Buzz
Quick solutions to resolve this frustrating sign-in problem so you can get back to gaming.
Steam error code E87 means there's an issue when logging into your Steam account. Possible causes include system glitches, Steam client issues, account errors, or network problems. Fortunately, there are several methods to resolve this problem. This Mytour article walks you through the various ways to fix Steam error code E87.
What Does Steam Error Code E87 Mean?
Steam Error Code E87 signals a problem with logging into Steam. To resolve this, you can try restarting your router, restarting the Steam client, signing out from all devices, resetting your password, reinstalling Steam, adjusting firewall settings, toggling Steam Guard, and clearing Steam's cache. Ensure your system’s time and date are accurate as well.
Steps to Fix the Error
Verify if Steam is down.
Check for a Steam outage. You can visit websites like steamstat.us, issteamdown.com, or Downdetector to check if Steam is currently experiencing an outage. If Steam is down, wait for the issue to be resolved before trying to log in again.
Reboot your router.
Perform a power cycle on your router. If you're using a wired connection, unplug all cables from your router. Disconnect the router from power and wait for about 2 or 3 minutes. Then plug it back in, allow it to reboot fully, reconnect your devices, and attempt to log in to Steam once more.
Restart the Steam client.
Force quit Steam and restart the application. Use one of these methods to close Steam and open it again. Afterward, try logging in:
- Windows: Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then choose Task Manager. Find the "Steam.exe" process, select it, and click End Task. Launch Steam once more.
- Mac: Press Option + Command + Esc, select Steam, and click Force Quit. Relaunch the Steam app.
Run Steam as an Administrator (for Windows).
Close Steam and open it as an administrator. To run Steam as an administrator on Windows, first ensure Steam is closed. Then, open the Windows Start menu, type Steam, right-click the Steam app, and select Run as Administrator.
Repair your Steam installation.
Repair the Steam installation (Windows only). On Windows, you can repair the installation. On a Mac, you'll need to uninstall and reinstall Steam. Follow these steps to repair the Steam installation:
- Click the Windows Start menu.
- Search for Steam.
- Right-click the Steam icon and select Open File Location.
- Right-click the Steam icon again and select Properties.
- Copy the location listed next to "Target".
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
- Paste the location in the "Open" field.
- Add /repair to the end of the path.
- Click Ok to proceed.
Uninstall and reinstall Steam.
Reinstall Steam. If repairing the app doesn’t resolve the issue, you may want to try uninstalling and reinstalling Steam. This ensures you’re using the latest version. Here are the steps to do so:
-
Windows:
- Click the Windows Start button.
- Select Settings.
- Go to Apps.
- Find Steam.
- Click the three dots next to it (for Windows 11).
- Click Uninstall and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Visit https://store.steampowered.com/about/ in your browser.
- Click Install Steam.
- Open the installer from your Downloads folder.
- Follow the instructions to finish the installation.
-
Mac:
- Open Finder.
- Click Applications.
- Drag the Steam app to the Trash.
- Visit https://store.steampowered.com/about/ in your browser.
- Click Install Steam.
- Open the downloaded file from your Downloads folder.
- Follow the installation instructions.
Change Your Password.
Reset your password. If you're unable to log into Steam, try resetting your password. Follow these steps:
- Open the Steam app or go to https://store.steampowered.com/login/ in your browser.
- Click Help, I can’t sign in.
- Select I forgot my Steam Account name or password.
- Enter your email address or phone number.
- Check the box to confirm you're not a robot.
- Click Search.
- Click Email an account verification code to [email address].
- Open the email from Steam Support.
- Click Resume Recovery in the email.
- Follow the steps provided to reset your password.
Enable or disable Steam Guard.
Check your Steam Guard status and toggle it on or off. Steam Guard serves as two-factor authentication for Steam. If it's interfering with the login process, it could cause issues. To resolve this, check your Steam Guard settings and adjust as needed.
- Visit https://help.steampowered.com/en/login/ in your web browser.
- Log into your account. If you're unable to sign in with your username and password, try using the QR code.
