How to Reopen Game Window in Steam: Complete Guide
Steam, one of the most popular gaming platforms, often provides users with an excellent gaming experience. However, there are times when you might face issues with reopening the game window. Whether it’s a frozen screen, the game crashing, or Steam itself failing to open, these issues can be frustrating. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps on how to reopen game window in Steam efficiently.
Understanding the Issue: Why Does the Game Window Close?
Before diving into the solution, it’s important to understand why the game window in Steam might close or fail to reopen. Common reasons can include software bugs, corrupted files, or issues with your graphics drivers. Sometimes, the Steam client itself may crash or the game may not launch due to improper settings or incomplete updates. Whatever the reason, knowing how to reopen the game window in Steam is key to getting back into the action quickly.
Step 1: Check Steam's Server Status
The first step in how to reopen game window in Steam is to ensure that there are no ongoing server issues. Steam’s servers occasionally go down for maintenance, which could prevent games from opening properly. You can check the Steam server status on their official website or on social media channels. If the servers are down, your best option is to wait until they are back online.
Step 2: Restart Steam Client
Sometimes, the simplest way to fix the issue of a game window not reopening in Steam is to restart the Steam client. Here’s how you can do it:
- Close Steam completely by right-clicking the Steam icon in your taskbar and selecting “Exit.”
- Reopen Steam from your desktop or Start Menu.
- Try launching your game again.
This can resolve minor glitches preventing the game window from reopening.
Step 3: Verify the Integrity of Game Files
If the game window in Steam is still not reopening, there could be issues with the game files themselves. Steam provides a built-in tool to verify the integrity of game files, which can fix missing or corrupted files.
To verify your game files:
- Open Steam and go to your Library.
- Right-click the game that isn’t opening and select “Properties.”
- Under the “Local Files” tab, click “Verify Integrity of Game Files.”
- Wait for Steam to check the files and download any necessary updates.
After the verification process is complete, try launching the game again to see if the game window reopens.
Step 4: Update Graphics Drivers
Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers can sometimes prevent the Steam game window from reopening. To fix this, ensure that your graphics drivers are up to date. Here’s how to do that:
- Open Device Manager on your PC.
- Expand the “Display adapters” section.
- Right-click your graphics card and select “Update driver.”
- Follow the prompts to download and install the latest driver for your graphics card.
Once your drivers are updated, restart your computer and check if the game window reopens in Steam.
Step 5: Disable Steam Overlay
The Steam Overlay can sometimes cause issues with opening the game window. If you think this might be the problem, try disabling the Steam Overlay for the specific game you are having trouble with:
- Open Steam and go to your Library.
- Right-click the game and select “Properties.”
- Under the “General” tab, uncheck the option that says “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.”
Try launching the game again and check if the game window reopens.
Step 6: Reinstall Steam and the Game
If none of the previous steps helped to reopen the game window in Steam, it may be time to reinstall both Steam and the game. Reinstalling Steam can fix issues with the Steam client itself, while reinstalling the game ensures that there are no corrupt game files causing the problem.
To reinstall Steam:
- Uninstall Steam from your computer via the Control Panel.
- Download the latest version of Steam from the official website.
- Install Steam and log in with your account.
- Reinstall the game from your Library.
After reinstalling, try opening the game again to see if the game window reopens.
Step 7: Check for System Updates
Outdated system software can also interfere with Steam and its games. Be sure to check for updates for both your operating system and the Steam client. Here’s how:
- For Windows, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click “Check for updates.”
- For Steam, click “Steam” in the upper-left corner of the client and select “Check for Steam Client Updates.”
Updating both your system and Steam may help fix the problem and allow the game window to reopen
Step 8: Adjust System Settings for Performance
If your computer is struggling to reopen the game window in Steam, your system may be underperforming due to high CPU or RAM usage. You can adjust your system settings to optimize performance:
- Close unnecessary applications running in the background.
- Adjust the power settings to “High Performance.”
- Ensure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements for the game.
This may help reduce lag or freezing when trying to reopen the game window.
Step 9: Use Steam’s Big Picture Mode
If you are unable to reopen the game window in Steam using the standard client interface, you can try using Steam’s Big Picture mode, which is designed for better game navigation on TV and controllers. This can sometimes bypass the problem with opening the game window.
- Click on the Big Picture mode icon in the upper-right corner of Steam.
- Navigate to your Library and select the game you want to play.
- Try launching it from Big Picture mode to see if the game window reopens.
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FAQ
The game window might not reopen due to issues with corrupted files, outdated drivers, or Steam client glitches. Verifying game files and updating drivers can help.
Simply close Steam by right-clicking on the taskbar icon and selecting “Exit,” then reopen it from your desktop or Start Menu to try reopening the game window.
Go to your Library, right-click the game, select “Properties,” and click “Verify Integrity of Game Files” under the “Local Files” tab.
Update your graphics drivers by right-clicking your graphics card in Device Manager, selecting “Update driver,” and following the instructions to install the latest drivers.
Yes, reinstalling Steam can fix client-related issues that prevent the game window from reopening.