Although Steam stands tall as a gateway to a myriad of adventures, sometimes bothersome barricades emerge to impede your journey. We heard you have been greeted with the discouraging message – Failed to add a firewall exception for steamwebhelper.exe. In today’s article, we will explain what is it and how to fix Steam has failed to add a Firewall exception on Windows error. Get ready to reopen the gates to your gaming paradise!
How to Fix Steam Has Failed to Add Firewall Exception
Windows Firewall functions as a filter that monitors and controls network traffic on a PC. When you initialize Steam for the first time or after updating the client, the Firewall may prompt you to allow communication over the network. Once you grant Steam access to create exceptions, it can establish connections with its servers, download game updates, and enable multiplayer features without limitations.
However, in some cases, users encounter issues where Steam fails to add firewall exceptions automatically, which leads to connectivity problems and error messages. Read more to find out how to troubleshoot the issue.
Quick Answer
To resolve the issue, either run Steam as Administrator or allow client and its services through Windows Firewall. If it does not help, repair the installation files.
1. Press the Windows key + R on the keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Paste the command in the text field: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\bin\SteamService.exe” /repair and press Enter.
Reasons for Failed to Add Windows Firewall Exception for steamwebhelper.exe
Here are a few potential causes that could be causing the error:
- Exception for Steam from Firewall is not created
- Steam attempting to launch the exe. file from the incorrect location and folder.
- Corrupt installation files or folders
- Malfunctioning client service program
Let’s go through the methods that could fix the issue:
Method 1: Restart Steam
In case a minor glitch is triggered while loading Steam, restarting the application can fix the issue.
1. Launch the Task Manager and navigate to the Processes tab.
2. Right-click on Steam Client WebHelper, and click on End task from the menu.
3. Restart Steam and see if you still see the error message.
Also Read: 35 Best Sandbox Games on Steam
Method 2: Update Windows
An Outdated system could have bugs or compatibility flaws that could turn out to be the root of persistent failures. We suggest you update the PC and install the latest build of Windows to fix the failed to add Firewall exception error on Steam.
1. Open Settings and navigate to the Windows Update tab.
2. Click on Check for updates.
3. If there is any update available, click on Download & Install.
Method 3: Run Steam as Administrator
As we already know that the error triggers due to the lack of permissions granted to Steam to operate. You can, however, run the client application in administrative mode to resolve this.
1. On the Desktop, right-click on the Steam icon.
2. Click on Run as Administrator.
If this fixes the error, you can permanently set Steam to run in administrative mode.
1. Right-click on the Steam icon and from the menu, select Properties.
2. Move to the Compatibility tab.
3. Tick the check box next to Run this program as administrator.
4. Click on OK, followed by Apply.
Also Read: 11 Popular Steam Games of All Time
Method 4: Allow Steam through Windows Firewall
If for some reason Steam has not yet been exempted from the Windows Firewall restrictions, this could be the cause of the error. Follow the steps mentioned below to allow it:
1. Launch the Control Panel and click on System and Security.
2. Click on Windows Defender Firewall.
3. On the left-hand side, click on Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.
4. Click on Change Settings.
5. Tick the checkboxes under Public and Private for Steam and Steam Web Helper.
6. Click OK to save the changes.
Method 5: Copy steamwebhelper.exe to Another Directory
Sometimes Steam attempts to run the .exe file from the wrong location. Now, since the file is missing in the attempted location, it leads to program service issues. Let’s just copy it to a different directory.
Note: Make sure to close the Steam Client application before starting with the steps.
1. Navigate to the default folder where the Steam directory is installed. In our case, installation files are saved in the Windows (C:) drive.
So, we followed the path: Windows (C:) > Program Files (x86) > Steam > bin > cef > cef.win.7×64
2. Right-click on steamwebhelper and then click on the Copy icon.
3. Now follow the path and go back to the directory referred to here: Windows (C:) > Program Files (x86) > Steam > bin
4. Now simply right-click on the blank space and select Pase from the menu or press Ctrl + V.
That is it. Once you paste a copy of the steamwebhelper application in the Bin folder, launch the Steam client and check if this resolved the error.
Also Read: How to Get Steam Points for Free
Method 6: Repair Steam Client Service
Corrupt service files of the Steam Client potentially cause the failed to add Firewall exception error. The good part is, you can repair it just right by running a command. Follow the steps:
1. End Steam and all Steam-related tasks using the Task Manager.
2. Press the Windows key + R on the keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
3. In the text field, paste the following command: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\bin\SteamService.exe” /repair and press Enter.
Note: Before you press Enter, make sure this is the same path to the Steam installation directory on the system. If not, enter the correct path instead.
Method 7: Disable Windows Firewall Completely (If Applicable)
As we already know the error triggers as Steam has failed to add a Firewall exception. Even though we attempted to exempt Steam from the security layers of Windows Firewall, if the error still persists, you can disable it completely. By doing this you can check if the error is fixed. Follow our guide on How to Disable Windows 11 Firewall.
Method 8: Reinstall Steam Client
Lastly, if the error message failed to add a firewall exception for steamwebhelper.exe still appears, the last resort is to Reinstall Steam. As you Uninstall Steam and clear out all the temporary files, this potentially gets all the corrupt and damaged files erased.
Before you begin with the process, we suggest you backup Steam games, so you would not have to lose any game data and can easily restore them. Once done, follow the steps mentioned below:
1. Launch the Control Panel and click on the Uninstall a program option under Programs.
2. Right-click on Steam and select Uninstall.
3. Now click on Uninstall to confirm.
4. Once the app is uninstalled, open File Explorer and follow the path: Windows (C:) > Program Files (x86).
5. Tick the checkbox on the left of the Steam folder and press the Delete key.
6. Now to reinstall Steam, launch its official website and click Install Steam.
7. Click on INSTALL STEAM again to confirm.
8. Now follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
9. Once installed, finally, fill in your Steam credentials and LOGIN to your account.
Recommended: Where is Steam Data Stored?
We hope with the help of our guide, you were able to fix the Steam failed to add Firewall exception error. If you have any queries or suggestions for us, feel free to drop them in the comments box below. Stay tuned to TechCult to find out solutions to more such tech-related issues.
