The Steam stuck on preparing to launch is a common problem that is often faced by the game lovers. Most of the time, you might encounter this issue on your system, if there is a problem with the hardware or the software configuration. When you get stuck with this error, that means the game crashed immediately after it is being installed.

So, if you face this issue and want to get rid of it, then you have just arrived at the right place. In the rest of the content, we are going to discuss some effective ways that you can try to troubleshoot this issue within a flicker of time. Have a look at them.

Methods you can Try to Resolve Steam Stuck on Preparing to Launch Issue:

Now go through the rest of the content as here we have come up with some effective solutions that you can try to fix this issue. Have a look at them.

Method 1- Update the Window

This is the first method that you can try to fix this issue. Here are the steps that you should try to apply this method on your computer.

Step 1

In the beginning, you have to go to the Home Screen on your device and click on the Start menu. Then, type ‘ Settings’ in the search box and hit the Enter button.

Step 2

It will lead you to the Settings window. From there, you should search for the ‘Update & security’ option and once you find it, then click on it.

Step 3

Here you find an option which is ‘Check for Update’, click on it. After that, Windows will check if an update is available or not. If found, then it will download and update it automatically.

One thing that you should keep in mind that during the updating process you will touch nothing as it may hamper the updating procedure. Once it is successfully completed, then reboot your device. If you fail to resolve this issue, then here is another alternative at your rescue.

Method 2- Update the Drivers

If the above method does not work for you, then here is another alternative at your rescue. In case, the drivers such as audio, video or graphics drivers are not up-to-date, then this is a valid reason for the steam game preparing to launch then nothing issue. In your case, if this is the reason, then we suggest you update the device drivers. Here are the steps that you should follow to apply this method on your PC.

Step 1

At first, you have to open the Run dialog box. For that, you have to press the Windows+ R keys together and hit the Enter button. Once the Run box is successfully opened, then type, ‘dxdiag’ within the given field and hit the Enter button.

Step 2

It will lead you to the DirectX diagnostic toolbox where you can see the full list of available hardware.

Step 3

Now, search your hardware name in the search field. Once you found it, then click on that. After that, you have to read the online instructions and click on the OK button.

Step 4

You should wait for sometimes until the procedure is completed. Once done, then exit from the page and reboot your device. After that, check whether the steam stuck preparing to launch is resolved or not. If you are unlucky, then move to the next method.

Method 3- Verify the Integrity of the Game

If you already applied the above two methods, however, none of them work for you, then we suggest you verify the integrity of the game. A lot of users reported that they face this steam game stuck on preparing to launch and they apply this method on your device. After that, they quickly overcome this issue. So, we advise you to apply this method on your device. Take a look below.

1. In the beginning, you have to restart your device and re-launch the steam.
2. After that, you have to go to the Libary section. After that, right-click on the game that is causing the trouble.
3. Next, you have to click on the Properties section and from there, click on the local files.
4. Then, a new window will pop up on the screen. Here you should click on the Verify Integrity of Game Cache option.
5. Then, the steam will verify the games within a very few minutes.

Next, restart your device and if the steam stuck on preparing to launch issue still persist on your device, then have a look at the next method.

Method 4-  Check the Game Requirements

Sometimes, you might face this trouble if your device does not match the required specifications. As a result, the game might fail to launch. So, if you ever face this trouble, then we strongly recommended you to compare your machine’s specification with the game requirements. So that, you can resolve the steaming problem easily. In case, your device is not able to match the requirement, then upgrade it to its latest version and launch the game on your computer.

Method 5- Disable the Unnecessary Software

When you are trying to launch the game and at the same time, if any unnecessary software is running the backend, then it can lead to the steaming issue. In this case, what you need to do is to simply disable all the unnecessary software that may run on the backend. Well, this is not a challenging task, here are the steps that you should follow :

1. At first, you have to press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard and launch the Run box.
2. Once done, then you should type ‘taskmgr’ in the given field and hit the Enter button.
3. After that, the Task Manager will open on the screen. Then, you should delete all the unwanted processes as an example Web browser, updates, etc.
4. Thereafter, you have to restart the steam by using the Steam.exe command.

Finally, check if any change is made or not. Unfortunately, if you are still dealing with this problem, then here is another alternative at your rescue.

Method 6-  Reinstall the Steam

Does the steam stuck on preparing to launch issue still persist on your device? don’t need to worry, here is another alternative at your rescue. Sometimes, reinstalling the steam can bring sufficient result to you. Therefore, you should apply this method to your device. To apply it, at first, you should go to the steam directly. Then, navigate to the C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam.

After that, you should locate the SteamApps as well as the Ssfn files. Next, you have to remove all those files and reboot your machine. Then, you need to launch the steam and it will start updating. Keep in mind that, during the updating process, you should not do anything as it might stop the procedure. Once the updating process is successfully completed, then again, restart your system and now the issue must be resolved.

Method 7- Correct the Time Zone

Sometimes, incorrect date and time can lead to the steam stuck on preparing to launch issue. In this situation, you need to correct the date and time. For that, at first, you have to go to the Control Panel of your device and click on the Date and Time option. After that, you have to tap on the Internet Time and choose the Change settings. Now, you need to Synchronize the time with the Internet time server option. After that, click on the Update option.

Wait sometimes, till the completion of the updating procedure. Once you have done with it, then again reboot your machine. If you are still dealing with the steam stuck on preparing to launch trouble, then move to the next method.

Method 8- Disable the Windows Defender

Sometimes the Windows Defender can prevent the game from launching. So, we advise you to disable it while you are trying to launch the game. Here are the steps that you should follow to apply this method on your computer.

Step 1

In the beginning, you have to press the Windows + R keys together on your computer and launch the Run dialog box.

Step 2

Once the Run dialog box is opened, then type ‘gpedit.msc’ within the given field and hit the Enter button. Then, it will lead you to the A Local Group Policy Editor page. Within it, you should scroll down below until you see the Computer Configuration tab. Once you found it, then click on that and select the Administrative Templates.

Step 3

Here you can see a folder which is Windows Components. What you need is to click on this folder and after that, tap on the  Windows Defender option.

Step 4

Here you can see a lot of option and you should navigate to the ‘Turn off Windows Defender’ and click on that. Now, you should click on the ‘Enabled’ option to turn off the Windows Defender. Then, click on the Apply button and press the Enter button.

After applying the above four steps, the Windows Defender should be turned off. Then, you should restart your device and relaunch the steam and do so, simply click on the client option and select Run as administrator option.

That’s it. We believe with the help of the above methods, you can easily troubleshoot the steam stuck on preparing to launch error on your own. However, if you believe that you have the in-depth technical knowledge and can not able to apply those methods on your own, then we advised you to rely on an expert and follow their guidelines.