4 Ways to Restart Steam - wikiHow (2024)

  • Categories
  • Hobbies and Crafts
  • Games
  • Video Games
  • Steam Games

Download Article

Easy ways to refresh game files and reset Steam

Author Info

Last Updated: November 29, 2023

Download Article

  • Relaunching
  • |
  • Refreshing Files in Windows
  • |
  • Refreshing Files on Mac OS X
  • |
  • Refreshing Files in Linux
  • |
  • Tips

Restarting Steam can often help resolve problems with Internet connectivity when trying to load or play games. You can restart Steam by closing and reopening the client, or refresh your Steam files in the event you feel that Steam's files may be modified, corrupted, missing, or misconfigured on your operating system. If none of these solutions work, try contacting Steam.

Things You Should Know

  • To restart Steam, click on Steam in the toolbar, then hit Exit. Double click on the Steam icon to relaunch it.
  • If you're on Windows, refresh Steam files by exiting Steam, then type steam://flushconfig into the Run dialog box.
  • To refresh files on Mac OS X, exit Steam and press the Windows + R keys. Then, type steam://flushconfig into the Run dialog box.
  • To refresh files in Linux, launch a terminal and then type steam --reset. Press Enter, then restart your computer.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Relaunching

Download Article

  1. 1

    Click on “Steam” in the toolbar at the top left corner of your Steam session.

  2. 2

    Select “Exit” or “Exit Steam. Your current session of Steam will close.

    • Alternately, right-click on the Steam icon in the notification tray on your desktop, and select “Exit.” In Windows, the notification tray is located at the bottom right corner of the desktop; in Mac OS X, the notification tray is located at the top right corner of the desktop.

    Advertisem*nt

  3. 3

    Double-click on the Steam icon on your desktop to relaunch Steam. If the Steam shortcut icon is not located on your desktop, search for Steam in the “Start” menu in Windows, or in the Applications folder on Mac OS X.[1]

  4. Advertisem*nt

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Refreshing Files in Windows

Download Article

  1. 1

    Exit Steam using steps #1 and #2 from Method One.

  2. 2

    Press the Windows + R keys at the same time. This will open the Run dialog box.

  3. 3

    Type the following command into the Run dialog box, then press Enter: steam://flushconfig. This command will refresh your Steam files.

  4. 4

    Restart your computer, then navigate to C:\Program Files\Steam.

  5. 5

    Double-click on “Steam” or “Steam.exe” to relaunch the Steam client. This will open Steam directly from the installation folder. Do not open Steam using its shortcut icon located on the desktop.

  6. 6

    Resume gameplay in Steam as normal. Your Steam files will now be refreshed.[2]

  7. Advertisem*nt

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Refreshing Files on Mac OS X

Download Article

  1. 1

    Exit Steam using steps #1 and #2 from Method One.

  2. 2

    Launch Safari and type “steam://flushconfig” into the address bar.

  3. 3

    Press “Enter,” then close your Internet browser.

  4. 4

    Restart your computer, then relaunch the Steam client. Your Steam files will now be refreshed, and you can resume gameplay as normal.

  5. Advertisem*nt

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Refreshing Files in Linux

Download Article

  1. 1

    Launch Terminal and type “steam --reset” at the prompt.

  2. 2

    Press “Enter. The message “Installing bootstrap /home/[username]/.steam/steam/bootstrap.tar.xz” will display on-screen. This message means your Steam files have been successfully refreshed.

  3. 3

    Restart your computer, then relaunch the Steam client. Your Steam files will now be refreshed, and you can resume gameplay as normal.

  4. Advertisem*nt

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

      Advertisem*nt

      Tips

      • Try restarting Steam if new games fail to launch following installation. Some games may require you to restart Steam before the games can launch successfully.

        Thanks

        Helpful0Not Helpful0

      • Try refreshing Steam files using Methods Two, Three, or Four in this article if restarting Steam fails to help correct problems with games or connectivity. Refreshing Steam files will restore Steam to its original state without affecting or deleting any games you've installed.

        Thanks

        Helpful0Not Helpful0

      Submit a Tip

      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

      Name

      Please provide your name and last initial

      Submit

      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Advertisem*nt

      You Might Also Like

      How toContact Steam SupportHow to Speed Up Steam Downloads
      How to Earn and Use Steam PointsSee a Friend’s Wishlist on Steam Using Desktop or Mobile Apps and the WebHow to Turn Off Friend Notifications and Overlay on SteamHow to Move Steam Games to Another Hard DriveA Detailed Guide to Getting Your Game on SteamGetting out of Big Picture Mode on Steam Using a Keyboard or ControllerA Complete Guide to Fixing the Steam Error E876 Quick and Easy Ways to Fix a Steam Deck Stuck on the Logo ScreenHow to Take a Screenshot in a Steam GameHow toDelete Steam Workshop ModsHow toUninstall SteamHow to Set a Custom Background for Your Steam Profile (2021)

      Advertisem*nt

      About This Article

      wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 167,466 times.

