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When you try to accept a gift game, or run certain games, you might get the ‘Steam Missing File Privileges Error’. Even though there are many different things that can cause this error, our team found some helpful fixes for you to try.
The main cause of this error is that the Steam apps folder in the Steam library folder has the wrong permissions. You will run into this problem if you don’t have full control over the Steam apps folder. You can also get this error message if a third-party antivirus Software interferes with Steam or if you run Steam without administrator rights.
‘Steam Missing File Privileges Error’ Issue On Windows: 12 Ways To Fix It
Using a Reimage PC Repair tool
It is one more way to fix this problem with the missing file error. So, let’s also look at this method, which could really help us solve the problem. The best thing about this method is that it is also one that comes highly recommended.
This PC repair tool is useful when things go wrong, and you can also use it to fix a cs go missing file privileges error. It can be downloaded from any site on the internet that is known to be safe. This is one of the best and most reliable ways to fix this file missing privileges error.
Giving Administrator Privileges To Steam
To work properly, Steam needs to be able to both read and write on your computer. Most of the time, it will only cause problems if your computer treats Steam like a “Read Only” programme.
This means that Steam won’t be able to write to the different files, so it can’t Download or Update the programme, which involves writing to the system. So, if this is the problem, the best thing to try is to give Steam Administrator Privileges.
- Open your Steam directory from its default location that is: (C:\Program Files\Steam). In case you have installed Steam in any other custom directory, then browse to that location.
- Once you have reached the Steam folder, right click on it and then select Properties. On the properties window, go to the Security tab and then click on the Advanced option.
- In the next window, edit the first four rows and grant the full folder control.
- To edit a row, click on it and then click the button named Edit. A new window will popup, which includes all the options in the form of checkboxes. Check all of the checkboxes, including the Full Control. Click on Apply to save the changes, and then close everything. Do the same for all four editable rows.
- Launch Steam by right-clicking on it and selecting Run as administrator. Check whether the steam missing file privileges error has been resolved or not.
Repairing The Library Folder And Verifying Its Integrity
There is a good chance that the Steam Library Folder you are using is broken and has not been set up correctly. It can also be a warning that some of your game files may not be there, which means that some of these game files may be missing for some reason.
The option to “Verify Integrity of Game files” will try to fix your games, and this tool will also help you download and install game files that are broken or missing. Follow the steps below to use the Verify Integrity tool.
- Open your Steam client, click on the steam icon at the upper left corner of the window, and click on settings from the drop-down menu.
- After the settings open, go to the Downloads tab and click on Steam Library Folders that you found at the top.
- A new small window will open that lists all the locations where Steam has been installed in your system. Also, Steam has used storage space. Right click on it and then select Repair Steam Library.
- Once you carried out these steps, you can move on to the Verify Integrity of the Game Files present.
- Exit the settings and then go to your games library.
- Right click on the game which is causing the error and then choose Properties.
- In the properties, navigate to the Local Files Tab and click on the Verify Integrity of Game Files Option. Steam will then automatically starts to verify all the files present for the games. If there is any missing file, then it will download those particular files again. And it would then replace it with the corrupted file accordingly.
Deleting Files In Safe Mode
- Get your computer to boot in safe mode. You can do this quickly by selecting from the various options available in your startup. Select the ‘Enable Safe Mode with Networking option.
- Once you have successfully booted your computer and entered safe mode, navigate to the file location that you have noted earlier.
- After you reach the Steamapps list, click on the particular folder which says “download.” Delete all the contents of the download folder
- Then again, Restart your computer.
- Launch Steam using administrator access, then again follow the steps mentioned in Method 6 to Verify the Library and Integrity of the Game files before again starting your download,
- Check whether the Steam Missing File Privileges Error has been resolved or not
Rebooting The Computer
So this is the most basic way to do it, and you should always try it first. Things can get really complicated sometimes, and one way to try to fix this is to restart the computer. The most important thing to remember is that computers sometimes make a lot of tiny mistakes that are hard to understand. This missing file privileges error could be caused by one or more of these small technical problems with the computer.
Repairing The Library Folder
There is no doubt that there is a chance that the steam library folder is broken. In this case, the library folder should be fixed. This can be done by making sure the library folder is in good shape. This is another good way to fix the error that says there aren’t enough file privileges.
