Share this article
Improve this guide
VAC Was Unable to Verify Your Game Session
It’s probably a false positive so contact Steam to verify your session
6 min. read
Updated onApril 12, 2024
updated onApril 12, 2024
Share this article
Improve this guide
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more
Key notes
If you’re a gamer, you can appreciate that the true beauty of playing a game, aside from thegraphic settings, uninterrupted gameplay comes a close second. Well, aVAC cannot verify the integrity of your game session dataerror message while playing on Steam does exactly that.
It could be a false alarm, or you’re using cheat codes, and Steam has finally caught up with you. Whatever the case, we provide you with various ways to get out of this mess below.
Why is VAC unable to verify my game session?
It’s not uncommon for gamers to explore various ways to get ahead of some games by modifying game files or using cheat codes.
However, to ensure fairness, Steam works closely with VAC or Valve Anti Cheat to keep tabs on players who try these tricks. VAC is a backgroundanti-cheat softwarethat monitors the state of games and their players.
If you’re caught using any software that could give you an unfair advantage, you may get theVAC cannot verify the integrity of your game session datamessage or, worse, get banned from the platform. However, this is not the only reason.
This may have happened because:
How do I fix VAC authentication error?
Try the following basic checks first:
1. Disable your antivirus temporarily
2. Disable VPN
3. Scan for viruses
Sometimes, Windows Defender won’t detect and erase all of the digital threats, and for that, we suggest trying a reliable antivirus solution.
ESET HOME Security Essential, for instance, has high threat detection scores and advanced antivirus technology that will help you delete any trace of cyber threats and prevent them from affecting your PC system in the future.
⇒Get ESET HOME Security Essential
4. Verify the integrity of the game files
CS:GO seems to be the game experiencing theVAC was unable to verify your game sessionissue, so ensure you downloaded it from Steam.
5. Repair the Steam Library folder
If nothing works, you may have to reinstall the problematic games and see if the error persists. Still, there are an array of unorthodox solutions that some users claim helped resolve theVAC was unable to verify your game sessionissue.
For instance, a handful of users say changing their profile pictures and usernames resolved this issue. While there’s no correlation between the two, it certainly won’t hurt to try it out, especially if all the above have proved futile.
If you’re not adventurous, you canget in touch with Steam supportand explain your issue.
While you’re still here, check out what to do whenSteam fails to recognize your installed game.
That brings us to the end of this article, but we’re keen to hear any other solutions that may have worked for you, so get interactive in the comment section.
More about the topics:Steam games
Claire Moraa
Windows Software Expert
Claire has a knack for solving problems and improving the quality of life for those around her. She’s driven by rationality, curiosity, and simplicity, and always eager to learn more about Microsoft’s products. With a background in teaching and reviewing, she breaks down complex topics into easily understandable articles, focusing mostly on Windows 11, errors, and software.
User forum
0 messages
Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes
Comment*
Name*
Email*
Commenting as.Not you?
Save information for future comments
Comment
Δ
Claire Moraa
Windows Software Expert
With a background in teaching and reviewing, she breaks down complex topics into easily understandable articles, focusing mostly on Windows 11 errors.