Failed to Load SteamUI.dll – How to Fix It

Steam is an incredibly popular gaming distribution service that, in the vast majority of cases, works without hiccup. However, there are instances when an issue can arise during the preliminarily loading phase. I’m talking about a particular situation were Steam will fail to open, displaying the Failed to Load SteamUI.dll error message.

This particular failed to load steamui.dll error has been around for almost as long as Steam, and doesn’t look like relenting. The exact cause of it can vary, from situations with the app itself to OS corruption and a wide range of other potential factors.

So what is steamui.dll? Well, Steamui.dll belongs to the SteamUI Dynamic Link Library, developed by Valve Corporation. It’s primarily role is to ensure correct functionality of the various services belonging to Steam. In short, if there’s a mishap with this file, then the associated app (Steam) is not likely to run, or at least run properly.

However, with all that said, there are several things you can do to fix it. So, continue reading for those much desired solutions.

But, before we get to the solutions, let’s take a look at the reason why you may be battling with this problem.

What Causes Failed To Load Steamui.dll Errors?

There are several factors that may be contributing to this particular error, however, in most instances, the error is as a result of corruption or the erasure of the file (Steamui.dll) in question.

In the event that, that is not the cause, then you’d have to consider the following:

• A malicious file has infiltrated your system and corrupted the steamui.dll file(s).
• The Windows operating system has been corrupted.

While it makes sense for one to consider a potential problem with the Steamui.dll file itself, other factors like a corrupted Windows build, must also be considered. As they are oftentimes just as liable.

Now, with the potential causes out of the way, let’s take a look at the different methods you can deploy right now, to fix this problem.

How to Fix It

Before we get to the actual solutions, I have a workaround that you may want to use. In the event that you need immediate access to Steam. In short, you can bypass the Failed to Load SteamUI.dll error message by doing the following:

1. Load up Steam.
2. When the Failed to Load SteamUI.dll error message appears, double-click on the Steam shortcut.

This will force the Steam app to reopen, however this time, without the error notification.

Keep in mind that this is not a fix, as the error message will continue to persist.

If you want a more permanent solution, then you’d want to try:

Restarting the steam client app. As previously noted, Steam can, at times, be prone to problems. With the more severe errors (such as Failed to Load SteamUI.dll) preventing you from accessing the app altogether. In situations like this, you may be able to fix the error by restarting the client software. To do that, follow the steps below:

1. First, open Windows Task Manager, by right-clicking on the Taskbar and selecting Task Manager.

2. When Task Manager loads up, on the Processes Tab, right-click on Steam, then select End task.

3. Now, try and open Steam again, to verify whether or not the error has gone.

If that fails to fix the error, then consider the more sophisticated solutions below.

Run Windows Repair Tool to Fix Failed to Load SteamUI.dll Error

If the above mentioned solutions failed to fix the steamui.dll error, then it may be worth giving a Windows repair tool a try.

The specific tool I have in mind, is called Advanced System Repair Pro. Which is a highly advanced (as the name states) diagnostic, repair and maintenance tool. Capable of fixing a plethora of common PC issues and errors, including corruption of the Windows registry, virus/malware infections, and data corruption.

It’s also equally adept at fixing BSOD errors, runtime errors, DLL errors, game errors, update errors and much more.

Another plus of this tool, is its ability to maintain and optimise your system performance. Making it an all-in-one solution for all PCs.

Anyway, if this peaks your interest, then visit the link below:

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT ADVANCED SYSTEM REPAIR PRO

The solution(s) below are for ADVANCED level computer users. If you are a beginner to intermediate computer user, I highly recommend you use the automated tool(s) above!

Manually Copy SteamUI.dll

If the failed to load SteamUI.dll error is the result of the steamui.dll file being missing/corrupted/outdated/incompatible – for whatever reason. You can fix the problem by manually downloading and copying the file to your system.

To do that, follow the steps below:

1. First, boot into your system as a full administrator.

2. Next, download the steamui.zip file from this link: https://www.mediafire.com/file/mdd5l2dhdalfm2q/steamui.zip/file

3. Now, open the steamui.zip file and click on Extract To.

Note: For this tutorial, I’m using WinRAR.

4. This will bring up the Extraction path and options applet, from here, type C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam into the destination path box and click on OK.

Note: Where C: is the letter of the installation drive.

Delete SteamUI.dll and libswscale-x.dll

If restarting and/or replacing the SteamUI.dll file fails to fix the error, then it’s likely the root cause is the corruption of either libswscale-x.dll or SteamUI.dll.

Thus, to solve this problem, you will need to manually erase both files. Doing so, will force Steam to automatically download and install new copies of them.

To do that, follow the steps below:

1. Boot into your system as a full administrator.

2. Then right-click on the Steam shortcut icon and select Properties.

Note: Alternatively, you can press + R, type C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam and click on OK.

C: being the drive Steam is installed in.

3. This will bring up the Steam Properties applet, from here, click on Open File Location.

4. The Steam folder will load up. Next, locate the following files below and delete them.

SteamUI.dll
Libswscale-x.dll

5. Now, close the Steam folder and attempt to open Steam.

Erase Beta File

Failed to load SteamUI.dll errors are known to occur quite frequently on beta versions of Steam. If your Steam version fits into this category, there is a solution.

Since Steam refuses to run, upgrading from the beta version to a fully stable version, ordinarily would not be possible. Fortunately, there is a way that you can do it. Just follow the steps below:

1. First, follow steps 1 – 3 of Delete SteamUI.dll and libswscale-x.dll.

2. From the Steam folder, double-click on Package.

3. In the Package folder, click on the Beta file, then click on Delete, to remove it.

4. Lastly, restart your system, then attempt to reopen Steam.

Reinstall or Repair Steam

One of the more common culprits of failed to load steamui.dll errors, is the corruption of the Steam installation. If that is the cause of the error in your particular case, then you can fix it, by running a repair.

To do that, follow the steps below:

1. Boot into your system as a full admin.

2. Next, press + R, type cmd and press CTRL + Shift + Enter.

3. When Command Prompt loads up, type the following command below and press Enter.

& “C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\bin\SteamService.exe” /repair

4. Steam will run a repair on your installation, and replace files where applicable. Once it has finished, retry Steam.

Check OS Corruption

While, in the vast majority of cases, failed to load steamui.dll errors are the result of issues with Steam itself. There are instances when the cause may be the corruption of Windows itself. Which would seem more like a possibility, if all prior solutions have failed to fix the error.

To fix OS corruption, you have two primary tools. They are SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management).

For step-by-step instructions on how to use them, check out my post on fixing AMDRSServ.exe system errors.

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Which is the leading registry cleaner program online that is able to cure your system from a number of different ailments such as Windows Installer Errors, Runtime Errors, Malicious Software, Spyware, System Freezing, Active Malware, Blue Screen of Death Errors, Rundll Errors, Slow Erratic Computer Performance, ActiveX Errors and much more. Click here to check it out NOW!