Change Steam Download Region
It’s possible that Steam missing files privileges happen because of Steam servers. If Steam servers in your region are having connection problems, you won’t be able to reach them. When that happens, Steam won’t be able to update or install video games, which is what causes this problem. You can change the Steam download region as many times as you want until you find the right one that doesn’t give you problems with missing files or privileges.
- Open Steam client
- Click on the Steam tab present at the top left corner of the screen. Click on Settings
- Click on Downloads tab located at the left side of the window.
- Click Download Region.
- Choose the Download region to the correct country. This means that you need to choose the region closest to the location of your computer.
- Click OK to apply changes made.
Clear Steam Download Cache
If there’s a chance that Steam’s cache has become corrupted, it can lead to a “missing file privileges” error. To fix this, you might have to clear the download game cache on Steam and see if the problem goes away.
- Open the Steam client by right clicking on it and click Run as Administrator from the drop down menu.
- Click on the tab of Steam present at the top left corner of the screen.
- Click on Settings.
- Click Downloads tab at left pane.
- At right pane, click Clear Download Cache present at the near bottom of the screen. Steam will ask you to confirm your action, click OK . Wait for the process to complete.
- Steam will automatically relaunch.
- Log in to your account
Kill igfxEm Module in Task Manager
- Click Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
- Navigate to Process
- Go to igfxEm Module and right-click on it.
- Now, click on End Task.
Disable Antivirus Temporarily
Even though the antivirus keeps malware, spyware, unwanted viruses, and ransomware from harming your computer. But antiviruses can be a pain sometimes, especially when it comes to games. People say that turning off their antivirus is all they needed to do to fix Steam errors. If you are using a third-party antivirus programme, please look at their official online guides to find out how to turn it off. Here, we’re going to temporarily turn off the antivirus in Windows 10.
- If your Steam is already running, close it
- Then, open the start menu on your computer
- And, search for the “Windows Security” in the search bar and open the first result that appears
- Once the Windows Security window opens, click on the “Virus and threat” tab located on the left of the screen
- Click on the manage settings. You can find this under the “Virus and threat protection settings”.
- Now turn off the toggle for “Real-time Protection” this will disable the antivirus on your computer temporarily.
Grant Full Control To The Affected File
If you’ve made it this far, you should try this solution now. You can find the file in question and give full access. This method will only give you access to the file that is causing the problem, not to all files and folders. This will get rid of the Steam error about missing file privileges.
- First of all, you need to find the exact location of the affected file. You can find the location of the affected file in error.
- Now, go to the location of the affected file either by copy-pasting the path from step 1 or by navigating yourself through the steam directory. Also, you can try an alternate and open the steam client, then go to the “library” section and right-click the game that is giving you the error and click “properties” from the drop-down menu
- Now that the properties have opened, go to the local files tab and then click browse local files. This will take you the games folder on your computer, and then you can locate the file causing the problem
- Once you have located the file, follow the steps given for granting the access (solution no 8)
- Now, restart Steam and check if the error is gone or not.
Re-download or Update Steam Games
Since you deleted the app files in the Steam folder, you also deleted the files needed to install the Steam game, so you might as well just re-download the game. This time, the file privileges might not be lost in Steam.
- Go to the Steam app on Windows 10 and open it.
- To get the game, look for it in the search box of the Steam app.
you can visit Steam support center for further help.
FAQ
What does content file locked mean on Steam
What does it mean when a file on Steam is locked? It means that Steam couldn’t write update files to your hard drive, which means you can’t play the latest version of any game.
How do I know if my Steam file is corrupted
Right-click on the game in the Library in the Steam Launcher and choose Properties from the menu. Click the Local files tab and then “Verify integrity of game files.” The game’s files will be checked by Steam. This could take a few minutes to do.
How do I add a non EXE file to Steam
- Launch Steam.
- Click the. Games. menu, choose. Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library.
- Browse for games on your computer or put a check next to the game(s) you wish to add to the. Library.
- Click on. Add Selected Programs. .
How do I run a non Steam game as administrator Windows 10
Right-click the game’s.exe file in the folder where it was installed and click “Properties.” Check the box near the bottom that says Run as Admin on the Compatibility tab. Edit: I didn’t click on it at first; I just highlighted it. My mistake.