How to Fix a Steam Error Code 51

Get back to playing games asap

Getting an error code 51 while trying to launch a Steam game on your computer? There’s a good chance your game’s files are corrupted, causing the game not to launch. Other items can cause this issue as well. Luckily, you have a few ways to get around this problem in your Steam app and play your game without issues. We’ll show you what those solutions are.

A few reasons you have trouble launching your game are that Steam doesn’t have full rights to function, your PC has a minor glitch, your Steam version is outdated, your graphics card drivers are faulty or outdated, and more.

Check if Your Steam Game Files Are Corrupted

When youcan’t launch a Steam game, the first thing to check is the integrity of your game files. Your game files may be corrupted, causing Steam not to launch your game. Such corruption can occur for various reasons, including viruses and interrupted game downloads.

One way to verify that is to run Steam’s built-in game file checker. This feature checks if your game files are corrupted. If that’s the case, you can remove and reinstall that particular game to resolve your issue.

If your game is corrupted, uninstall and reinstall the game to resolve your issue.

Launch Steam as an Administrator

If your game files aren’t corrupted, but Steam still doesn’t launch your game, check and ensure Steam has all the required permissions to run. The app may lack certain permissions on your computer and can’t open your game.

In this case,run Steam as an adminand see if that fixes your issue. Doing so gives the app all the required rights, fixing permission-related issues.

If your game works when Steam is in admin mode, change a Windows option, so your PC always launches Steam with admin privileges:

Going forward, Steam will launch with admin rights whenever you access the app using your desktop shortcut.

Update Steam on Your Computer

If you’re using an old version of Steam on your computer, that may be why you can’t launch your game. YourSteam app may be buggy or problematic, preventing you from accessing your games.

In this case, you can fix the issue by updating your app to the latest version. It’s quick, easy, and free to update Steam.

Restart Your Windows PC

Sometimes, you can’t access a game on Steam because your Windows operating system has a glitch. Your system glitches sometime interfere with your installed apps, causing your apps to malfunction.

One way to fix your PC’s minor problems is byrestarting your PC. Doing so disables and re-enables all Windows features, fixing many minor system problems.

Make sure to save your unsaved work before turning off and back on your PC.

Fix Steam Error Code 51 by Turning Off Your Antivirus Software

One item that can prevent you from accessing your Steam game is your antivirus program. Your antivirus may have detected your game as a potential threat, blocking your access to the game. This sometimes happens when your antivirus produces a false-positive report.

If you’ve downloaded your game from a trusted source and are sure the game doesn’t contain harmful content, temporarilydisable your antivirus protectionand see if that helps you access your game.

If your game launches, add Steam (steam.exe) and your game’s executable files to your antivirus exclusion list. This ensures your antivirus always allows Steam and your game to open.

Roll Back Your Graphics Drivers

If your Steam error code 51 started appearing after you updated your graphics card drivers, those updated drivers might be faulty. Sometimes, card makers unknowingly push faulty updates, causing issues on consumers’ machines.

You can fix that byrolling back your driver update.

Update Your Graphics Card Drivers

If your graphics card drivers are outdated, that may be why you can’t play your Steam game. Your Steam games utilize your machine’s graphics card to render graphics. When these drivers are old and buggy, your games fail to launch.

An easy way to fix this issue is toupdate your drivers to the latest version.

Uninstall and Reinstall Your Steam App

If your Steam game still doesn’t launch, your Steam client’s app files might be faulty. The above methods not fixing your issue indicates that something’s wrong with Steam’s core files.

In this case, you canremoveand reinstall the entire Steam app on your computer to fix your issue.

Various Ways to Resolve a Steam Error Code 51

Steam’s errorcode 51 appears when you’re trying to launch a game you’ve installed in the app. If the error appears despite trying to open your game multiple times, use the methods described above to resolve your issue.

Once you’ve fixed the issue, Steam will launch your game without any errors. Happy playing your favorite games!

Mahesh has been obsessed with technology since he got his first gadget a decade or so ago. Over the last few years, he’s written a number of tech articles on various online publications including but not limited to MakeTechEasier and Android AppStorm.Read Mahesh’s Full Bio

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How to Fix a Steam Error Code 51#

Check if Your Steam Game Files Are Corrupted#

Launch Steam as an Administrator#

Update Steam on Your Computer#

Restart Your Windows PC#

Fix Steam Error Code 51 by Turning Off Your Antivirus Software#

Roll Back Your Graphics Drivers#

Update Your Graphics Card Drivers#

Uninstall and Reinstall Your Steam App#

Various Ways to Resolve a Steam Error Code 51#