How to troubleshoot Error 83 in Steam on Windows 10?

If Steam’s Error 83 pops up whenever you try to load a game or when you’re in the heat of a multiplayer session, don’t panic. Lots of users have experienced this problem and fixed it. Your computer might be experiencing a minor software conflict issue that’s preventing the game from…

Samuel Nzube
12 Jan 2021
11 min to read

How to troubleshoot Error 83 in Steam on Windows 10?

Table of contents

How to Fix Error 83 in Steam
Conclusion

If Steam’s Error 83 pops up whenever you try to load a game or when you’re in the heat of a multiplayer session, don’t panic. Lots of users have experienced this problem and fixed it.

Your computer might be experiencing a minor software conflict issue that’s preventing the game from running. That said, other problems might be present, such as a bad game file, antivirus interference, outdated Windows 10 components, and corrupt Steam cache, among others.

This article will show you how to get rid of Error Code 83 in Steam.

How to Fix Error 83 in Steam

There are different solutions to the problem – just as there are different causes of it. The following fixes helped other users resolve the issue, and one of them should work for you. Note that you might be having multiple issues. Your PC might be out of date and you might have a corrupt game file at the same time, for example. So, make sure you apply every solution.

Solution 1: Install Windows Updates

Firstly, make sure Steam isn’t affected by outdated operating system components. Microsoft releases regular updates to make sure your computer can handle the latest technology features, especially those rolled out in games. One software component that requires regular updates is the .NET Framework, which is important for gaming.

Windows Update is configured to automatically check for updates once your system is connected to the Internet. However, it might not be able to download and install them, especially if you’re on a metered connection. In such a case, you have to start the process yourself.

The steps below will show you how to run the utility and install pending updates:

Tap the Windows logo on your keyboard or click on the Start button in the taskbar.
Once the Start menu opens, click on the gear icon that sits above the power icon to launch the Settings application.

An easier way to open Settings is tapping the Windows and I keys simultaneously.

After Settings opens, head to the bottom of the home page and click on Update & Security.
You’ll now see the Windows Update page.
The Windows Update utility will check for pending updates and list them. If your system is up to date, it will notify you.
If there are available updates for your system, allow the utility to download them.
Once it downloads them, click on the Restart Now button to start the installation process.
Your computer might restart multiple times until every update is installed.
Once the process is complete, you’ll be taken to your Desktop environment or sign-in page.
You can now open Steam and check if the issue has been resolved.

Solution 2: Verify the Integrity of Your Game’s Files

Corrupt or missing game files are another common reason for Error 83. The error will pop up when Steam tries to read any of them. If you’re seeing the code whenever you try to launch your game, then one or more of its files are affected.

Many different things could affect a game’s files. Malware programs can corrupt them, and they can get damaged if your system abruptly goes off in the middle of gameplay. It’s also possible that in your case, something went wrong during the installation process.

Thankfully, Steam comes with a feature that allows it to detect and replace faulty or missing game files. The steps below will show you how to use that feature:

Double-click on Steam’s desktop shortcut. If you don’t have the shortcut, go to the Start menu, search for the application, and then launch it.
After Steam opens, go to the top of the window and click on Library.
Once the Library interface opens, locate the game, right-click it, and then click on Properties in the context menu.
Go to the Properties menu on the right side of the screen and switch to the Local Files tab.
Click on the “Verify integrity of game files” button.
Steam will now scan your game files and compare them with their updated versions on its servers. If the client finds any to be missing, broken, or out of date, it will automatically download its replacement.
The process could be long or short, depending on your system’s speed, your internet connection, and the size of the problematic file.
A dialog will notify you once the process is complete.
Restart the client and try running the game.

Solution 3: Update Your Video Card Driver

The video card handles all the graphics processes on your system, which makes it a big deal for games. The card’s driver is a piece of software responsible for telling it what task to process and how to process it. If the driver is broken, out of date, or corrupt, there will be a breakdown in communication between the operating system and the device, resulting in different problems.

