Steam being one of the most popular gaming distribution platforms on PC provides you an excellent gaming experience.
But sometimes this platform may also confront some malware or bugs and you get Steam access denied messages.
Often you face trouble validating the Steam files and get a game crash.
Sometimes when you restart the app or simply refresh the page, the issue may get addressed.
Ways To Solve Steam Access Denied Issue
When you get the Steam access denied problem, you may solve it by using a VPN or flushing the DNS files. Running Steam as administrator can also fix it.
Sometimes your antivirus program may also interfere and generate such issues.
You may try changing the DNS or checking the integrity of the files to get a proper solution. Now here in this article, I am going to discuss some viable solutions to address the issue.
Method 1: Use A VPN
Sometimes Steam may prevent access temporarily from some IP addresses and some users have reported that they found their ISP somehow blocks the website they wish to reach.
This can lead to a great problem and to resolve the issue, I suggest you try a VPN.
This way you will be able to hide the IP address from your ISP and easily access the site.
It will be also beneficial for any Geoblocked content. This way hiding your identity online will provide you some additional privacy also.
You can search for a suitable VPN for you and get it as soon as possible to provide safety to your data and maintain your privacy as well.
After that launch Steam and check if the problem has got an answer.
Also read: Best Free VPN For Windows In 2022
Method 2: Flush The DNS Files
It is especially important to flush DNS as they keep the IP addresses of the servers that you have recently visited.
So, flushing the DNS cache is an effective solution as these files may be somewhat corrupted and cause problems with your internet connection.
The cache build-ups may give you headaches and after you clear them it will help you flush out these types of problems.
Follow the steps mentioned below to accomplish the task:
Step 1: Go to your Windows Start option and enter CMD there to open Command Prompt.
Step 2: When you get into the Command prompt window, enter:
ipconfig /flushdns in the given window.
Step 3: Then hit the enter key Press Enter. Now you will get a message that the flushing procedure has been completed as I have shown in the picture below.
After you have done so, run the following commands one at a time:
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh int ip reset
Remember to press the Enter key after you enter each command.
After you have finished the procedure check whether this has solved the Steam folder access denied issue for you.
Method 3: Check Your Antivirus
You may get to meet this Steam access denied 0x5 as your third-party antivirus firewalls may cause the problem.
You must use a proper firewall. In this case, you can check your antivirus and make a few alterations to the settings.
Sometimes, to get a steady recovery to maintain the utility of the firewalls, you may need to disable it.
If this does not solve the problem, you may need to uninstall your firewall protection and then install it afresh. You can also choose to install a completely new one instead.
Method 4: Try Changing DNS
Sometimes your limited DNS server may create problems with your Steam. So, you may choose a DNS alternative apart from your assigned ISP.
A variety of DNS servers are available and here is the way to configure that properly:
Step 1: Go to the Start Menu and type Control to open your Control Panel.
Step 2: Now choose the Network and Internet section from the provided options.
Step 3: From here move on to the Network and Sharing Center and click on the Change adapter settings option.
Step 4: Now right-click on the Network you are using and choose its Properties.
Step 5: Now find out the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) option and get into its Properties option.
Step 6: Make sure you choose the below-mentioned DNS server addresses.
Enter these values in proper fields:
Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4
Hit the OK button for saving the changes.
Method 5: Uninstall Your Antivirus
You may face Computer that says not connected to the internet, but I am issue if your antivirus is somehow creating a problem with the operating system. This restricts the features and apps to work properly.
The antivirus may interfere with your internet connection and generate the issue. Because of this, I recommend you check the configuration of your antivirus and turn of the problematic feature.
But in some cases, if this still doesn’t solve your problem, you may need to disable the antivirus and choose another one.
If the issue still persists, you might have to uninstall your antivirus and switch to a different antivirus solution.
Method 6: Check The Integrity Of Files
In case you are encountering a can’t end steam process access denied error message when trying to access a particular game, check whether they have been properly installed by verifying their integrity. Here is a built-in fix to do it. Follow the steps:
Step 1: Launch your Steam client and log in with your credentials.
Step 2: Now go to the Library and from here to the Games section. Now open its Properties.
Step 3: Choose the particular game creating problems and then go to its properties.
Step 4: Now open the Local Files tab and hit the Verify Integrity of Game Files button.
Step 5: Validate the Steam Files and wait till the process gets finished.
Step 6: Now Steam is going to scan the files and validate the same.
When you receive the success message, check that the problem is solved.
Also refer to: What To Do When Steam Says Files Failed To Validate And Will Be Reacquired?
Final Words
Hope this article has helped you to seek the best solution when you encounter the Steam access denied issue.
If you have any more ideas or suggestions related to this topic, please feel free to use the dedicated section below.
You can also shoot us a mail if you have any further queries. We always look forward to hearing from you.