Fix: AppHangB1 Error

Many users experience a problem where their computer suddenly freezes and becomes non-responsive when they launch any game on Steam. This is also possible while launching any other application. This can be really frustrating as even restarting your computer doesn’t seem to solve the issue. What causes AppHandB1 to occur? There is no solid explanation as the problem may vary computer to computer. We have listed down a number of different solutions which can help in fixing the problem.

Solution 1: Editing launch options

We can try launching Steam with the DirectX version 9.0. This seems to eliminate the problem instantly. To launch Steam in the required version, we have to set a launch parameter at its exe file.

1. Locate your Steam client. The default location is C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam.
2. Create a shortcut of Steam in the same directory.
3. Click ‘Properties’ and head over to the ‘General’ tab.
4. In the ‘Target’ dialogue box, add ‘-dx9’ in the end. The final result looks like this “C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe”-dx9

If you have Steam installed in another directory, change the file path to that required directory. See the picture below for reference.

5. Open task manager and end all Steam processes starting with SteamClientBootstrapper.
6. Re-launch Steam using the and check if the error still persists.

There is another way you can set launch options for any game.

1. Select the Library tab present at top of the Steam client. Here all your installed games are listed.
2. Right-click on the game and select Properties from the list of options available.
3. Navigate to the General tab and here will see a Set Launch Options button. Click it.
4. A small new window will come forward with a dialogue box present. Enter the launch option you wish to apply and save changes. Now whenever you launch the game, it will launch keeping these options in mind.

5. Close your Steam client using the task manager and launch it again using the option of Run as administrator. Once launched, try launching the game again to check if the problem got fixed.

Solution 2: Checking for malware

There can be malware present on your PC which may be giving you different kinds of problem. Although you can scan for malware using different antivirus programs, you can also use malwarebytes. Please note that we only link other websites to help our users. We won’t be responsible to for any risks involved using that software whatsoever.

Malware and virus put your computer to risk indefinitely and alter system settings. Once the system settings are altered, Steam doesn’t get to execute the processes it wanted to and end up giving the error. Scan for Malware and Virus thoroughly before moving on to the next solutions. We will be disabling your antivirus to check if they are the problem so it is very important that you are absolutely certain that your computer isn’t infected. If it is and you fail to identify it, removing the antivirus will make things worse.

Solution 3: Setting an exception to antivirus and removing Firewall

It is a very common fact that your firewall and antivirus software conflicts with Steam. Steam has a lot of processes going on at once to ensure that your gaming experience is nothing but the best. However, many antivirus software mark these processes as potential threats and quarantine them resulting in some processes/applications not working. We have put together a guide on how to put steam as an exception in antivirus. Follow the steps here.

For disabling the Windows Firewall, follow the steps listed below.

1. Press Windows + R button to bring up the Run application. In the dialogue box type “control”. This will open your computer’s control panel in front of you.
2. On the top right there will be a dialogue box to search. Write Firewall and click on the first option that comes as a result.

3. Now at the left side, click the option which says “Turn Windows Firewall on or off”. Through this, you can turn your firewall off easily.

4. Select the option of “Turn off Windows Firewall” on both the tabs, Public and Private Networks. Save changes and exit. Restart Steam and launch it using the option Run as administrator.

Solution 4: Opening using Safemode with Networking

Safe mode is a diagnostic startup mode present in the Windows OS. It is used to gain limited access to Windows while troubleshooting as most of the unwanted processes/software gets disabled. Safe mode is developed to help pinpoint the problem or fix it in most cases.

If your Steam games keep crashing and producing the error, it means that there is a conflict with a third party application/software with your Steam. You can try removing/disabling these applications to ensure that the conflict gets resolved.

Starting anything in safe mode doesn’t pose any kind of thread and it is used worldwide to fix various problems. You don’t have to worry about anything.

1. You can learn how to get your computer to safe using this If you are running Windows 7, you can press the button F8 when the computer starts up. Then you can choose the option named “Enable Safe Mode with Networking”. Click the option and Windows will start in the desired way.
2. Open Steam and try connecting it to the internet and logging in. After logging in, open your game and check if the error still persists. If this is successful, it means that your antivirus or firewall/third party program may be the issue.

Since we already added exceptions to antivirus and disabled the firewall, it means there is a problem where a third-party program is interfering with your client. Try uninstalling these programs and start Steam using the normal computer startup.

If you still face a problem and Steam refuses to start and keeps crashing when you play a game, it means that there is some other problem. Keep following the solutions listed below.

