Steam Client Bootstrapper is associated with the Steam Client app. On the other side, Steam Client is one of the online video game launchers and game stores that gamers prefer to need to launch the games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Apex Legends, etc, and also used to communicate with other players online. When you launch any game through Steam Client, it starts running the other services related to it in order to run the application smoothly. And Steam Client Bootstrapper is one of the services or programs involved when you launch Steam Client.

Now that we have known a hunch about Steam Client Bootstrapper let’s see what is it used for and whether is it safe to have it on your system. Also, we have mentioned some fixes to the issue caused by Steam Client Bootstrapper, so make sure to keep up with everything.

See also: [Fix] Steam Content File is Locked

What is Steam Client Bootstrapper?

Steam Client Bootstrapper runs in the background when you launch the Steam app, it is essential for Steam in order to run the Steam services without any issues. The main task of the Steam Client Bootstrapper is to look and fix the missing or any damaged file of the game in order to run the game smoothly. It also takes responsibility for updates and modifications required in the programs or games.

On the other side, Steam Client Bootstrapper is essential to run the Steam app. If you force close the Steam Client Bootstrapper from the Task Manager, the whole Steam services will end up getting closed and will not work. This alternately means that the Steam app is itself dependent upon the Steam Client Bootstrapper. So it is completely okay to have the bootstrapper on your system and it is not malware or virus as it is designed by Valve, the developer of Steam services.

Problem related to Steam Client Bootsrapper

Steam users noticed that when they launch the Steam app to launch any game, Steam Client Bootstrapper also gets launch and consumes CPU usage on a high level than any other applications available in Task Manager. According to the Steam users, it consumes the CPU usage even when the service is not doing anything. Users have tried many methods to fix high CPU usage caused by Steam Client Bootstrapper like restarting the system, updating the Stream, etc but everything turns out to be ineffective.

Following are the valid causes that make Steam Client Bootstrapper consume high CPU usage. This will give you an idea to fix the issue.

• Red Shell Spyware: It is used to when you install any game on Steam due to which it consume high CPU usage. Steam reported that this issues has been resolved by the developers, but this might be the possible cause as it was encountered earlier.
• Steam Overlay: Due to the Steam Overlay, it causes many games unstable in such a way that Steam Client itelf can’t handle the unsatableity caused by Steam Overlay. Make sure to turn it off completely.
• Decorative Custom Skins: Steam allows it’s users to keep custom skins for Steam Client. This makes bootstrappers to consume more CPU usage and power. We advised you to use default Steam Client skin so that there will no CPU usage consumptiopn.
• Set Defualt window to Library: It happens when you have enabled Steam Client enabled in the startup apps, it will laucnh and show Store page. Here, we advsied you to set Steam Client to show Library page instead of Store. This is weried but it has worked for many users.

How to Fix Steam Client Bootstrapper High CPU Usage issue

Follow the methods mentioned below that will help you to resolve issues related to high CPU usage by Steam bootstrapper.

Check Red Shell Spyware

Red Shell Spyware is not a good program, it just collects your system data and shares it with third-party apps and services. News does circulate that it is installed with certain Steam games, this issue has been resolved but might be present even after the installation of the game. We have written a script mentioned below that will help you to block the tracker inside the host’s file. Here’s how to do that:

Step 1: Press the Start button and type File Explorer Options, under the File Explorer Options window select the View tab located at the upper tab menu. Under the Hidden files and folders option, just select Show hidden files, folder, and drives option. Click on Apply and OK to save the changes.

Step 2: Press Windows + R shortcut keys to open the Run box, type notepad.exe, and press OK to open the Notepad.

Step 3: Just copy and paste the following code into the notepad.

​@echo off
set hostspath=%windir%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
echo 0.0.0.0 redshell.io >> %hostspath%
echo 0.0.0.0 api.redshell.io >> %hostspath%
echo 0.0.0.0 treasuredata.com >> %hostspath%
echo 0.0.0.0 api.treasuredata.com >> %hostspath%
echo 0.0.0.0 in.treasuredata.com >> %hostspath%
echo 0.0.0.0 cdn.rdshll.com >> %hostspath%
echo 0.0.0.0 t.redshell.io >> %hostspath%
echo 0.0.0.0 innervate.us >> %hostspath%
echo Host file edited.
pause
exit

Step 4: Once done, just press Ctrl + S key to save the file, save the file as “script.bat” and set the Save as type option to “All Files. Save it on your computer.

