Steam won't let me verify cache due to "a game running or tool". No games or tools are open

[Idiot Kid]

So, I've been playing insurgency lately and noticed how my stats on the game are all at zero, and won't load. The game works fine in terms of game play, but this little thing was bugging me. Exited the game, and went to verify cache. I'm met with "Please exit any running games or tools before attempting to verify your cache." Surprised me, so I restarted steam, and tried again. Nope, still said the same thing. Went to task manager, checked processes, no running games. Restarted my computer, immediately opened steam, and tried to verify cache. Nope, still wouldn't work.


Any idea as to why its doing this?

[ReBoot]

Check your task manager's process list. If a game is running, kill it. If steamoverlayui.exe is running, kill it.

[Idiot Kid]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

Check your task manager's process list. If a game is running, kill it. If steamoverlayui.exe is running, kill it.

No games are running, only 2 steam processes running are steam.exe and steamwebhelper.exe

[TirithRR]

It may not be a Steam process. Steam right now says you are playing Insurgency, so it's probably an insurgency process.

If you cannot find it, just completely restart your computer, that will stop it from running.

[Idiot Kid]

Originally posted by TirithRR:

It may not be a Steam process. Steam right now says you are playing Insurgency, so it's probably an insurgency process.

If you cannot find it, just completely restart your computer, that will stop it from running.

Tried that, still doesn't let me verify.

[Vegan Atheist]

Been having this problem for half a year now.
Switched harddrives, reinstalled Steam, made sure to exit just about any background running applications.

PLEASE FIX THIS, VALVE.

[⭕⃤ ᠌ Soshi]

So I just ran into this problem. And Just fixed it. For anyone who has this problem this might be your fix. If not idk what to tell ya.
So I went into the steam folder.
1. Locate your steam installation folder. Inside you will find a file named clientregistry.blob. Delete this file. It will force your steam to update.
2. Second thing. IF you own a mobile device and you like to stay connected to steam on there, Go ahead and log out of that. The mobile device doesnt always update and for some reason will say your in a game even after you left. This seems due to the fact that the device doesnt update your status in real time. But ive noticed steam will go off your device status over your actually pc status. So just go ahead and log out.
3. Go ahead and Run steam as administrator.
- Now try and verify the cache. For me this worked no problem. I have never had this error before and just as quickly as I got it. I fixed it for myself. Hope fully this works for you.

[AssAssIn]

SOLUTION
ok, so i had this issue too. i just purchased "the crew" and after the false positive from AVG, i needed to re-download some of the files. i tried to verify the game files, but kept getting this "please exit any games...." message

i tried running as administrator, but that didn't fix it. nor did deleting the .blob file.

then i realized i have CURSE VOICE client installed. i exited that and then everything was fine.

i'm assuming other clients may cause the same thing to happen (like origin, uplay, or other game clients) make sure you exit these too, and you should be good! CHEERS and happy new year!

[dog]

Originally posted by AssAssIn:

SOLUTION
ok, so i had this issue too. i just purchased "the crew" and after the false positive from AVG, i needed to re-download some of the files. i tried to verify the game files, but kept getting this "please exit any games...." message

i tried running as administrator, but that didn't fix it. nor did deleting the .blob file.

then i realized i have CURSE VOICE client installed. i exited that and then everything was fine.

i'm assuming other clients may cause the same thing to happen (like origin, uplay, or other game clients) make sure you exit these too, and you should be good! CHEERS and happy new year!

OMG, YES. THIS IS IT. CURSE VOICE. It made me not able to verify my game cache.

[sneakFlav0r]

It worked for me aswell. I just wanted to verify torchlight 2 didnt work. I closed curse voice and it worked ty very much <3

[Jawsh]

I've had this issue for so long now, and just happen to search for a fix again and came across this. Curse voice was definitely the issue, thanks!

[xGreeDomx]

i had that issue before... i went to my files found steams app cache deleted it.... then opened steam... then closed steam... then restarted my computer... after that it should work

[EXïŦ]

thanks for the curse voice info LOL

[Jeed]

Originally posted by AssAssIn:

SOLUTION
ok, so i had this issue too. i just purchased "the crew" and after the false positive from AVG, i needed to re-download some of the files. i tried to verify the game files, but kept getting this "please exit any games...." message

i tried running as administrator, but that didn't fix it. nor did deleting the .blob file.

then i realized i have CURSE VOICE client installed. i exited that and then everything was fine.

i'm assuming other clients may cause the same thing to happen (like origin, uplay, or other game clients) make sure you exit these too, and you should be good! CHEERS and happy new year!

This solution worked for me. Curse was the issue.
Thank you very much!

[Zorlop]

Just came across this, thanks for the info, would never have thought to close curse voice :P

[✪ Kalli]

Originally posted by ร๏รђเ รร ჯ:

So I just ran into this problem. And Just fixed it. For anyone who has this problem this might be your fix. If not idk what to tell ya.
So I went into the steam folder.
1. Locate your steam installation folder. Inside you will find a file named clientregistry.blob. Delete this file. It will force your steam to update.
2. Second thing. IF you own a mobile device and you like to stay connected to steam on there, Go ahead and log out of that. The mobile device doesnt always update and for some reason will say your in a game even after you left. This seems due to the fact that the device doesnt update your status in real time. But ive noticed steam will go off your device status over your actually pc status. So just go ahead and log out.
3. Go ahead and Run steam as administrator.
- Now try and verify the cache. For me this worked no problem. I have never had this error before and just as quickly as I got it. I fixed it for myself. Hope fully this works for you.

will you marry me?