How To Fix “Steam Missing File Privileges” In Windows

If you are facing “Steam missing file privileges” error while downloading or updating a game, let me break it to you, you are not alone in this.

This problem is very common while updating a game, and it states that some files have missing privileges along with the path of the affected file. Don’t worry; this can be fixed easily. Keep reading!

How To Fix “Steam Missing File Privileges” Error In Windows 10

This error can be the result of many reasons, be it invalid hardware configurations or software configurations. But, this error can be easily fixed with minor changes on the computer. Follow the solutions given below to solve “steam missing file privileges”.

Solution No 1: Stop The igfxEm Process

The igfxEm.exe is an exe file, and it stands for Intel Graphics Executable Main Module. It comes with the standard package when you download Microsoft windows and drivers to run the graphic cards. It works as a middleware between the user and the Intel graphics.

Don’t worry if you see this file on your computer as this file does not bring any harm to the computer, and it is from a trustworthy source. The default location for the igfxEm.exe is C:\\Windows\System32\igdxEm.exe. However, if you find this file somewhere else, it is probably malware, so look out for that.

Many steam users have fixed their Steam Missing File Privileges issue by stopping this igfxEm process, however, it is still unclear why it happens as the executable is not even a core file and has little to no effect.

To stop the igfxEm process, refer to the steps below:

1. Press Windows + R key simultaneously to open the run dialog box or simply search the run dialog box on the search bar
2. Now, in the Run dialog box, type “taskmgr” to open the task manager
3. Once the task manager opens, go to the “process” tab and start looking for igfxEm process in the given list
4. Once you locate the igfxEm process, right-click it, and select the end/stop process.
5. Now, restart your Steam as administrator and start downloading.

Solution No 2: Run Steam As Administrator

Sometimes the applications start acting up when you don’t run them as administrator. Some applications require special grants and permissions that only the administrator is capable of allowing. Therefore, it is recommended to launch Steam as an administrator.

You can run Steam as administrator by following the steps given below:

1. Press the Windows+E key at the same time to open the file explorer
2. Now, navigate to the steam directory, which is C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam by default
3. In the steam directory, look for the steam.exe file and right-click it. Then, select the properties from the drop-down options
4. Then, go to compatibility tab and check the box with the label “Run this program as an administrator”

Suggested Reading:

• How To Fix “PUBG Servers Are Too Busy” Error
• How To Find Steam Screenshot Folder On Windows 10?
• PUBG Failed To Initialize Steam Error [Solved]
• How To Fix Steam Content File Locked?

Solution No 3: Clear Download Cache

When you are downloading/updating steam or files in it, the download cache matters a lot. If the cache is fully loaded, the missing steam file privileges error is very common. Therefore, let’s clear the download cache.

Follow the steps given below to clear the steam download cache:

1. Note that clearing the cache for Steam will remove all your mods. If you are using mods in any of your games, make sure that you backup properly.
2. Once, the mods are taken care of, open the steam app
3. Now go to the steam menu located on the top left menu bar
4. Then select the “settings” option from the drop-down menu
5. Now, from the sidebar located on the left, select the “Downloads” option
6. Once the download window opens, click the “Clear Download Cache” button. This will clear all your downloading cache.

Now, once your cache is cleared, you’ll be logged out of the Steam. Log back in and try downloading/updating your games again. Also, this clear download cache solution can be helpful if your game isn’t loading properly or just Steam is acting slow overall.

Solution No 4: Change The Download Region

Steam’s content is regionally divided. When you log into the Steam through your PC, the Steam is smart enough to detect your region through the network and makes it your default region.

Sometimes there is a possibility that the servers in your default region might be having some issue or they are overloaded, this might cause you some inconvenience and thus the “steam missing file privileges.” Don’t worry! There is a basic fix to help you out “change the download region” for your Steam.

To change the download region to solve your problem, refer to the steps below:

1. First of all, open the Steam
2. Then go to the “settings” option located in the drop-down menu on the upper left corner of the windows
3. Now, go to the “downloads” and then go to the “Download Region” section
4. From the drop-down menu, select any other region other than your default region and restart Steam

Once the steam restarts, start the downloading again to check if the error still prevails or it is removed.

Solution No 5: Verify Integrity Of The Game Cache

Like all other applications, Steam is also prone to some errors like games failing to launch or games not downloading or updating properly. Therefore, Steam has a feature known as verify game integrity to check the integrity of the game files on the Steam client.

Here is a brief summary of how this integrity check works. When you download a heavy game, there is a possibility that a file or two might have corrupted during the process. Therefore, this added feature checks and compares the game files on your computer and on the steam servers as well. If any dissimilarity is found, Steam adds or replaces those selected files.

Now, to verify the integrity of game files, follow the given steps below:

1. Run steam client on your computer
2. Then, go to the library that is located on the top left corner
3. The library section contains all the games that are installed on your PC. Now, right-click the game you want to be verified or the one causing the error and go to the “properties” option
4. Once the properties window opens, browse to the ‘local files” tab that is located on the top and click it
5. Now in the local files tab, you’ll find an option named “verify the integrity of game files.” Click that option.

