Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper High CPU Usage on Windows 10

You may be the game buff or pro gamer who relies on the Steam app, which is the most loved gaming platform in the world. But you would sometime face the issues you have not faced while gaming. Steam client bootstrapper high CPU is one such problem most gamers have already encountered on their PC. If you are also one of them, go through this article to find the helpful methods to fix Steam using 100% CPU issue once and for all. Let’s start!

Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper High CPU on Windows 10

How to Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper High CPU Usage on Windows 10

Below are some of the reasons why the Steam client bootstrapper high CPU error would occur on your PC:

  • Faulty and corrupted system files
  • Steam overlay
  • Outdated graphics driver
  • Broadcasting for streaming
  • Big Picture Mode
  • Default Steam window: Store

Now, you will see the methods to fix the said issue completely. Read and follow each and every method and associated steps carefully on your computer.

Method 1: Repair System Files

When your system files get corrupted, the computer exhibits high CPU and RAM usage. By running the SFC scan on your PC, the corrupted files and the steam client bootstrapper high CPU may also get fixed. Follow our guide to repair system files on Windows 10.

sfc scannow command. Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper High CPU on Windows 10

Method 2: Repair Steam Service

You can also repair the Steam service as this method has fixed the Steam using 100% CPU issue for several users. Follow the steps below to perform the same method on your PC.

1. Press the Windows + R keys simultaneously to launch the Run dialog box.

2. Type the below command in the given box field and hit the Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys together to run it with the administrator privileges.

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\bin\SteamService.exe" /repair

Type the command and press Ctrl and Shift and Enter keys together to run it with the administrator privileges

3. Finally, relaunch Steam.

Also Read: Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper Not Responding in Windows 10

Method 3: Change Steam Client Skin to Default

It is completely fine to use the different skins in Steam, but changing the default skin has been said to be the cause of the Steam client bootstrapper high CPU issue. Perform the steps below to execute this step on your PC.

1. Open the Steam application on your computer.

2. Click Steam option from the menu bar and click on Settings.

Click Steam option from the menu bar and click on Settings. Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper High CPU on Windows 10

3. Then, click on the Interface option, as shown below.

4. Under the Select the skin you wish Steam to use (requires Steam to restart) section, select the < default skin > option from the drop-down menu and click on OK.

Click on Interface default skin

5. Then, from the home menu, click on Steam > Exit, as shown below.

exit. Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper High CPU on Windows 10

Method 4: Change Default Window to Library

If your default Steam window is set to the Store menu, sometimes you may experience the Steam client bootstrapper high CPU error. Follow the upcoming steps to change this default window to another, like Library.

1. Open the Steam application on your PC.

2. Click the Steam option from the menu bar and click on Settings to launch the Settings window.

Click the Steam option from the menu bar and click on Settings to launch the Settings. Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper High CPU on Windows 10

3. From the Interface tab, select the Library option from the drop-down menu, as shown.

4. Now, click on the OK option from the bottom.

Click on Interface and select Library

5. Next, click on Steam > Exit from the home menu, as mentioned in the previous method.

6. Finally, relaunch the Steam application on your PC.

Also Read: Where are Steam Games installed?  

Method 5: Disable Steam Overlay

Several Steam users have noticed the occurrence of the Steam using 100% CPU problem when the Steam overlay is enabled. While any game is running on Steam with this feature enabled, it automatically increases the CPU usage of the associated PC. Taking this into the consideration, you can disable the Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game option from the Steam Settings. Read and follow the guide How to Disable Steam Overlay in Windows 10 till the end to understand the method in detail. After performing the mentioned steps, check if you have fixed the said issue or not.

Disable Steam Overlay. Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper High CPU on Windows 10

Method 6: Disable Broadcasting in Steam

Broadcasting in Steam requires high CPU usage to function properly. You can disable that option from Steam Settings to see if the high CPU usage gets fixed or not.