      2 votes - 30%

      Co-authors: 4

      Updated: November 29, 2023

      Views:167,466

      Categories: Steam Games

      Article SummaryX

      To restart Steam, begin by clicking on “Steam” in the toolbar at the top left corner of your Steam session. Then, select “Exit” or “Exit Steam” from the drop down list. Alternatively, you can right-click on the Steam icon in the notification tray of your desktop and select “Exit.” Once the program has closed, return to your desktop and double-click on the Steam icon to relaunch it. To learn more, including how to refresh Steam files that you think may be missing or corrupted, read on!

      Did this summary help you?

      In other languages

      Spanish

      Russian

      Indonesian

      • Print
      • Send fan mail to authors

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 167,466 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisem*nt

      4 Ways to Restart Steam - wikiHow (2024)

      FAQs

      4 Ways to Restart Steam - wikiHow? ›

      To restart Steam, click on Steam in the toolbar, then hit Exit. Double click on the Steam icon to relaunch it. If you're on Windows, refresh Steam files by exiting Steam, then type steam://flushconfig into the Run dialog box. To refresh files on Mac OS X, exit Steam and press the Windows + R keys.

      How to restart stem? ›

      How can I hard reboot Stem devices? A soft reboot for Stem devices is possible to initiate through the Stem Ecosystem platform. A hard reboot (power cycle) is only possible by unplugging the ethernet cable from the back of the unit or from the switch.

      How to do a hard reset on Steam? ›

      To factory reset your Steam Deck, go to settings, and under the system menu, select the factory reset option. This will factory reset your Steam Deck and wipe all user data and settings.

      How do I restart Steam without opening it? ›

      If you can't easily access the Steam client, you can restart it using the taskbar. Expand the taskbar if need be, right-click the Steam icon, and click Exit Steam.

      What is the shortcut to restart Steam? ›

      You can restart Steam by choosing Steam > Exit (on Windows) or Steam > Quit Steam (on Mac). If Steam is unresponsive in Windows, open Task Manager and go to the Processes tab so you can end the Steam task. On a Mac, use the keyboard shortcut Option+Command+Esc and select Steam before clicking the "Force Quit" button.

      How to do a Steam Restart? ›

      To restart Steam, click on Steam in the toolbar, then hit Exit. Double click on the Steam icon to relaunch it. If you're on Windows, refresh Steam files by exiting Steam, then type steam://flushconfig into the Run dialog box. To refresh files on Mac OS X, exit Steam and press the Windows + R keys.

      How do I manually Restart? ›

      Press and hold your Android device's Power button and the Volume Down key for at least 5 seconds or until the screen shuts down. Release the buttons once you see the screen lighting up again. Instead of the usual welcome screen, a black screen will appear showing a list of text options.

      How do I restart a game? ›

      Reinstalling or restarting a game can often solve most of the problems you may encounter :) To restart a game, simply force quit the application and launch it again. Reinstalling a game may be trickier.

      How do I reset Steam without deleting games? ›

      If reinstalling Steam and Steam games in the near future, please move the steamapps folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps) outside of the Steam directory to prevent your games from being deleted. Additionally, backups of all game content can be created for reinstallation.

      How do I refresh Steam? ›

      Manual Steam File Refresh
      1. Completely exit the Steam client.
      2. Navigate to your base Steam folder (where you installed it)
      3. Delete all files and folders BUT Steam.exe and your SteamApps folder (or you may lose your installed games and need to re-download them)
      4. Relaunch Steam.

      How do I reset Steam settings? ›

      From your Steam Link startup screen, select Settings > Streaming > Advanced options(Y) > Reset to Defaults(Y).

      How do I restart my Steam connection? ›

      If you receive a network connection error, you may need to restart Steam. To do this, select Steam > Go Online > Connect to the Internet > Restart Steam. When you receive the Can't connect to Steam error, you have the option to Retry Connection or Start in Offline Mode.

      How do I restart Steam in online mode? ›

      Click on “Steam” in the upper left corner of your Steam session. Select “Go online.” Click on “o*kay” when informed that Steam must restart to enter online mode.

