Fix: Application Load Error 3:0000065432

A lot of users are encountering the Application Load Error 3:0000065432 when they try to open games through Steam. Most affected games report that this issue occurs with Doom, Fallout 4, Skyrim and other games published by Bethesda, but this doesn’t seem to be a given fact since there are confirmed occurrences with other games from different publishers.

What Causes Application Load Error 3:0000065432

We investigated the issue by trying out different repair strategies ourselves and looking at various user reports. Based on what we gathered, there are several common culprits that are known to facilitate the apparition of the Application Load Error 3:0000065432:

  • 3rd party AV interference – Since countless user reports stand testimony, the issue is very likely to be caused by an overprotective security suite that prevents the game in question from communicating with an outside server.
  • The game is not installed in the original steam directory – This issue is mostly reported with games published by Bethesda. Apparently, the error might occur if the game is installed in a different directory than the default library location.
  • DeepGuard is crashing the game – DeepGuard, a security feature belonging to F-Secure Internet Security is known to cause issues with games downloaded through steam that include multiplayer components.
  • Game integrity is not up to date – This issue might occur if the game has received several patches directly from the game’s update client. Steam will sometimes throw this error seeing that the overall size of the game has been modified.
  • Corrupted steam installation – Several users encountering the same error have managed to get it resolved by reinstalling steam. As it turns out, the error can also be caused by corruption inside the Steam installation folder.

If you’re struggling to resolve the very same error message, this article will provide you with a selection of verified troubleshooting steps. Continue reading down below and start following our selection of verified methods. All the potential fixes featured below are confirmed to be working by other users who were struggling to resolve the very same issue.

For the best results, follow the methods below in order until you encounter a fix that is effective in resolving the Application Load Error 3:0000065432 for your particular scenario.

Method 1: Verify the Game’s integrity

Most users that we’re dealing with this problem managed to get it fixed by verifying the integrity of the game cache. In this case, the error is most likely occurring because Steam downloaded an incomplete version of the game, or some update files can’t be retrieved when the game tries to start.

Luckily, you can easily rectify this issue by verifying the integrity of the game files. Here’s a quick guide on how to do this:

  1. Open the Steam client and navigate to the Library tab.
  2. Right-click on the game that is showing the error, right-click on it and choose Properties.
    Right-click on the game that is crashing and choose Properties
    Right-click on the game that is crashing and choose Properties
  3. In the Properties menu, go to Local Files and click on Verify the Integrity of Game Files.
    Go to Local Files and click on Verify the integrity of local files
    Go to Local Files and click on Verify the integrity of game files
  4. When the process is finished, open the game again and see if the issue has been resolved.

If you’re still seeing the Load Error 3:0000065432 when you try to load the application, move down to the next method below.

Method 2: Reinstall Steam

Some users encountering the Application Load Error 3:0000065432 have found the fix to be as easy as reinstalling Steam. Although this was never confirmed by the developers, it seems that there’s an ongoing bug with Steam that causes the client to crash certain applications when they are opened directly from the platform.

Follow the guide down below to uninstall and reinstall steam and see if the issue is resolved:

  1. Make sure that the Steam client is closed.
  2. Open a Run dialog box by pressing Windows key + R. Then, type “appwiz.cpl” and press Enter to open up Programs and Features.
    Run dialog: appwiz.cpl
    Run dialog: appwiz.cpl
  3. Inside Programs and Features, and locate the Steam entry. Then, right-click on it and choose Uninstall.
    Uninstalling Steam via Programs and Features
    Uninstalling Steam via Programs and Features
  4. Once Steam is uninstalled, reboot your computer if you’re not prompted to do so automatically.
  5. At the next startup, visit this link (here) and click on Install Steam Now to download the installation executable.
    Download the Steam installation executable
    Download the Steam installation executable
  6. Open SteamSetup.exe and follow the on-screen prompts to reinstall the Steam gaming platform.
    Reinstalling the Steam client
    Installing the Steam client

Once Steam is reinstalled, open the game that was previously showing the Application Load Error 3:0000065432 and see if the issue has been resolved. If the error is still occurring, move down to the next method below.

