When you’re trying to play a game on Steam, you may encounter an error message that says “Missing file privileges.” This error can be frustrating, especially if you’ve already purchased and downloaded the game. Fortunately, there are several fixes that you can try to resolve this issue.
First, try verifying the integrity of the game files. This will check the game files for any errors or corruption. If any errors are found, Steam will automatically download and replace the corrupted files. To verify the integrity of the game files, right-click on the game in your Steam library and select “Properties.” Then, click on the “Local Files” tab and select “Verify integrity of game files…”
Using Command Prompt to Change Owner
To change the file permissions using Command Prompt, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type “cmd” and press Enter to open Command Prompt.
- Navigate to the directory containing the problematic file. To do this, use the “cd” command followed by the path to the directory. For example, to navigate to the “Documents” folder, type “cd Documents”.
- Use the following command to list the file permissions:
icacls [file_name] - Identify the user or group that is missing the necessary permissions and modify the permissions accordingly. The following table lists the common permission flags and their descriptions:
- Navigate to the Steam folder (typically located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam).
- Right-click on the “Steam” folder and select “Properties”.
- Select the “Security” tab.
- Click on the “Advanced” button.
- In the “Owner” tab, ensure that the “Administrators” group has full control permissions.
- Switch to the “Permissions” tab and click on the “Change Permissions” button.
- In the “Permissions” window, ensure that the following permissions are granted to the “Administrators” group:
- You are not logged into Steam as an administrator.
- The game files are located in a protected folder.
- Your antivirus software is blocking access to the game files.
- You are not logged into Steam as an administrator.
- The game files are located in a protected folder.
- Your antivirus software is blocking access to the game files.
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
| R | Read-only access |
| W | Write access |
| X | Execute access |
| F | Full control (includes all permissions) |
For example, to grant full control to the user “username”, use the following command:
icacls [file_name] /grant username:F
Restoring Default Steam Folder Permissions
If the above methods fail to resolve missing file privileges on Steam, try restoring the default folder permissions. This process involves resetting the permissions granted to different users and groups on the Steam folder. Here’s how to do it:
| Permission | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Full Control | Yes |
| Modify | Yes |
| Read & Execute | Yes |
Once the permissions are set, click “OK” and close the “Properties” window. Restart Steam and check if the issue with missing file privileges has been resolved.
How To Fix Missing File Privileges Steam
If you are trying to play a game on Steam and you are getting a “missing file privileges” error, it means that you do not have the necessary permissions to access the game files. This can be caused by a number of things, such as:
To fix this error, you will need to grant yourself the necessary permissions to access the game files. Here are the steps on how to do this:
1. Log into Steam as an administrator.
2. Right-click on the game in your Steam library and select “Properties”.
3. Click on the “Local Files” tab.
4. Click on the “Browse Local Files…” button.
5. Right-click on the game folder and select “Properties”.
6. Click on the “Security” tab.
7. Click on the “Edit” button.
8. Select your user account from the list of users.
9. Check the “Full control” checkbox.
10. Click on the “Apply” button.
11. Click on the “OK” button.
Once you have granted yourself the necessary permissions, you should be able to play the game without getting the “missing file privileges” error.
People Also Ask About How To Fix Missing File Privileges Steam
What is the missing file privileges error on Steam?
The missing file privileges error on Steam is an error that occurs when you do not have the necessary permissions to access the game files. This can be caused by a number of things, such as not being logged into Steam as an administrator, the game files being located in a protected folder, or your antivirus software blocking access to the game files.
How do I fix the missing file privileges error on Steam?
To fix the missing file privileges error on Steam, you will need to grant yourself the necessary permissions to access the game files. Here are the steps on how to do this:
1. Log into Steam as an administrator.
2. Right-click on the game in your Steam library and select “Properties”.
3. Click on the “Local Files” tab.
4. Click on the “Browse Local Files…” button.
5. Right-click on the game folder and select “Properties”.
6. Click on the “Security” tab.
7. Click on the “Edit” button.
8. Select your user account from the list of users.
9. Check the “Full control” checkbox.
10. Click on the “Apply” button.
11. Click on the “OK” button.
Why do I get the missing file privileges error on Steam?
There are a number of reasons why you might get the missing file privileges error on Steam. Some of the most common causes include:
