As the most popular gaming distribution platform on PC, Steam provides excellent gaming experience to the users. This platform too may confront some malware or bugs.
Sometimes gamers faced 1 file failed to validate and will be reacquired issue when after a game crashes, they need to check their integrity.
What Triggers This Steam Verify Game Cache 1 File Failed Issue?
The installed mods may create a problem with the steam client and raise this issue. Sometimes some unwritable or inaccessible sectors referred to as bad sectors can bring along many other issues as well.
Many users have reported that the problem may be related to the Firewall and they have addressed the issue by simply disabling it for the time being.
Although this 1 file failed to validate and will be reacquired is quite a common issue and through this article, we will try to explore the various feasible fixes available.
Solution 1: Disable All Mods For Games
Often the installed mods for games may interfere with the Steam client and create unexpected issues.
The manifest on the Steam servers consists of the list of the files which should be present there as per the current update.
If that fails to match, Steam will notify that files failed to validate and will be reacquired. Under this circumstance, the files will be replaced or deleted but if somehow you have a problem with that, you are recommended to run the verification check again.
In case you again meet the error, it suggests that the problem is with the installed mods and you are advised to deactivate all mods and restart Steam once again to get rid of the issue.
Solution 2: End All Steam Processes
Steam may have downloaded and properly finished installing an update. When it accomplishes every update, you are required to restart the client properly.
Often there are some incorrect configurations and a fresh restart will fix this up. Make sure you save the progress done. Now follow these basic steps:
Step 1: Press Windows + R button and type taskmgr in the dialog box to open the task manager.
Step 2: Now, as the Task Manager opens, go through all the Steam processes. Then close the process Steam Client Bootstrapper.
Step 3: After the process ends, finish all of the remaining processes. Use administrator privileges to Launch Steam and check whether this solves the problem.
Solution 3: Open The Game From The Installation Folder
If you confront the error when files failed to validate and will be reacquired, try to open the game directly from the installation folder.
We can try running the games from the original files because all the installed games are independent applications.
Step 1: Open the Steam directory and navigate into Steamapps<common and you will get a view of various games you have installed on your PC.
Step 2: Choose the game that is showing the error. Now you are supposed to open the game folder.
Step 3: When you are into the folder, open bin. You will have two folders named win32 and another is win64.
Step 4: Open win32 or win64 according to your Computer’s configuration.
Here, you will get the s main launcher of the game. Right-click on it and Run as administrator. After you finish the process, check whether the issue is solved.
Solution 4: Check For Inaccessible Sectors
Sometimes unwritable or inaccessible sectors is the root cause of the problem. This bad sector on your hard drive may be permanently damaged and they may cause the error.
To search for these bad sectors, you may easily check by running the utility of Check Disk that Microsoft has developed.
It tries to correct them using the resources available and is very useful in troubleshooting for errors. If any inaccessible sector is detected in your drive, these programs mark it. The operating system avoids these unusable sectors in future.
Follow the steps to use the Utility Check Disk, Chkdsk in short:
A. Use File Explorer
Step 1: Open file explorer and visit This PC /My Computer.
Step 2: You will find all the hard drives that are connected. Right-click and select a hard drive and select Properties from the menu bar.
Step 3: Click on the Tools tab and press Check under the Error checking column. Allow chkdsk to run completely.
B. Use of Command Prompt
Step 1: Press Windows + R to launch and type cmd to open the command prompt.
Step 2: Now type CHKDSK C: That means it is supposed to check the disk drive C. In case you want to go through any other drive, replace the C with the name of that drive.
If your Steam is running slow, then read this article.
Solution 5: Turn off Windows Defender Firewall
Steam may conflict with the Windows Firewall. It happens that Steam is downloading updates and games in the background and you are doing something else on the Windows.
You don’t need to wait for the download getting accomplished when you wish to use the Steam client. Steam can make alterations in several system configurations so that you experience the best while gaming.
Windows Firewall may block Steam and mark some of the processes identifying malicious or it may block Steam’s actions running in the background. It’s therefore really hard to discover that this is even happening!
We recommend you to temporarily disable your Firewall and check the error.
Solution 6: Disconnect Controllers
Your controllers may cause the error- steam verify game cache 1 file failed. These controllers include joysticks, controller pads, and mouse with controller pads, etc. Some users recommend disabling these devices completely to check the problem.
Make sure to disconnect any third-party application. There are various kinds of software available on the internet that claims to monitor or clean your disk drives to enhance speed.
It’s advised to disconnect all these third-party applications from the task manager and Restart Steam again.
Solution 7: Delete All Local File Content
Another way to combat the issue is by deleting all the local file content of the game and then download it again. But before you proceed, enable the Steam cloud. When you delete the local file content, it will not lose all the progress made.
The process will remove the game’s installation data that can be downloaded again. Follow the process:
Step 1: Open the Steam client and select Library.
Step 2: You will find all the games you installed. Right-click on the particular game and select Properties from there.
Step 3: Now visit the tab of the Local Files and click on Browse Local Files.
Step 4: Delete everything in the local file content and stop all Steam services. Then try to launch it once again.
Steam will start downloading the game files automatically. You are now allowed to browse the store and download it. Your purchase would be safe because the information gets secured on Steam’s cloud servers and not on the local content.
Step 5: Now, launch the game once again. Try to check whether the problem is solved.
Solution 8: Delete CFG File
Your game’s configuration file may be corrupted, and you are failing to replace it. The steam client may also give indications towards it. In this case, delete the config file and launch Steam again to check the integrity of the game.
Steam is capable of detecting that the configuration file is deleted and will make an attempt to replace it with a fresh copy present in the servers.
But please note that if you have disabled Steam cloud, skip this method as you may lose access to all your saved content related to any game.
Follow the quick workaround:
Step 1: Navigate to your Steam directory and open the folder user data.
Step 2: All the Steam IDs will be listed which are registered to your computer. You are required to Select the identified one and click it.
Step 3: Delete all the folders present in the directory and relaunch Steam. Steam has cloud activated and when it will find no configuration files present, it will attempt to download them again with the saved ones.
Solution 9: Reinstall Steam
This is probably the one step left to check the error. Reinstall steam and check if it solves the problem.
When you refresh the Steam files, the games that you have downloaded and user data will be preserved so you will not have to download them again.
The process refreshes steam files, deletes all the configuration files of the Steam client. It then compels it to re-install them. That means if any corrupted file is found, it will be replaced.
Wait till the entire process gets completed. When the procedure gets finished, you will have to log in once again.
Also read: Steam Not Recognizing Installed Game: How To Fix?
Wrapping Up
Hope this article helped you to address 1 file failed to validate and will be reacquired error.
You are welcome with other issues or remedies. Feel free to share them in the comment zone provided or shoot us a mail.