How to fix Steam 1 file failed to validate and will be reacquired
Steam is a great game distribution platform but as a desktop app, it takes the grunt work out of installing games on a system. All you really need to do is click the Install button after you’ve bought a game and Steam will take care of everything. Once installed, Steam will also take care of game updates and users have little to worry about except maybe restarting a game.
Seam: 1 file failed to validate and will be reacquired
Game installation and updates on Steam are handled mostly in the background. Steam updates when you open the app, and it will install updates for games before opening the game. If a game is updating, you won’t be able to play it until the update has been installed. That said, if the game is up to date and you get the ‘1 file failed to validate and will be reacquired’ message when you try to play it, it means there’s a problem with the game files.
1. Validate game files
This is the first fix you should try if we get the Steam 1 file failed to validate and will be reacquired error either when opening Steam or opening a particular game on Steam.
- Open Steam and go to Library.
- Right-click the game you want to play and select Properties from the context menu.
- Go to the Files tab.
- ClickVerify integrity of the files.
- Allow Steam to check files and download new ones if needed.
- Restart Steam.
2. Run a disk check
Check the disk that you store your Steam games/library on for errors. The problem may be because of disk errors and not because of Steam.
- Open File Explorer.
- Go to This PC.
- Right-click the drive with your Steam library and select Properties.
- Go to the Tools tab.
- Click Check and allow the full check to run.
3. Disable mods
Game mods can be game changers for lots of games but they can cause problems, especially if they are not compatible with game updates. Try disabling game mods that you’ve installed and Steam will start working.
On that note, if you’ve installed apps that modify a game, add cheats to it, or that may be construed as a cheat tool, uninstall it. Steam will flag and block an app like that and it may result in the app not working.
4. Reinstall Steam
Steam updates often and the updates are normally successful. That said, an update that ran into problems when installing may show the Steam 1 file failed to validate and will be reacquired error. It’s best to uninstall and reinstall Steam (this will not delete your game data).
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Programs>Uninstall a program.
- Select Steam and click the Uninstall button.
- Restart the system.
- Download and install Steam again.
5. Remove controllers
Controllers, particularly unofficial controllers may occasionally cause problems with Steam. If you have a controller connected to your system, disconnect and open Steam. If Steam opens without any problems, delete any third-party controller profiles/configurations you’ve added and uninstall and reinstall the controller.
You can uninstall a controller from Device Manager. Look for it under Bluetooth devices if it’s a Bluetooth controller or under USB devices if it’s a wired controller. Install the controller again and it should work.
Conclusion
Steam isn’t immune to problems but most of its problems are easy to fix. More importantly, it’s rare for problems from one game to effect another game. That said, always make sure your games are backed up. Take regular back ups incase you need to rebuilt the library and the local game files.