- Click your account name in the top-right corner.
- Select Account details.
- Click Manage Steam Guard.
- If Steam Guard is active, click Turn Steam Guard off.
- If Steam Guard is disabled, choose from the other available options.
- Try logging into Steam again to see if the issue persists.
Log out of all devices.
Deauthorize all devices. While Steam lets you log in from multiple devices, a glitch might require you to log out from some. Here’s how to deauthorize all devices:
- Visit https://help.steampowered.com/en/login/ in your browser.
- Log into your account. If you can’t log in with your username and password, try using the QR code.
- Click your account name at the top-right.
- Select Account details.
- Click Manage Steam Guard.
- Click Deauthorize all devices.
Set your time & date correctly.
Ensure your system's time and date are accurate. Incorrect time or date settings on your computer can lead to network errors. Here’s how to adjust the time and date:
- Windows.
- Click the Windows Start button.
- Search for date and time.
- Select Date & time settings.
- Ensure the correct time zone is set.
- Toggle "Set time automatically" off and then back on.
- Mac:
- Click the Apple icon.
- Select System Settings or System Preferences.
- Click General from the left menu.
- Choose Date & Time.
- Make sure "Set time zone automatically using your current location" is enabled.
- Ensure "Set time and date automatically" is turned on.
Create a NoReact Login shortcut.
Disable the new Steam login UI (Windows Only). Some users have found that switching to the old Steam login UI resolves error E87. To do this, follow these steps to create a shortcut that will open the older login UI on Windows:
- Right-click the Steam desktop shortcut (if you don’t have one, create it using the Steam.exe file).
- Click Properties.
- At the end of the "Target" field, add -login -noreactlogin.
- Click Apply.
- Double-click the shortcut to launch Steam with the old login UI.
Refresh Steam core files.
Execute the "flushconfig" command. This command will refresh Steam’s core files, reverting them to their default state. It’s an effective way to fix various network issues related to Steam. Here’s how to run it:
- Windows:
- Close the Steam client.
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
- In the "Open" field, type steam://flushconfig.
- Click Ok.
- Mac:
- Ensure Steam is not open.
- Launch Safari.
- In the address bar, type steam://flushconfig and press Enter.
Delete your temporary files.
Clear your computer's cache. Accumulated temporary files may cause errors with various applications. Follow these steps to delete the temporary files on your system:
- Windows:
- Close the Steam client.
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type %temp% and hit Enter.
- Press Ctrl + A to select all files.
- Click Delete (click skip if prompted).
- Press Windows key + R again to open Run.
- Type temp and hit Enter.
- Press Ctrl + A to select all files.
- Click Delete (click skip if prompted).
- Mac:
- Open Finder.
- Press Shift + Command + G to open Go.
- Type ~/Library/Caches/ and press Enter.
- Locate files related to Steam (e.g., "com.apple.steam") and delete them.
Adjust your firewall settings.
Ensure your firewall is not blocking Steam. If you’re using a third-party firewall or have a router firewall, you'll need to add Steam to the list of allowed apps. Here’s how to enable Steam in Windows Defender Firewall:
- Click the Windows Start menu.
- Search for firewall.
- Click on Firewall & network protection.
- Select Allow an app through firewall.
- Ensure both "Private" and "Public" are checked for Steam.
- If Steam isn’t listed, click Change Settings.
- Select Allow another app.
- Click Browse.
- Navigate to the Steam.exe file and select it.
- Click Open, then Add to finish.
Enable or Disable your VPN.
Modify your VPN settings. If you’re using a VPN, try disabling it to establish a direct connection to Steam’s network. If you’re not using a VPN, consider using one to see if it helps bypass the network issue.
Reach out to Steam support.
Get in touch with customer support. If you’re still unable to access Steam after trying all the steps, there may be an issue with your account. Steam customer support can create a trouble ticket for you. Contact Steam support and explain the problem you're facing.
- To report a problem online, visit https://help.steampowered.com/, or you can reach customer support by calling 425-889-9642.