      How do I restart Steam in administrator mode? ›

      How do I run Steam as an Administrator to solve Rocket League issues?
      1. Right-click on the Steam icon on your desktop or Navigate to your Steam folder and right-click Steam.exe.
      2. Select Properties.
      3. Click on the Compatibility tab.
      4. Check Run This Program As An Administrator.
      5. Click the Apply button.
      6. Click the OK button.

      How do I force Steam to start? ›

      When Steam doesn't open, force-close the Steam background process through Task Manager, restart your computer, or run Steam as an administrator to resolve launching issues. Check your internet connection and verify if Steam servers are down.

      Is there a restart shortcut? ›

      Step 2: Press Alt + R. Once the Ctrl + Alt + Delete screen is displayed, this selects the 'Restart' option. Note: This method works across most versions of Windows and is a reliable way to restart your computer without a mouse.

      How to rejuvenate stem cells naturally? ›

      Anti-inflammatory foods like olive oil, tomatoes, cruciferous vegetables, berries, seeds, nuts, fatty fish, etc. can help repair stem cells.

      How do I reset a stem player? ›

      To factory reset a unit, login to the Stem Ecosystem platform using the IP address for the device you are attempting to reset. Factory reset is only present within the Settings for the unit that you are logged into. To access this function, go to Ecosystem > Devices > Desired Device > Advanced > Factory Reset.

      How to Restart a steam deck? ›

      If your Steam Deck is powered on but unresponsive, you can force a restart by holding the power button down for 4 (7 for OLED) seconds. If it remains unresponsive, there may be an OS-level issue. In this case, try holding the power button down for a full 10 (16 for OLED) seconds.

      What is the stem Restart act? ›

      The bipartisan STEM RESTART Act provides small and medium-sized businesses with funding for robust, paid, mid-career internships, known as “returnships,” for workers looking to return to work or transition to a new STEM career, with priority for underrepresented populations and rural areas.

      Top Articles
      Send feedback in Gmail - Computer
      LCX | LCX Price and Live Chart - CoinDesk
      Aberration Surface Entrances
      Cappacuolo Pronunciation
      Thor Majestic 23A Floor Plan
      Occupational therapist
      Free Atm For Emerald Card Near Me
      Red Wing Care Guide | Fat Buddha Store
      Aita Autism
      Craigslist Labor Gigs Albuquerque
      Fear And Hunger 2 Irrational Obelisk
      Google Feud Unblocked 6969
      Snow Rider 3D Unblocked Wtf
      Les Rainwater Auto Sales
      Lancasterfire Live Incidents
      Watch The Lovely Bones Online Free 123Movies
      Welcome to GradeBook
      Faurot Field Virtual Seating Chart
      Robin D Bullock Family Photos
      Melendez Imports Menu
      Woodmont Place At Palmer Resident Portal
      All Obituaries | Gateway-Forest Lawn Funeral Home | Lake City FL funeral home and cremation Lake City FL funeral home and cremation
      Bennington County Criminal Court Calendar
      Bethel Eportal
      How Taraswrld Leaks Exposed the Dark Side of TikTok Fame
      Accuweather Minneapolis Radar
      Https E22 Ultipro Com Login Aspx
      Idle Skilling Ascension
      Margaret Shelton Jeopardy Age
      Greyson Alexander Thorn
      Progressbook Newark
      Package Store Open Near Me Open Now
      Used 2 Seater Go Karts
      Microsoftlicentiespecialist.nl - Microcenter - ICT voor het MKB
      The Ride | Rotten Tomatoes
      One Credit Songs On Touchtunes 2022
      Asian Grocery Williamsburg Va
      RALEY MEDICAL | Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services
      Bones And All Showtimes Near Johnstown Movieplex
      Colorado Parks And Wildlife Reissue List
      Lovely Nails Prices (2024) – Salon Rates
      5A Division 1 Playoff Bracket
      Bekah Birdsall Measurements
      Post A Bid Monticello Mn
      Deepwoken: How To Unlock All Fighting Styles Guide - Item Level Gaming
      Arnesons Webcam
      Strange World Showtimes Near Century Stadium 25 And Xd
      Concentrix + Webhelp devient Concentrix
      R Detroit Lions
      Law Students
      Volstate Portal
      Latest Posts
      Article information

      Author: Jerrold Considine

      Last Updated:

      Views: 6522

      Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

      Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

      Author information

      Name: Jerrold Considine

      Birthday: 1993-11-03

      Address: Suite 447 3463 Marybelle Circles, New Marlin, AL 20765

      Phone: +5816749283868

      Job: Sales Executive

      Hobby: Air sports, Sand art, Electronics, LARPing, Baseball, Book restoration, Puzzles

      Introduction: My name is Jerrold Considine, I am a combative, cheerful, encouraging, happy, enthusiastic, funny, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.