1. Open the Steam app with administrator privileges on your PC.

2. Click the Steam option from the menu bar and click on Settings, as shown.

Click Steam option from the menu bar and click on Settings

3. Next, click on Broadcasting > Broadcasting disabled, as shown.

Click on Broadcasting and select Broadcasting disabled option. Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper High CPU on Windows 10

4. Then, click OK and exit from Steam home screen.

Also Read: Fix Steam App Configuration Unavailable in Windows 10

Method 7: Disable GPU Accelerated Rendering in Web Views

1. Launch the Steam app with administrator privileges.

2. Click on the Steam > Settings, as shown.

Click Steam option from the menu bar and click on Settings

3. Then, click on Interface tab from the left pane and uncheck the Enable GPU accelerated rendering in web views option, as shown.

enable GPU accelerated rendering in web views

4. Now, click on OK and exit the application.

5. Finally, relaunch the Steam app and check the status of the Steam client bootstrapper high CPU issue.

Method 8: Update Graphics Driver

This Steam using 100% CPU error can transpire on your computer if you have an outdated graphics driver installed. You can update the graphics driver to the latest version to ultimately fix the desired problem. Read our guide on 4 Ways to Update Graphics Drivers in Windows 10 to learn the different methods which you can use to update your graphics driver.

Update graphic drivers

Also Read: Fix Missing Downloaded Files Error on Steam

Method 9: Use Beta Steam Client

1. Open Steam and click on the Steam > Settings.

go to Steam Settings. Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper High CPU on Windows 10

2. Click on Account tab > CHANGE under Beta participation section, as depicted below.

in account menu click on change beta participation

3. Choose the Steam Client Candidate option from the drop-down menu.

4. Now, click on OK and relaunch the Steam app.

Method 10: Workaround with Big Picture Mode

Follow the steps below to workaround with Big Picture Mode if it is causing the issue.

1. Open Steam and launch the Settings menu, as mentioned above.

2. From the Controller section, click on GENERAL CONTROLLER SETTINGS, as shown.

click on GENERAL CONTROLLER SETTINGS from Controller section. Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper High CPU on Windows 10

3. Uncheck all the options from here and click Back, as shown.

Uncheck all the options from here and click Back

4. Then, in the Controllers section, open and close all the highlighted configurations one by one.

in the Controllers section open and close all the highlighted configurations one by one

Also Read: Fix Steam Keeps Crashing

Method 11: Reinstall Steam

If nothing has worked for you to solve the desired error, reinstall the Steam app on your PC. By reinstalling the Steam client, the latest version will get installed with the bugs and glitches fixed from the previous version. After reinstalling the Steam application, check if you have fixed the Steam using 100% CPU issue on your PC.

1. Hit the Windows key, type Control Panel and click on Open.

open Control Panel. Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper High CPU on Windows 10

2. Set View by > Category, then click on Uninstall a program under the Programs menu as shown.

click on Uninstall a program under the Programs menu

3. In the Programs and Features utility, search for Steam.

4. Now, click on Steam and select Uninstall option as depicted in the below picture.

Select the Steam app in the list and click on the Uninstall button

5. Click on the Uninstall button on the Steam Uninstall window to uninstall the Steam app on your PC.

Click on the Uninstall button. Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper High CPU on Windows 10

6. Delete the Steam folder in the location path Local Disk (C:) > Program Files (x86) by pressing the Delete key.

Delete the Steam folder in the location path

The steps explained below will help you reinstall the Steam app on your PC from scratch.

7. Now, navigate to the Steam download page on your default web browser and click on the Install Steam button on the top-right corner of the home page.

Open the official website of the Steam app on your default web browser and click on the Install Steam button

8. Click on the INSTALL STEAM button on the next page to download the Steam app on your PC.

Click on the INSTALL STEAM button on the next page. Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper High CPU on Windows 10

9. Then, click on the downloaded SteamSetup.exe file in the bottom-left corner of the page to launch the Steam app on your PC.

launch the Steam app on your PC

10. Click on the Next button on the Steam Setup window to initiate the setup of your Steam app on your PC.

Click on the Next button. Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper High CPU on Windows 10

11. Select the language of your choice in the next window and click on the Next button in the wizard.

Select the language of your choice in the next window and click on the Next button

12. Next, select the destination folder of the Steam app by clicking on the Browse… button and clicking on the Install button to complete the installation of the app.

Select the destination folder of the Steam app by clicking on the Browse button and clicking on the Install button

13. Finally, click on the Finish button on the Completing Steam Setup window to complete the steam setup.

Click on the Finish button. Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper High CPU on Windows 10

14. Create a new account or log in to your existing account using the login credentials on the Steam app.

Steam PC Client login

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So now, you have understood how to fix Steam client bootstrapper high CPU usage on your Windows 10 PC with the detailed steps to your aid. You can let us know any queries about this article or suggestions about any other topic you want us to make an article on. Drop them in the comments section below for us to know.

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