How To Restart Steam: Complete Guide for PC, Steam Deck, and VR (2026)

In order to restart Steam, you need to open the app, click the 'Steam' menu in the top left corner, and select 'Exit', then open the app again. Knowing exactly how to restart steam is a quick way to solve sudden glitches and keep your games running smoothly. This guide covers everything you need to know about restarting the Steam client on a computer, rebooting a frozen Steam Deck, and resetting specific VR and download settings.

How To Restart Steam on PC

In order to restart Steam on your PC, you have two main options: using the app menu or forcing a close. Restarting the app can easily fix minor bugs, sync your cloud saves, or push a pending client update to install. Standard restarts work well for most situations, but if the app freezes completely, you will need to force it to close before you can launch it again.

How To Restart Steam Client via the App

If you want to know how to restart steam client properly, follow these simple steps:

1. Open your desktop app.

2. Look at the top left corner of the window and click on the Steam menu.

3. Click on Exit from the dropdown list.

4. Wait a few seconds for the client to close completely.

5. Open the app again from your desktop shortcut or Windows Start menu.

How To Reboot Steam Using Task Manager

If you need to know how to reboot Steam when it stops responding, you must use the Task Manager. A frozen app will not let you click the normal menus.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open the Task Manager.

2. Scroll through the processes list to locate Steam (32-bit) or Steam Client WebHelper.

3. Right-click on the process.

4. Select End Task to force the program to close.

5. Open the app again to complete the fresh start.

How To Restart Steam Deck

In order to restart your Steam Deck, you need to use the physical power button or the internal power menu. You might need to restart your handheld console if you experience game crashes, notice battery reading glitches, or want to switch between gaming and desktop modes.

How To Restart Steam Deck Using the Power Menu

The safest way to reboot your device when it is running normally is through the software menu:

1. Press the physical STEAM button on the left side of your device.

2. Scroll down the menu and select Power.

3. Select Restart and wait for the console to turn off and boot back up.

How To Restart Steam Deck When Frozen (Using Buttons)

If your device screen stops responding, you need to know how to restart steam deck when frozen. You can do this easily with the hardware buttons.

1. Press and hold the physical power button on the top edge of the device for 10 to 12 seconds.

2. Release the button once the screen goes black and the system forcefully powers off.

3. Press the power button once more to turn the device back on.

How To Restart Steam Deck in Desktop Mode

If you are using your device like a standard PC, the process is slightly different. To restart from the Linux KDE Plasma desktop, navigate to the bottom-left application launcher. Click Leave, and then select Restart. Alternatively, if you just want to go back to the standard console interface, double-click the Return to Gaming Mode icon on your desktop.

How To Restart Specific Steam Features

Sometimes you do not need to restart the whole app; you just need to know how to restart specific Steam features. Downloads, in-game overlays, and offline modes all have their own quick reset methods.

How To Restart Steam Downloads

If a game update is stuck, you should learn how to restart steam download progress. First, go to your downloads page, click the pause button, and then click resume. If that fails, you need to clear your download cache. Go to the Steam menu, select Settings, click on Downloads, and then press the Clear Cache button. The client will restart automatically and your download will refresh.

How To Restart Steam in Offline Mode

To refresh your connection without fully closing out, you can boot into offline mode. Click Steam in the top left corner and select Go Offline. Wait for the client to reboot into offline mode. Once it loads, click the same top-left menu and select Go Online to reverse it and reconnect to the servers.

How To Restart Steam Overlay

If the in-game overlay crashes while you are playing, you can disable and re-enable it. Open the main app window, go to Settings, and click In-Game. Toggle the switch that says Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game off and then back on. You can also simply restart your current game to refresh the overlay.

How To Restart Steam VR

When your headset stops tracking or glitches out, knowing how to restart steam vr will save your gaming session. Simply right-click the small SteamVR status widget on your desktop monitor and select Restart SteamVR. This will close the VR processes and launch them fresh without closing the main store client.

How To Restart a Steam Game

If a game freezes, you need to know how to restart steam game software quickly. Try to close the game normally via its own in-game menu. If it refuses to close, go to the game page in your Library and click the blue Stop button. Once the button turns green and says Play again, click it to relaunch the game.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will restarting Steam restart downloads?

Yes, if you close Steam while a game is downloading, the download will pause. When you open Steam again, the download will automatically resume from the exact place where it left off.

Where to restart Steam?

You can restart Steam from the main interface by clicking the 'Steam' text in the top-left corner of the window and selecting 'Exit'. After it closes, you open the application again from your computer desktop or start menu.

How to restart a Steam machine?

If you are using a legacy Steam Machine or a PC running SteamOS, you can restart it by navigating to the power icon in the main menu and selecting 'Restart System'. You can also force a reboot by holding down the physical power button on the device case until it shuts down, and then pressing it again to power up.