Many Steam users are having an issue with their Steam client. They get an error “Steam Client Bootstrapper has stopped working” when they’re trying to log in. They can’t use the client or play their games on the platform because of this error. This is a very annoying issue.
But don’t worry. The following are a few methods that have helped many Steam users get rid of the error.
Try these fixes
You don’t have to try them all; just work your way down the list until you find the one that works for you.
- Run your Steam client in compatibility mode
- Temporarily disable your antivirus
- Update your device drivers
Method 1: Run your Steam client in compatibility mode
Your Steam client may not be working well because of compatibility issues. And you should change the compatibility mode setting for your Steam client.
1) Open File Explorer (press the Windows logo key and E on your keyboard at the same time), then go to where you’ve installed your Steam (the default location is C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\ ).
2) Right click Steam (or Steam.exe) and then click Properties.
3) Click the Compatibility tab, check Run this program in compatibility mode, and then click OK.
4) Double click Steam (or Steam.exe) to run the Steam client. If this method works for you, you won’t see this error again.
Method 2: Temporarily disable your antivirus
Your Steam error is sometimes caused by interference from antivirus software. To see if that’s the problem for you, temporarily disable your antivirus and check if the problem persists. (Consult your antivirus documentation for instructions on disabling it.)
If this resolves your problem, contact the vendor of your antivirus software and ask them for advice, or install a different antivirus solution.
Method 3: Update your device drivers
You may get this error because you’re using a wrong driver or it’s out of date. You should update your driver and see if this fixes your error. If you don’t have the time, patience or skills to update your driver manually, you can do it automatically with Driver Easy.
Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for it. You don’t need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don’t need to be troubled by the wrong driver you would be downloading, and you don’t need to worry about making a mistake when installing.
You can download and install your drivers by using either Free or Pro version of Driver Easy. But with the Pro version it takes only 2 clicks (and you get full support and a 30-day money back guarantee):
1) Download and install Driver Easy.
2) Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
3) Click the Update button next to each of your devices to download the latest and correct driver for it. You can also click the Update All button at the bottom right to automatically update all outdated or missing drivers on your computer (this requires the Pro version — you will be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All).
4) Restart your computer and run your Steam client. Then check to see if this method helps you get rid of your error.