How to Fix Steam Error Code E43 When Signing In?

The error code E43 on Steam generally means your Steam account has been locked due to security issues, unauthorized access, or a breach of Steam’s Terms of Service (TOS). The official way to handle this is to contact Steam Support.

However, this error might also result from connectivity issues between the Steam client and its servers, often due to network interruptions, firewall restrictions, or incorrect settings.

Below, we’ve detailed several step-by-step solutions to help you fix the error. Follow each solution in order until the problem is resolved.

1. Reset Your Steam Password

Steam may temporarily lock your account as a security measure if it detects unusual activity, like multiple failed login attempts. Resetting your Steam password can verify your ownership of the account and restore access. This also boosts security, ensuring only the legitimate account holder can regain control.

1. Open your browser and navigate to Steam’s official password recovery page.
2. Enter the email address or phone number linked to your Steam account and click Search.
3. Steam will send a verification code to your email or phone. Enter the code in the provided field and click Continue.
4. Create a new password for your account. Ensure it’s different from your previous password for security reasons.
5. Confirm the new password and click Submit.
6. Once done, open Steam and check if the issue has been resolved.

2. Reinstall Steam

Over time, Steam’s installation files can become corrupted or outdated due to unexpected crashes, incomplete updates, or conflicts with third-party software. To resolve this, you can completely uninstall Steam and then reinstall it. This process ensures all problematic files are replaced, potentially fixing any issues causing the error.

Uninstall Steam

1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type appwiz.cpl and press Enter to open the Programs and Features window.
3. Find Steam in the list of installed programs.
4. Right-click on Steam and select Uninstall.

Download the Latest Steam Installer

1. Open your browser and go to the official Steam download page.
2. Click on Install Steam to download the installer.
3. Once the download is complete, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Choose the same installation location as before to ensure consistency.
5. After installation, launch Steam, log in with your credentials, and check if the issue has been resolved.

3. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies (For Steam Web)

If you’re encountering this issue on the web version of Steam, clearing your browser’s cache and cookies may help. Over time, cached data and cookies can become outdated or corrupted, influencing Steam’s login system and causing authentication problems. Clearing them fetches the latest data from Steam’s servers, potentially resolving the issue.

1. Open your browser (e.g., Google Chrome), click on the three-dot menu located at the top-right corner, and select Settings.
2. From the left-hand menu, click on Privacy and security.
3. Under the Privacy and security section, click on Clear browsing data.
4. Check all the boxes for the data you want to clear, and set the Time range to All time.
5. Click on Clear data to delete the selected browsing data.
6. Close and reopen your browser, then check if the issue has been resolved.

If the error persists, try using a different browser or device. You can also try signing in to your Steam account using Incognito Mode to see if the issue is related to your browser’s cache or settings.

4. Contact Steam Support

If none of the previous solutions work, your Steam account might be locked or restricted. In this situation, you’ll need to contact Steam Support for assistance.

You can access the official Steam Support page by visiting this link. Once on the support page, click on My Account from the menu and follow the prompts to describe your issue. The support team will guide you through the necessary steps to resolve the problem.