The absence of the steam_api.dll file is a common mistake many gamers have encountered.
This file refers to the famous game service Steam – an online store of computer games.
To start, Steam must closely interact with the file steam_api.dll, and often because of this, the notorious error comes out.
Below we try to figure out why it appears and how to solve it.
Causes of an Error With the steam_api.dll file
The antivirus often takes the changed file steam_api.dll for a virus threat and places it in quarantine. It can happen both during the game’s installation on the computer and at the next anti-virus scan stage.
Moreover, the error steam_api.dll is missing (error of this file) may appear on licensed games. Then the following text might appear:
“The procedure entry point could not be located in the dynamic link library steam_api.dll,” means:
“The entry point to the procedure was not found in the steam_api.dll library.” This error occurs in most cases because the file steam_api.dll has undergone a change by some game.
The Solution to the steam_api.dll Missing Error
There are several variants of the problem and, accordingly, several solutions:
Antivirus blocked steam_api.dll. If this happens, the antivirus will constantly notify you of the detected threat and the locked file steam_api.dll. Then put steam_api.dll in the antivirus exceptions.
Since then, the antivirus program will ignore it. If you installed a licensed game, then you should consider why steam_api.dll was changed.
The most common – is on your PC, a virus has settled. In this case, we turn on the antivirus in scanning mode and check all local disks.
The file steam_api.dll was deleted, most likely by an antivirus. Go to the “Quarantine” folder of your antivirus, restore steam_api.dll and add it to the list of exceptions.
If this does not work, it’s worth reinstalling the game, having previously disabled the antivirus.
The task becomes more complicated if you use a licensed game. Then you need to reinstall Steam.
You need to go to the folder C:\Program Files\Steam and copy the file “steam.exe” and the folder “Steamapps” to save all the data.
Hold down the keyboard shortcuts Win+R; a window will appear where you need to enter “Control Panel” without the quotes and press Enter. The “Toolbar” window opens.
If your computer is running Windows XP, then your next step is to select “Add or Remove Programs.”
For Windows 7 and 8, you need to go to “Programs,” select “Programs and components” in the window that opens, find Steam, and delete it.
After removal, Steam can be downloaded again from the official site.
And the third way to restore is to download the missing steam_api.dll file.
This method is recommended to be used last because, while downloading that file from the Internet, you also risk getting a modified file, which can cause a threat to the system.
So, you have downloaded the file. Now you need to install it. To do this, you must copy it:
- Windows XP, 7, 8 32 bit – to the System32 folder (usually it’s C:\Windows\System32\).
- Windows XP, 7, 8 64 bit – in the folder SysWOW64 (respectively C:\Windows\SysWOW64\).
You need to press the Win+R keys, type “regsvr steam_api.dll” in the new window without quotes, and press Enter. It remains to reboot the computer and try to start the game.
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