The Steam error code might be popping up because your graphics card driver is acting up. Update the driver and check if that has resolved the problem.

Be careful when updating your graphics card driver so that you don’t install the wrong piece of software or a malware program. There are different genuine channels for updating drivers, including Windows Update, Device Manager, and the proprietary program for your graphics card. Some third-party applications, such as Auslogics Driver Updater, also install genuine, manufacturer-approved driver updates.

Use the Device Manager to Update Your Graphics Card Driver

The Device Manager is the main control center for devices on your system. You can use it to update and roll back drivers and uninstall devices. Normally, you have to download a driver to your system before you use the Device Manager to install it. However, the tool can perform its own automatic search to fetch and update the required driver.

Follow these steps:

Press the Windows and X keyboard buttons together or right-click on the Start button to open the Power User menu.
Once the menu appears, click on Device Manager.
After the Device Manager opens, go to the Display Adapters tree and expand it.
Right-click on your graphics card and click on Update Driver from the context menu.
Once the Update Driver window appears, click on “Search automatically for drivers”.
Windows will now search for the update you need and automatically install it.
Once the process is complete, restart your computer and check if the error code 83 pops up again.

Use Auslogics Driver Updater

Auslogics Driver Updater is a third-party program that installs only manufacturer-approved driver updates. The tool is designed to find outdated and problematic drivers and automatically install their updated versions.

The program currently serves millions of users worldwide. Installing it means driver problems are one less Windows issue to worry about. The steps below will show you how to use it:

Visit this web page and download the setup file.
Once your web browser downloads the file, run it.
Click on the Yes button once the User Account Control dialog window pops up. If your system asks for an administrator password to continue the process, enter it.
After the installation wizard opens, choose a language and select your preferred install location.
Use the checkboxes in the setup window to enter other preferences such as creating a desktop shortcut, launching the program when Windows starts, and allowing the tool to send reports to its developers.
Next, select the Click to Install button.
Once the installation process completes, allow the tool to launch and scan your system for problematic device drivers.
Your graphics card driver will show up in the list of problem drivers if it’s out of date or corrupt.
Click on the Update button to install driver updates for your card and other listed devices. Go for the full version of the program if you want it to download and install multiple driver updates simultaneously.
Once the program updates your drivers, restart your system and check for the error.

Solution 4: Prevent Your Antivirus Program From Blocking the Game

Your antivirus program might be blocking the game’s files because it considers them to be security threats. This kind of aggressive behavior is fairly common in some protection programs. You can stop this from happening by adding the game as an exclusion in the antivirus program.

Depending on the antivirus program you use, you have to add the game as an exemption or add it to the Whitelist or SafeList. If you use a third-party program and don’t know your way around, its developers should have a helpful guide on their website.

If you use the native antivirus program in Windows, follow these steps:

Launch the Settings application by pressing the Windows and I keys simultaneously. You can also right-click on the Start button and click on Settings in the Quick Access menu.
After Settings shows up, click on the Update & Security label at the bottom of the screen.
Next, go to the left pane of the Update & Security interface and click on Windows Security.
Navigate to the right pane and click on Virus & Threat Protection under Protection Areas.
Once the Virus & Threat Protection interface of Windows Security shows up, scroll down to the Virus & Threat Protection Settings section and click Manage Settings.
On the next screen, scroll down to the Exclusions section and click on “Add or remove exclusions.”
After the Exclusions interface appears, click on the Add an Exclusion icon, then choose “Folder” from the drop-down menu.
Once the Select Folder dialog window pops up, navigate to the installation folder of the game and select it.
Open Steam and launch the game to check if the error still comes up.

Pro tip: You can improve your system’s security by installing Auslogics Anti-Malware. The tool can work alongside Windows Security to give you an added layer of protection. It doesn’t block legitimate Windows files, and it is regularly updated with the latest virus definitions.

Solution 5: Allow Your Game and Steam Through Your Firewall

You need a strong internet connection for Steam to work properly. Even if your system is connected, Steam might not have access to its network infrastructure. Your firewall program could be blocking the client and your game because it doesn’t trust their traffic.

You can fix the problem by allowing the game and Steam through your firewall program, as many other users did. If you use a third-party firewall application and don’t know how to apply the setting, go to the developer’s website to find a guide that will show you what to do.

The following steps apply to Windows Defender Firewall:

Open the Search box in the taskbar by clicking on the magnifying glass or by pressing Windows + S.
After the Search box opens, type “Firewall”.
Click on Firewall & Network Protection in the search results.
Once the Firewall & Network Protection interface opens, click on “Allow an app through firewall”.
In the Allowed Apps dialog window, click on the Change Settings button. Make sure you’re logged into an administrator account.
Go to the Allowed Apps and Features list and look for Steam and the game.
If you see them, check their boxes for Private and Public.
If you don’t see the game or the client, click on “Allow another app”.
In the Add an App dialog window, click on the Browse button next to the Path box.
Navigate to the game’s installation folder and double-click its executable file. To add Steam, browse to its installation folder and double-click its executable file.
Click on the Add button.
Now, go to the programs’ entries and check their boxes for Public and Private.
Click on the OK button in the Allowed Apps dialog window.
Launch the game to check for the problem.

Solution 6: Launch Steam as an Administrator

Steam’s lack of admin privileges can also prevent your games from launching. Run your Steam client as an administrator so that it can have access to all of your system’s resources.

To launch Steam as an administrator, right-click its desktop shortcut and select Run as Administrator from the context menu. You can also search for Steam in the Start menu, right-click it, and then click on Run as Administrator.

If you want to run the client as an administrator without having to right-click it and make the selection, follow these steps:

Open a File Explorer window and go to Steam’s installation folder. The folder should be located in This PC >> Local Disk C >> Program Files (x86) >> Steam >> Bin. If you don’t see it there, follow these steps:
a)Open the Start menu and search for Steam.
b)Once the client’s icon appears in the search results, right-click it, place your mouse pointer over More, and then click on Open File Location.
c)When you see the app’s shortcut in a new File Explorer window, right-click it and select Open File Location.
Once you get to the client’s folder, navigate to its executable file, right-click it, and then click on Properties.
Switch to the Compatibility tab once the Properties dialog box shows up.
Check the box beside “Run this program as an administrator”.
Click on the OK button.
Run the game and check for the error.

Solution 7: Clear Temporary Files

Temporary files also cause problems of their own, especially when they are corrupt or too large. Get rid of them and check if the problem has gone away. You can clear your temporary files through the Settings application. Follow these steps:

Press Windows + I to open the Settings application.
After the app opens, click on System.
Go to the left pane of the System interface and click on Storage.
Switch to the main interface and click on Temporary Files under Local Disk.
Windows will now show you the types of temporary files on your system and their sizes.
Select the categories you don’t need and delete them.

Note that the Settings app only removes temporary files from your main drive. To clear temporary files on any other drive, follow these steps:

Click on the folder icon in the taskbar.
Right-click the Start button and select File Explorer.
You can also press and hold the Windows logo key and punch the E key to summon the program.
After File Explorer opens, go to the left pane and click on This PC.
Next, go to the Devices and Drives section in the right pane, right-click on the drive, and then click on Properties in the context menu.
After the Properties dialog window of the disk shows up, click on the Disk Cleanup button under the General tab.
Once the Disk Cleanup window appears, check the boxes beside the temporary files that you wish to delete, then click on the OK button.
Once the cleanup process is finished, restart your computer and check for the Steam error.

You should also clear your Steam download cache because it could be contributing to the problem. Note that clearing the download cache will also clear any game mods you downloaded. So, move the mods to a different location before you proceed.