However, suppose you keep coming across a “Steam Service Error” as you attempt to open Steam. In that case, you’re likely dealing with insufficient permissions, an incorrectly configured service, or a corrupt Steam installation. Work your way through the list of fixes that follow, and you should be able to fix the “Steam Service Error” on your Windows 10 PC.
Reinstall Steam Service
Reinstall Steam Service
The “Steam Service Error” message includes an Install Service option that you can use to re-install the Steam Client Service. If you haven’t already, just select it and see if that helps. But if the same error shows up again the next time you launch Steam (perhaps after rebooting your PC), move on with the rest of the fixes.
Run Steam as Administrator
Run Steam as Administrator
The “Steam Service Error” is mainly the result of insufficient Steam permissions. To rule that out, you must run Steam with administrative privileges. If you have a Steam icon on your desktop, simply right-click it and select Run as administrator. If you use the Start menu to open apps, locate and right-click Steam, point to More, and select Run as administrator. If the “Steam Service Error” doesn’t re-appear when you run it as administrator, here’s how to run Steam as an administrator always:
Re-Configure Steam Client Service
Re-Configure Steam Client Service
By default, the Steam client application only invokes the Steam Client Service as and when needed. If it fails to get the service up and running, you end up with the “Steam Service Error.” You can fix that by configuring the Steam Client Service to launch automatically alongside the operating system.
Repair Steam Client Service
Repair Steam Client Service
If the “Steam Service Error” continues to show up on your computer, you must repair the Steam Client Service. It’s a relatively simple procedure that involves executing a command via the Command Prompt console.
Add Steam to Windows Firewall
Add Steam to Windows Firewall
The “Steam Client Service” could also show up if Steam lacks the required permissions to connect to the internet properly. Hence, it’s best to check the Windows Firewall to ensure that everything’s set up correctly.
Steam: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exeSteam Web Helper: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\bin\cef\cef.win7x64\steamwebhelper.exe
Repair Corrupted System Files
Repair Corrupted System Files
Windows 10 comes with a command-line tool—dubbed the System File Checker—that helps you scan and repair corrupted system files. If the “Steam Service Error” results from issues with the operating system, running it should help fix that.
Update Windows 10
Update Windows 10
If you run an outdated version of Windows 10 (or if you’ve continued to defer operating system updates), programs such as Steam may have trouble running correctly. Update the operating system and see if that helps resolve the issue.
Roll Back Windows 10
Roll Back Windows 10
Provided that you’ve set up System Restore in Windows 10 previously, try reverting Windows 10 to a time when Steam worked without issues on your PC.
Uninstall and Reinstall Steam
Uninstall and Reinstall Steam
If none of the fixes above helped, you must uninstall and reinstall Steam. That should help fix a “Steam Service Error” caused by a broken Steam installation. You can choose to keep your game data intact by copying the relevant folder to a different location.
You’ve Fixed the Steam Service Error
You’ve Fixed the Steam Service Error
Most of the time, launching the Steam client as an administrator or re-configuring the Steam Client Service to run automatically should help you resolve the “Steam Service Error” in Windows 10. If not, trying some of the advanced fixes above will surely help you sort things out.
