How To Verify Integrity Of Game Files On Steam

Let's verify game files on Steam, sometimes this helps to prevent games from crashing. Make sure to back up important files first!

Guys! Please don't make the mistake of not backing up important files first.

Verifying the integrity of game files is one of the first troubleshooting steps recommended by experts and Steam Support because it’s a quick way to diagnose and fix issues related to game files. It's especially useful for those who have downloaded games from unreliable sources, have unstable internet connections, or have recently encountered system crashes.

Whether it's corrupt or deleted game files preventing you from launching the game, Steam can help you restore original game files by verifying their integrity.

Here's a 45 second video, explaining how to do this:

What this means is that Steam will contact the server where game files are located, and one by one verify that they are correct and uncorrupted.

This tutorial will show you several screenshots explaining the steps you need to take in order to fix your game files by verifying their integrity. Let's get started!

How To Verify Integrity Of Game Files On Steam

To verify integrity of game files on Steam, follow these instructions:

First thing you may want to do is head over to your Game Library screen:

Now from your game library, right-click on the game:

Head over to Properties which will open this view:

On the left navigation bar, click Installed Files option:

Now click on Verify Integrity of Game Files button.

You'll have to wait for a bit to make sure this process completes. Steam will show you a file counter to let you know how many files are left to verify.

Once this process completes, try launching the game again. In rare cases, this can help start the game if you experience any odd errors.

Here's some extra tips:

Additional Steps and Clarifications

• Administrator Privileges: Before starting the verification process, ensure that Steam is running with administrator privileges. This can help in case there are permission-related issues affecting the files.
• Close All Running Games: It’s recommended to close any other games or applications running in the background to ensure the process runs smoothly.
• What Happens During Verification: Add a note explaining what exactly happens during the verification process. For example, "Steam will automatically download and replace any files that fail the integrity check."
• Potential Warnings: Sometimes Steam will warn you that cloud files and local files do not match. Explain what to do in these situations.
• Post-Verification Actions: What should one do after verifying the files? Sometimes, even after successful verification, a restart of the system or Steam client may be necessary for the changes to take effect.

Advanced Tips and Less-Known Facts

• Backup Custom Files: Some games store custom settings or saved games in the game folder. Verifying integrity can replace these with default files. Always back up custom files before starting the process.
• Network Implications: Though rare, it's worth mentioning that for games with large files, the verification process might consume a considerable amount of bandwidth.
• Log Files: Steam creates log files during the verification process, which could be useful for advanced troubleshooting. Let the user know where these can be found.
• Not a Universal Fix: Make it clear that while this often resolves issues with corrupt or missing files, it won't fix problems stemming from incompatible hardware, outdated drivers, or software conflicts.
• Limited to Steam: Note that this feature is specific to the Steam platform and won't apply to games obtained through other services.

You updated your graphics card drivers to latest version, and tried to change GPU settings to lowest possible option, just to see if the game will start. But it isn't starting. This is sometimes because game files can become deleted or corrupt. Or simply the game files haven't been fully downloaded. In this case, you might want to use a feature called Verify Integrity of Game Files on Steam. There is actually a button in game settings to help you validate correctness of your game files.