Solution 5: Verifying game files and library

It may be the case that your game files may be corrupted or may have some missing game files. Because of this your Steam client might not be working properly and keeps crashing when you play any game. Your library files can also be in the incorrect configuration which may lead to a bugged Steam overlay.

1. Open your Steam client and click Library present on the top. Here all your installed games will be listed. Select the game in which Steam overlay fails to open.
2. Right-click on the game which is giving you the error and select Properties.
3. Once in the properties, browse to the Local Files tab and click on the option which says Verify Integrity of Game Files. Steam will then start verifying all the files present according to the main manifest it has. If there is any file missing/corrupted, it will download that files again and replace it accordingly.

4. Now navigate to your Settings by pressing the Settings option after clicking Steam present in the bottom left corner of the screen. Once in the Settings, open the Downloads tab present at the left side of the interface.
5. Here you will see a box in which it is written “Steam Library Folders”. Click it

6. All your steam content information will be listed. Right-click on it and select “Repair Library Files”.

7. Restart Steam and check if the client starts working normally.

Solution 6: Disabling P2P programs

P2P programs form a direct conduit to your computer. Also, their security measures are easily avoidable. Malware writers actively exploit these programs and spread viruses and malware onto your PC. If you haven’t configured your P2P programs correctly, you may be sharing more than you realize or know. There have been many cases where a person’s information was shared through P2P programs such as his computer’s physical address, passwords, usernames, email addresses, etc.

With these credentials, it is very easy for exploiters to access your computer and delete important system files which may lead you having this error.

Examples of P2P programs include BitTorrent, Utorrent etc. Uninstall them, run a malware check and repair your registry files if you have to. Then start Steam again using administrative privileges and check if your game still crashes.

Note: If your computer is acting weird and there are different advertisements popping up again and again on your home screen, it means that your PC is infected. Try installing a trustworthy antivirus and run a thorough check.

If this isn’t the case, refer to the solutions below.

Solution 7: Repairing your Steam client

Another thing you can try before refreshing Steam files is to repair Steam using the Run application. The repair Steam option checks for corrupt Steam files and replaces them accordingly. Do note that this process may require administrative privileges.

1. Press Windows + to bring up the Run application.
2. In the dialogue box, type the address of your Steam directory, followed by bin, then the exe and finally followed by a space and a “/repair”.

The final command will look something like this:

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

You can replace “C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam” by another address if you have Steam installed elsewhere for example, if you have it installed in local disk E, the command will become E:\Steam\bin\steamservice.exe /repair

3. After you run the program, it will launch a command prompt and start repairing. Don’t cancel the operating until it exits itself. You may see nothing in the command prompt, don’t worry that is normal.

4. Now launch Steam and check if your client started to work properly or not.

Solution 8: Running chkdsk on your drives

Chkdsk is short for Check Disk. It checks for any errors present on your drive and tries to correct them using the resources available. It is very useful in troubleshooting for errors that we can’t pinpoint, in this case, the AppHandB1 error. There are two main ways you can run the chkdsk command. Refer below.

Using File explorer.

1. Open your file explorer and navigate to This PC (My computer) present on the left side of the screen.
2. Here all the connected hard drives will be shown. Right-click on the hard drive you wish to check and click on Properties from the drop down menu.

3. Click on Tools tab present on the top of the new windows that comes after clicking properties. Here you will see a button named Check under the column of Error checking. Press the button and let chkdsk run completely. Don’t interrupt the process.

Using command prompt

1. Press Windows + R to launch the Run application. In the dialogue box, type cmd. This will launch the command prompt.
2. In the command prompt, write “CHKDSK C:”. Here we are checking the disk drive C. If you want to check any other drive, replace the C with that drives name.

For example if I am checking drive D, I will write “CHKDSK D:”.

Final Solution: Refreshing Steam files

Now there is nothing left except to reinstall Steam and see if that does the trick. When we refresh your Steam files, we will preserve your downloaded games so you won’t have to download them again. Furthermore, your user data will also be preserved. What refreshing Steam files actually do is delete all the configuration files of the Steam client and then forces it to install them again. So if there were any bad files/corrupt files, they will get replaced accordingly. Do note that after this method, you would need to log in again using your credentials. Don’t follow this solution if you don’t have that information at hand. The process may take a while so avoid canceling once you start the installing process.

You can follow how to refresh/reinstall your Steam files through this guide.

Note: If you are having a connection error where your entire Steam client refuses to connect to the internet, refer to this guide.