uncommon and thus can easily be fixed. In this article, we have listed all possible fixes that you should go through to get the required fix.
Before you move down and start with the solutions, we recommend you make you ensure that no external devices are attacked to your system. Restart and launch Steam on every solution you finish up to check if this provides the solution. If not, go with the second and next till you get the required fix.
Possible fixes for Steam Not Responding issue
Fix 1: Delete ClientRegistry.blob
This file ensures Steam to hold the registration data about games that the users install. If you delete this file, it will automatically be restored on the next log-in. Sometimes, this file gets corrupted and the best solution in this case is to preserve all the default settings on each game installed:
- Exit Steam and end all running processes,
- Browse to the Steam Directory the then, its default location is:
C:\Program Files\Steam.
- Find ClientRegistry.blob,
- Rename the file as ClientRegistryOld.blob or delete this file completely
- Restart Steam to allow this file to be created.
Hopefully, this resolves the Steam keeps crashing issue. if not, perform the below steps:
- Go to your Steam directory again,
- Locate Steamerrorreorter.exe,
- Run the app and re-launch the Steam then to check if the problem resolved.
Fix 2: Boot system in Safe Mode
Windows Startup in Safe Mode provides you limited access to your Windows. This might provide you the troubleshoots for the Steam keeps freezing issue, if some unwanted processes/ software are causing the problem by disabling them. These processes belong to a third party app – make sure that you find and delete that app from your system:
- Turn on your computer in safe mode (if you are Windows 7 user, restart your system and press F8 upon start up, and then choose the option says Enable Safe Mode with Networking),
- Once Windows opened in desired way, open Steam and connect to the internet and log-in to it. If you are successful in doing this, this means that your AV tool or firewall or third party program is the problematic. Look for their removal options.
Fix 3: Launch Steam as Admin
It is possible that the Steam Not responding because it does not have required read and write permissions on disks and its folders. Sometimes, it requires changing the system files so as to run it in the most optimized way. It might face crashing. Freezing issues because it does not have administrative access. Here is how to grant it this access:
- Go to the Steam directory and browser the file named Steam.exe,
- Right-click on it and select properties,
- In the compatibility tab, check the box that says Run This Program as Administrator,
- Save the changes and exit,
- Now, browse GameOverlay.exe file, right-click on it and select properties,
- Go to the Compatibility tab and check the box Run this program as Admin and confirm these changes,
- Restart the device after this and launch the Steam app to see if Steam keeps crashing issue is gone.
Fix 4: Disable Antivirus and Firewall
Steam can conflict with your antivirus/ firewall programs. It can such processes that can consume a lot of memory and CPU usage and so the antivirus suite might add it as potential threat. You should have to disable the antivirus tool/firewall in this case. Here is how you can disable Windows Firewall:
- Press Win + R, type control and hit Enter to open Control Panel,
- On the top dialogue box, search for Firewall and click on the first option,
- Now, on the left, click Turn Windows Firewall on or off,
- Select Turn off Windows Firewall options on both the tabs, Public and Private Networks,
- Save these changes and Exit. Restart Steam and launch it to Run it as admin.
Fix 5: Delete AppCache Folder
It is a cache allocated for files. You can delete it as it does not contain any Steam system files and will not affect its client:
- Go to the Steam Directory and search for folder named AppCache,
- Delete it and then Restart the device and check if this resolves the issue.
Fix 6: Update System Drivers
It could be the case that the drivers on your systems are outdated and due to which you are receiving the steam keeps freezing issue. Here is how you can manually update system drivers:
- Press Win+ R, type DxDiag and hit Enter to open DirectX diagnostic tool,
- It will show hardware list installed on PC along with their software version,
- Use the name of your hardware to search for the latest drivers available and download them to your system,
You can download the latest driver update automatically using the automatic driver updating tool whose direct downloading link is provided for you below.
Fix 7: Reset Network Adapter
It makes possible the communication between the computer and with the operating system takes place. Sometimes, error occurs in its configuration file as a result of which many issues start to occur. Steam keeps crashing might be the result of the same of which you can get an easy fix just by resetting your network protocol:
- Exit Steam and close all running processes of the Steam,
- Press Windows key and search for Command prompt,
- Right-click on the Command prompt on the resulting it and select Run it as Admin,
- Type in the following command:
netsh winsock reset
- Restart your device and check then to ensure if the issue is resolved.
Fix 8: Outing out of beta
If you are opt for Steam beta version, the possibility of the instability is more. Follow these steps to opt out of the beat program of the Steam:
- Head over to the Seam Settings and go to the Account Section,
- Click on the Change option and select None to disable beta program,
Fix 9: Uninstall and Re-install Steam
Use this as a last resort. Before uninstalling, copy the folder named SteamApps containing the data of your games. After doing this, follow these steps to ensure its un-installation:
- Press Win+ R, type in taskmgr to open Task Manager,
- End all the processes related to stem,
- Browse to your Steam Directory the then,
- Go to the SteamApps folder and delete it,
- Now, press Win+ R, type in Control Panel and hit Enter,
- Once Control Panel is opened, go to the program tab and select Uninstall a program,
- Click on Steam from the list to uninstall it.
Now, go to the official Steam website and download it installation file. Click on the Install Steam now option so as your computer will download the required files. You will be asked for its location to choose in the meanwhile. Choose the download location and let the Stem download/ install itself. After successful installation, run it and your Steam keeps freezing, crashing and non responding issue will be gone.
Conclusion
We have provided all possible fixes for steam keeps crashing, keeps freezing and not responding issue. we hope that the above mentioned solutions help you in getting the fix. Appreciate our effort if this article helps you in any way.
