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To restart the Steam desktop client, select Steam → Exit, wait for it to close, then launch Steam again. If the client is frozen, use your operating system’s process controls to close it; force-closing can interrupt downloads, updates, cloud sync, or unsaved game progress.
Restart the Steam desktop client normally
- Finish or pause any download or update you do not want interrupted, and let cloud synchronization finish. Save your game if it is running.
- In the Steam client, click Steam in the upper-left corner. This is the desktop client menu, not the in-game Steam overlay.
- Select Exit.
- Wait several seconds for Steam to close, then launch it again from the Start menu, desktop shortcut, Applications folder, dock, or Linux app launcher.
Valve recommends exiting and restarting Steam as an initial troubleshooting step for some client issues. Steam Support: troubleshooting. Minimizing Steam, closing only a game, or signing out does not necessarily close the client.
If Steam is frozen or will not close
Use the operating system’s force-close controls only when Steam is unresponsive or its normal Exit command does not work. A background helper process may take a short time to stop, so do not assume it has hung immediately.
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Windows
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- In Processes, select the unresponsive Steam process and choose End task.
- Try launching Steam again. If it will not start or the process remains stuck, restart Windows.
Task Manager’s process-ending method is a Windows recovery technique; Valve describes it for a stuck game process in its launch troubleshooting guidance. Steam Support: game will not close correctly.
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macOS
- Press Option + Command + Esc, or open the Apple menu and choose Force Quit.
- Select Steam and choose Force Quit.
- Relaunch Steam. If it remains stuck, restart the Mac.
Linux
- Open your desktop environment’s system monitor or process manager.
- Select the Steam process and terminate it.
- Relaunch Steam. If the process cannot be stopped cleanly, restart the computer.
Linux desktop environments use different process-manager labels and controls. Valve provides a Steam Client Troubleshooting on Linux page; avoid running an unfamiliar terminal command just to restart the client.
How to tell whether Steam has closed
- The Steam window and its taskbar or dock indicator disappear.
- On Windows, Steam is no longer listed as an active process in Task Manager; on macOS, it is no longer an active app; on Linux, it is no longer listed in the system monitor or process list.
- When you launch Steam again, it starts afresh rather than simply revealing a window that was still running.
Some helper processes may remain briefly while shutting down. Give them a moment before ending a process manually.
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If Steam still will not open
- Wait briefly, then try launching Steam once more.
- Restart the computer if a Steam process is still hung or the client crashes as soon as it opens. A system restart is also reasonable when other parts of the operating system are behaving abnormally. Valve lists restarting the computer among launch-problem troubleshooting steps. Steam Support: launch troubleshooting.
- Check whether Steam is undergoing maintenance or whether your network connection is working.
- Temporarily close software that may conflict with Steam. Valve identifies third-party software as a possible contributor to client crashes and provides a client-crash troubleshooting flow.
- If the crash continues, follow Steam Support’s troubleshooting for the specific error rather than deleting Steam files or reinstalling the client as a first step.
Choose the next step for the problem you have
| Symptom | What to try after restarting |
|---|---|
| “Steamwebhelper is not responding” | Try restarting Steam with GPU acceleration disabled if that option appears. If the problem persists, Valve also documents restarting steamwebhelper.exe as a specific troubleshooting option. For a recurring issue, check Steam → Settings → Interface for the GPU-acceleration setting. GPU drivers or third-party security software can contribute to this error. Steam Support: Steamwebhelper. |
| A game will not start | Restarting the client does not repair damaged game files. Verify the game files, update the operating system and drivers, and check for conflicting software. Steam Support: game launch troubleshooting. |
| A game says it is already running | Close the stuck game process, then retry. The game may have closed incorrectly or remained active in another user session; restarting Steam or the computer may release it. Steam Support: game will not close correctly. |
| You cannot sign in | Check your internet connection, Steam maintenance, the local network or ISP, and software that could interfere with Steam. Restarting the client cannot resolve every connection or account issue. Steam Support: sign-in troubleshooting. |
| A download or update is stuck | Restart Steam, then give it time to reconnect and resume the queue. A restart may refresh the client but is not a guaranteed fix. Do not delete the Steam installation or library as an initial step. |
| Offline Mode information matters | Prefer the normal Steam → Exit command over force-quitting when possible. Valve recommends manually closing Steam rather than force quitting when preserving Offline Mode information. Steam Support: Offline Mode. |
Does restarting Steam delete games or account data?
No. Closing and reopening the client does not uninstall games or remove your Steam account. Deleting files from the Steam installation folder or reinstalling the client are separate, more invasive repairs. Valve’s file-reset guidance is issue-specific and says to preserve steamapps; it is not part of an ordinary restart. Steam Support: troubleshooting.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Restart the Steam mobile app
The steps below apply to the iOS and Android app, not the desktop client. Gestures and labels vary by device and operating-system version.
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- Operating System: SteamOS 3.0
- iPhone or iPad: Open the app switcher, swipe Steam away to close it, then relaunch the app.
- Android: Open recent apps and dismiss Steam, then relaunch it. If that does not work, open Steam’s app information in system settings, choose Force stop, and launch it again.
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