Method 3: Moving the game folder to the original Steam directory

Several users have reported that in their case, the error occurred because the game in question was installed on a different directory than the original Steam directory. According to their reports, the issue was fixed as soon as they moved the game to the original Steam directory.

Here’s a quick guide on how to do this:

  1. First, go to Steam (using the ribbon bar at the top) and click on Settings.
    Go to Steam and click on Settings
    Go to Steam and click on Settings
  2. In the Settings menu, go to Downloads and click the Steam Library Folders button.
    Go to Downloads and click on Steam Library Folders
    Go to Downloads and click on Steam Library Folders
  3. Click on Add Library Folder and set C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam as a Steam Library folder. If your Steam games are installed on a different drive, you should have two different library folders ar the end of this step.
    Ensuring that you have the default steam library path
    Ensuring that you have the default steam library path

    Note: If you already have C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam set as a library folder, skip this step.

  4. Save the changes and return to the home screen of Steam, then click on Library. Next, right-click on the game that is showing the Load Error 3:0000065432 and choose Properties.

    Inside the Library : Right-click on the game and choose Properties
    Inside the Library: Right-click on the game and choose Properties
  5. In the Properties window of the game, open the Local Files tab and click on Move Install Folder.
    Go to Local Files and click on Move Install Folder
    Go to Local Files and click on Move Install Folder
  6. From the next window, use the drop-down menu under Choose location for install to choose Install under C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam and click on Next.
    Choose the default Steam library folder
    Choose the default Steam library folder
  7. Wait until the move is complete, then open the game to see if the issue has been resolved. If the Application load error 3:0000065432 issue is still occurring, move down to the next method below.

Method 4: Disable DeepGuard feature of F-Secure (if applicable)

Several users that where using F-Secure as an extra Cybersecurity solution reported that they noticed that this app was causing their game to crash. In their case, the solution was to disable the Deep Guard feature from the F-secure settings menu. Apparently, Deep Guard is known to block a lot of games installed from steam

Here’s a quick guide on how to disable the Deep Guard feature of  F-Secure:

  1. Open F-Secure Internet security and click on Computer Security.
  2. In the next window, click on Settings and go to Computer > DeepGuard.
  3. Finally, uncheck the box associated with Turn on DeepGuard and save your changes.
    Disabling the DeepGuard feature
    Disabling the DeepGuard feature
  4. Open the game again and see if you’re still encountering the Application load error 3:0000065432. If you do, move down to the next method below.

Method 5: Investigate for 3rd party AV interference (if applicable)

Before we try other repair strategies, let’s verify whether your 3rd party antivirus or other 3rd party security app is causing the game to crash. A lot of other affected users have reported that in their case, the culprit was their external security suite. As it turns out, some security suites might mistakenly block the application attempts to communicate with outside servers – which ends up producing the Application Load Error 3:0000065432 issue.

If you’re actively using a different security solution than Windows Defender, try to disable the real-time protection before launching the game again. Of course, the steps or doing so will be different according to your 3rd party antivirus, but you can usually do it straight from the tray icon.

Disable the real-time protection of your 3rd-party AV
Disable the real-time protection of your 3rd-party AV

Once the 3rd party AV has been disabled, open the game and see if you’re still getting the same error.

However, keep in mind that this particular error can also be caused by an external firewall. These things are tricky to pinpoint as culprits since their security rules will remain in place even if you disable the real-time protection.

The only way to ensure that a 3rd party firewall is not responsible for the crash is to remove it entirely from your system. If you decide to give it a try, follow our guide (here) on removing every trace of your 3rd party security solution.

Note: Keep in mind that even if you remove your 3rd party security solution, your system will not become vulnerable since Windows Defender will automatically kick in. Even more, Windows Defender is generally considered less intrusive to the applications you install without compromising security.

If you determine that your 3rd party security solution is not responsible for the Application Load Error 3:0000065432 or this method wasn’t applicable, move down to the next method.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kevin Arrows


Kevin Arrows is a highly experienced and knowledgeable technology specialist with over a decade of industry experience. He holds a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification and has a deep passion for staying up-to-date on the latest tech developments. Kevin has written extensively on a wide range of tech-related topics, showcasing his expertise and knowledge in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. His contributions to the tech field have been widely recognized and respected by his peers, and he is highly regarded for his ability to explain complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.