This is the most common fix for permission-related handshake errors between Steam and its games. Completely close Steam.
If you’re still stuck, try reinstalling Steam (without deleting your games) or disabling third-party overlays (Discord, GeForce Experience). This is the most common fix for permission-related
The "Steam must be running to play this game" error typically occurs when the game is unable to detect a valid Steam installation on your computer. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including: including: If all else fails
If all else fails, you may need to reinstall Steam and the game: This is the most common fix for permission-related
Go to and click Verify integrity of game files . 3. Clear Steam's Local Cache