Steam is one of the most popular PC gaming platforms in the world with a monopoly on PC games. However, as good as the overall user experience and social features are, Steam still is far from perfect and keeps running into occasional bugs and glitches from time to time.
In this article, we’re talking about the Steam error code E2, its causes and what you can do to fix the problem.
Also read: How to fix Steam error codes -7 and -130?
What causes Steam error code E2?
Steam throws this error when it’s unable to start a game due to external interference. This can be caused by the following factors:
- Internet connectivity issues
- Firewall blocking Steam’s connection
- Steam servers are down
- Game servers are down
- Corrupt or missing game files
How to fix Steam error code E2?
Here are 10 fixes you can try out.
Power cycle your router
Restarting your router can fix a bunch of seemingly random issues with your network, which could, in turn, be causing problems with Steam. If you don’t have internet connectivity or an active connection, you’re going to get such issues on Steam. So try restarting your router to rule out any network issues that may be causing problems.
Restart your PC
Restarting your PC is one of the most simple and effective solutions to any problem you face while using Windows. Graphics issues, network problems, update glitches and rebooting got you covered.
Check the Windows Firewall
At this point, it’s also a good idea to check whether your Windows Firewall is blocking Steam’s connection to its servers. If your firewall is improperly set up or has blocked Steam, it won’t be able to connect giving you this error.
Check out our detailed guide to know how to unblock programs from the Windows Firewall
Check Steam servers
Another thing you should do is check whether or not the service itself is working or not. Steam is used by millions across the globe, and the occasional outage here and there isn’t anything surprising.
You can use this page to check Steam’s server status
Verify game files
Corrupt or missing game files can also cause an E2 error. Follow these steps to verify game file integrity.
Step 1: Head over to your Steam Library, right-click on Fall Guys and select Properties.
Step 2: Head over to the Local Files tab.
Step 3: Click on Verify integrity of local files… and let Steam do its thing.
Try running or downloading your game again to see if that fixed the error.
Disable Family Sharing
Family sharing is a Steam feature that lets you share your Steam library with your family members. However, in some cases, this can cause an E2 error. Here’s how to disable the feature:
Step 1: Open the Steam client and click the Steam menu in the top left. Click Settings.
Step 2: Head over to the Family tab and uncheck the Authorize Library Sharing on this Computer checkbox.
Once you’re done, save the changes and restart your PC. Steam should start working as usual.
Change the download server
At times, downloading your games from the wrong servers can cause timeouts which further cause E2 errors. Here’s how to change your download servers.
Step 1: Open the Steam client and click the Steam menu in the top left. Click Settings.
Step 2: Head over to the Downloads tab and select the country closest to you in the Download Region drop-down menu.
Save your changes and restart Steam. The error should be gone now.
Update Steam’s permissions
Ensuring you have the right permissions to access and read the target files can help fix the problem. Before you get started, you need to find where Steam is installed on your PC, by default, the installation path is as follows.
C:\Program Files (x86)\SteamStep 1: Once you’re in the Steam installation folder, right-click on the Steam executable file and choose Properties.
Step 2: Under the Security tab, click on Advanced.
Step 3: Click on Change in front of the current Owner.
Step 4: Enter the username of the account you want to make the owner of the file/folder. Use the Check Names button to ensure you’re using the right username. Click OK when done.
Step 5: Make sure you have all the required permissions for the file. If you don’t, use the Edit… button to modify said permissions.
Restart Steam and try launching the game again, the error should be gone.
Update your OS
Ensuring your OS is up to date can go a long way in resolving uncalled-for errors in third-party programs, including Steam. Developers usually diagnose these issues based on insider reports or customer feedback and issue fixes or patches in the form of updates. Check to ensure you’ve got the latest update installed on your system.
You can check out our detailed guide on how to update Windows here
Reinstall Steam
Reinstalling Steam from scratch can also help fix the problem. This will eliminate any corrupt, damaged or missing system files that Steam needs to run properly, which might be triggering the issue for you.
Also read: How to fix Steam error reference: library_7728431_88af7cf66459d659?