Step 5: Locate the file and run the file as administrator.

This will fix the issue related to Red Shell Spyware.

Turn off Steam Overlay

Steam Overlay is sometimes useful but it causes high CPU usage issues. In that case, we need to turn off Steam Overlay completely. Here’s how to do that:

Step 1: Visit Windows 10 desktop page and open Steam, you can launch Steam using a shortcut or just type it in the search bar.

Step 2: Click on the Steam option located at the top left corner to expand the list and select Settings from the list. Now select the In-Game option located on the left sidebar and check The Steam Overlay section.

Step 3: Just untick the Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game option and click on OK to save the changes.

Step 4: Now again click on the Steam option located at the top right corner and select Exit. Don’t click on the X icon to close the window.

Now just launch the Steam and start playing a game and see if the issue has been resolved.

Use Steam’s Default Skin

It is noticed that using any custom skin on Steam can lead to high CPU usage. This is because Steam Bootstrapper becomes a little unstable by doing so, just set Steam’s skin to the default and you are good to go. Here’s how to do that:

Step 1: Visit Windows 10 desktop page and open Steam, you can launch Steam using a shortcut or just type it in the search bar.

Step 2: Just click on the Steam option located at the top right corner > Click on Settings. Select Interface from the left sidebar, Keep Select the skin you wish Steam to use (requires Steam to restart) dropdown option to default skin.

Step 3: Now again click on the Steam option located at the top right corner and select Exit. Don’t click on the X icon to close the window.

Relaunch the skin and see if this has fixed the Steam Bootrapper high CPU usage issue.

Set Default window to Library

This method might sound absurd to the ears but this has worked for many users. When they set the default window of Steam to Library instead of Store, the Steam Bootstrapper issue has been resolved completely.

Step 1: Visit Windows 10 desktop page and open Steam, you can launch Steam using a shortcut or just type it in the search bar.

Step 2: Just click on Stream located on the top right corner > Settings > Interface > Check Select which Steam window appears when the program starts, and when you double-click the Notification Tray icon option and set Store to Library.

Step 3: Now again click on the Steam option located at the top right corner and select Exit. Don’t click on the X icon to close the window.

Repair Steam Service

Here we will try to repair the Steam service in order to fix Steam Client Bootstrapper’s high CPU usage. Here’s how to do that:

Step 1: Press Windows + R shortcut keys to open the Run box.

Step 2: Type the following command in the text box of Run and press OK.

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

Step 3: Just reopen the steam.

This has fixed issues related to the high CPU usage of many users.

Use Beta Steam Client

Some Steam users have fixed Steam Client Bootsrap’s high CPU usage issue by using Beta Steam Client. Follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Launch the Steam app.

Step 2: When the Steam window will appear, just click on Steam > Settings > Account tab.

Step 3: Under the Account, tab clicks the Change button under the Beta participation.

Step 4: A new window will open up under Beta participation and click to open the drop-down menu. Select “Steam Client Candidate” setting Apply the changes you can make.

Step 5: Now again click on the Steam option located at the top right corner and select Exit. Don’t click on the X icon to close the window.

Reopen the Steam and issues should be get fixed.

What if Nothing Works?

All the methods mentioned above are valid fixes to resolves Steam Client Bootsreaps issues. Even if the issue is not resolved the last thing you can do is to fix the issue with Big Picture Mode.

Step 1: Launch the Steam app.

Step 2: Click on the Steam located on the top left corner > Settings > Controller.

Step 3: Under the Controller, tab click on General Controller Settings.

Step 4: Untick all the options and click on Back.

Step 5: Open all the configurations individually as shown in the image below, click Big Picture Configuration. Press OK and close it, do this for all the configurations.

Relaunch the Steam Client and see if this works. If this fails you can restart your computer if this doesn’t help then re-install the Steam Client from the scratch. Else just report the issue to Steam.

That’s it for now, hope this helps! Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. Till then stay tuned for more info.

See next: Windows 10: Superfetch – All you need to know.