Steam error code E87: how to fix the login error

Published By helps.wiki editorial team

E87 is a Steam sign-in failure: the client says there was an error logging you in, even when your password is right. Valve does not document the code, so every fix here is community-reported. Start by checking whether Steam itself is down, then restart, rule out your network, and try the repair command.

Applies to:Steam desktop clientWindows (all guides found are Windows-oriented); no version-specific information found
On this page

What it means

E87 appears in the Steam desktop client right after you type your account name and password. The message reads "error logging you in" or "There was an error logging you in", followed by "(e87)". It is not a ban notice, and it does not point to one single cause.

Valve does not document this code on its support pages, so nobody can say for certain what triggers it. The steps below come from a third-party guide and are ordered from the quickest and safest to the most invasive. Treat them as community advice that worked for some people, not as official instructions. Guides mention Steam server trouble and network blocking as likely culprits.

This is unrelated to the E87 code on Wolf or Sub-Zero steam ovens, which shows up in the same searches.

If your problem is a connection failure rather than a login message, see Steam error code -105.

Symptoms and causes

You are likely dealing with this problem if:

  • Steam shows "error logging you in" with "(e87)" after you enter your credentials.
  • Login fails even though the account name and password are correct, so the library stays out of reach.

The usual causes, most common first:

Temporary Steam server or maintenance problem
Guides list this first. If Steam's login servers are struggling, the client can fail no matter what you do locally.
Network problems or blocking
A VPN, firewall, router or DNS problem can interrupt the login request.
Too many login attempts
Repeated tries in a row are among the reported triggers. Nothing from Valve confirms the exact cause, so this is a guess based on user reports.

How to fix it

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and move to deeper repairs; stop as soon as the problem is gone.

1.Check whether Steam is down, then restart everything

Easy

If the problem is on Valve's side, nothing you change locally will help, so rule that out first.

  1. Open the steamstat.us site in a browser and look for problems with Steam logins. If there are any, wait and try again later.
  2. Fully exit Steam (right-click its tray icon and choose Exit), then restart the PC.
  3. Open Steam again and let it update if it offers to, then try to sign in.

2.Sign in with your account name, not your email

Easy

KeenGamer reports that some users got in this way.

  1. On the Steam login screen, type your Steam account name (not your email address) and your password.
  2. Avoid hammering the button with many attempts, since repeated tries are among the reported triggers.

3.Check VPN, firewall and router

EasyChanges settings

Network blocking is a reported cause, and a router restart clears many stuck connections.

Before you start: Only pause a VPN or third-party firewall briefly, as a test, and turn it back on right after. Do not leave your protection off.

  1. If you use a VPN, disconnect it and try to sign in. If you use a third-party firewall, pause it for the test only, then re-enable it.
  2. Unplug the router from power for a few minutes, plug it back in, and wait about 5 minutes for it to come fully online.
  3. Try Steam again.

4.Run Steam's repair command from an elevated prompt

Moderate

Community guides report that the /repair switch repairs the Steam Client Service. This comes from a single guide and is not confirmed by Valve.

  1. Close Steam completely. Open Command Prompt as administrator (search for it in the Start menu, right-click it and choose Run as administrator).
  2. Run the command below. Replace the path if Steam is installed somewhere else, then try to sign in.
    Command Promptrun as administrator
    "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe" /repair
  3. If it still fails, right-click the Steam shortcut, choose Run as administrator, and try to sign in again.

5.Clear Steam's download cache (only if Settings opens)

ModerateChanges settings

KeenGamer suggests clearing Steam's cache. This only works if you can reach Steam's settings, which may not be possible from the login screen.

Before you start: Never delete or move steamapps, which holds your installed games. Skip this step if Settings is not available at the login screen. I could not confirm in the Steam client whether it is.

  1. If Steam lets you open Settings > Downloads without signing in, click Clear Download Cache. If there is no Settings option on the login screen, skip this step.
  2. Restart Steam and try to sign in again.

6.Try a different DNS server and the network troubleshooter

ModerateChanges settings

KeenGamer lists a Google DNS server and the Windows Network Adapter troubleshooter as options when login keeps failing.

Before you start: Note your current DNS settings before changing them so you can switch back. Menu names differ between Windows versions, so use Windows' own search to find them.

  1. Open your network adapter's DNS settings in Windows and enter Google's public DNS server addresses, taken from Google's own documentation.
  2. Alternatively, search Windows for Troubleshoot and run the Network Adapter troubleshooter.
  3. Restart Steam and try again.

7.Reinstall Steam as a last resort

AdvancedBack up first

A clean install removes any damaged client files, but it is the most disruptive option.

Before you start: KeenGamer says uninstalling Steam also removes installed games. Before you start, copy the steamapps folder from the Steam install directory to another location so you can put it back and avoid re-downloading.

  1. Close Steam and copy the steamapps folder to a safe place.
  2. Uninstall Steam from Windows' installed apps list.
  3. Download the installer from the official Steam website, install it, and sign in.
  4. If you want your games back, close Steam, copy steamapps into the new install folder, and start Steam again.

Check that it worked

  • Steam signs you in without the (e87) message and your library loads.
  • The login still works after you fully close and reopen Steam.

If it still fails

  • Contact Steam Support from inside the Steam client and write "E87" in the ticket description. Valve does not list E87 as a known code, so also describe the problem in your own words.
  • Only use Valve's official support pages and the Steam client to recover or secure your account. Never share your password or Steam Guard codes with anyone claiming to help, and ignore messages offering to "fix" E87 for a fee.

Questions

Does E87 mean my Steam account is banned?

No. It is a sign-in error, not a ban indicator.

Is there an official Valve page for E87?

Not that I could find. Valve does not document the code, so the fixes here come from a third-party guide and results vary.

Sources

  1. 5 ways to fix the steam error code e87 on a windows pc · KeenGamer

Browse