Once you click the verify option, the Steam starts to compare the manifests on your computer and on the steam servers. This will check the integrity of the files. Please note that this process can take some time, so don’t cancel it until it finishes.

Solution No 6: Repair Steam Library Folder

Just like you fixed missing or corrupted files in the step above, you can also repair the steam library folder. The library folder is where all your installed games are available. Sometimes, the steam client is prone to some issues and difficulties, such as this “steam missing file privileges” error. Therefore, it is suggested to repair the library folder as well and try your luck.

1. First of all, open your steam client
2. Then click the steam button located at the top left on the window
3. From the drop-down menu, select the “Settings” option
4. Now in the settings window, go to the “Downloads” tab located on the left side
5. Now find a button named as “Steam Library Folder” and click it
6. A new window will open now. Here you’ll be able to see all the locations where your steam content is installed. Now, right-click on the option and then select “Repair Library Folder” option
7. Now, Steam will prompt you for confirmation of your actions and also for the access of the command prompt. Click agree or yes in both cases. Once you agree, the repair process will start. This might take some time. Therefore, it is advised not to cancel before it completes.

Solution No 7: Disable Antivirus Temporarily

Even though the antivirus protects your computer from malware, spyware, unwanted viruses, and ransomware. However, in some cases, antiviruses are a pain, especially when it comes to games. Reportedly, many users have solved steam errors just by disabling the antivirus.

If you are using any third-party antivirus, kindly have a look at their official guides available online to disable them. Here, we are going to disable Windows 10 antivirus temporarily.

To disable the antivirus, follow the steps given:

1. If your Steam is already running, close it
2. Then, open the start menu on your computer
3. And, search for the “Windows Security” in the search bar and open the first result that appears
4. Once the Windows Security window opens, click on the “Virus and threat” tab located on the left of the screen
5. Click on the manage settings. You can find this under the “Virus and threat protection settings”.
6. Now turn off the toggle for “Real-time Protection” this will disable the antivirus on your computer temporarily.

Solution No 8: Give Administrator Privileges To Steam

By default, Steam requires you to grant it two permissions – the ability to read and write. These two operations are quite essential to ensure a smoothly functioning Steam.

Although they might not have crossed your mind, as they’re often stated as the obvious, some computers don’t enable these settings by default.

For example, if your Steam is about to write something to the disk, but it only has ‘read-only’ rights, it can’t do its intended tasks. Similarly, you’ll face errors while updates or downloads if you don’t permit both read and write operations to your Steam program.

Therefore, we can try giving administrative privileges to Steam to resolve the issue. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Firstly, open the steam directory. You can open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R key and type the default path for the Steam. The default location for the Steam is C:\Program Files\Steam. And, if you have installed the Steam somewhere other than the default location, browse to that location.
2. Now, right-click the steam folder and click “Properties” from the drop-down menu.
3. Then, in the properties window, go to the Security tab and then click the Advanced button located on the bottom of the screen
4. Now, you’ll see a table presented on your screen. In this table, the first two are editable. Grant the “full control” to the folder from here.
5. To grant access, click on the row and then select the edit option. Now, you’ll see a few checkboxes, check all the boxes, including the “Full control”.
6. Then, click apply and save changes to confirm the settings. Repeat this for the first four rows and then exit the window.
7. Relaunch the Steam and start downloading again.

Solution No 9: Grant Full Control To The Affected File

If you have made it till here, now is the right time to try this solution. You can navigate to the affected file and grant full access. Rather than giving access to all files and folders, this method will only give you access to the file that is causing the issue. This will make the steam missing file privileges error go away.

Don’t worry; this solution won’t cause any harm to your computer as Steam is a trusted software with no vulnerabilities.

Here is how you can grant full control to the affected file:

1. First of all, you need to find the exact location of the affected file. You can find the location of the affected file in error.
2. Now, go to the location of the affected file either by copy-pasting the path from step 1 or by navigating yourself through the steam directory. Also, you can try an alternate and open the steam client, then go to the “library” section and right-click the game that is giving you the error and click “properties” from the drop-down menu
3. Now that the properties have opened, go to the local files tab and then click browse local files. This will take you the games folder on your computer, and then you can locate the file causing the problem
4. Once you have located the file, follow the steps given for granting the access (solution no 8)
5. Now, restart Steam and check if the error is gone or not.

Solution No 10: Delete Files Through Safe Mode

If the steam missing the privileges error still persists even after trying all the above-mentioned solutions, let’s try deleting the download files for the game, so that the Steam can download the files from the beginning.

However, we will do this process in safe mode as it is easier to grant administrative privileges in safe mode, and it disables all the extra software running.

1. First of all, note down the location of the affected while as we did in solution no 8.
2. After you know the location of the file, start your computer in safe mode. (There are different methods to enter the safe mode, kindly refer according to your windows that you are using)
3. After entering the safe mode, go to the location of the file that you noted in step 1
4. Now, in the steam apps, go to the folder named as “download” and delete all the files and contents in that folder
5. Now, restart your computer and launch Steam as an administrator. Also, follow solution no 5 and solution no 6 to verify and repair files.