Table of Contents

The Steam Client Bootstrapper app and Steam Client WebHelper app are background apps used to download and install updates or replace missing files without an interruption. Steam players have reported that Steam Client Bootstrapper app and Steam Client WebHelper app show high CPU resource usage even when Steam service is idle or closed. Follow the below solution steps to resolve high CPU usage by the Steam Client Bootstrapper app and Steam Client WebHelper app issue.

Potential Causes Pre-check Solution 1: Run Steam client as as administrator Solution 2: Execute SFC Solution 3: Disable GPU accelerated rendering in web views Solution 4: Disable Steam Overlay feature Solution 5: Revert the Steam client’s skin to the default Solution 6: Set Library as default Steam window Solution 7: Use Beta Steam Client Solution 8: Block Red Shell Spyware in hosts file Solution 9: Repair Steam service Solution 10: Disable Broadcasting Solution 11: Workaround for Big Picture Mode Solution 12: Update graphics driver Solution 13: Re-install Steam Client Solution 14: Report to Steam Support Reference

If the Steam app is pinned to the taskbar, right-click the Steam shortcut and select the Run as Administrator option.

If you are accessing Steam app through a shortcut on hard-drive or SSD, right-click the Steam shortcut and select the Run as Administrator option.

Step 1: Press Windows key once.

Step 2: Type cmd in the search box.

Step 3: Choose Run as administrator to open an elevated command prompt.

Step 4: Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. Wait for the process to complete.

Step 1: Start Steam client with Run as administrator option.

Step 2: Click Steam on the top left side and then select the Settings.

Step 3: Click on the Interface tab at the left side menu.

Step 4: Uncheck the GPU accelerated rendering in web views option.

Step 5: Click the OK button to apply the changes.

Step 6: Click the Steam option at the top left part of the Steam client.

Step 7: Choose Exit to exit from Steam PC Client completely.

Step 1: Start Steam client with Run as administrator option.

Step 2: Click Steam on the top left side and then select the Settings.

Step 3: Click on the In-Game tab at the left side menu.

Step 4: Go to the GENERAL tab.

Step 5: Uncheck the Enable Steam Community In-Game or Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game option.

Step 6: Click the OK button to apply the changes.

Step 7: Click the Steam option at the top left part of the Steam client.

Step 8: Choose Exit to exit from Steam PC Client completely.

Step 1: Start Steam client with Run as administrator option.

Step 2: Click Steam on the top left side and then select the Settings.

Step 3: Click on the Interface tab at the left side menu.

Step 4: Click the dropdown box for the Select the skin you wish Steam to use (requires Steam to restart) option at the top of the window and choose the < default skin > option from the context menu.

Step 5: Click the OK button to apply the changes.

Step 6: Click the Steam option at the top left part of the Steam client.

Step 7: Choose Exit to exit from Steam PC Client completely.

Step 1: Start Steam client with Run as administrator option.

Step 2: Click Steam on the top left side and then select the Settings.

Step 3: Click on the Interface tab at the left side menu.

Step 4: Click the dropdown box for the Select which Steam window appears when the program starts, and when you double-click the Notification Tray icon option at the top of the window and choose the Library option from the context menu.

Step 5: Click the OK button to apply the changes.

Step 6: Click the Steam option at the top left part of the Steam client.

Step 7: Choose Exit to exit from Steam PC Client completely.

Step 1: Go to Start > Steam PC client.

Step 2: Click Steam on the top left side and then select the Settings.

Step 3: Click on the Account tab at the left side menu.

Step 4: Click on the CHANGE button under Beta participation section.

Step 5: Choose the Steam Client Candidate setting and Apply the changes.

Step 6: Click the OK button to apply the changes.

Step 7: Click the Steam option at the top left part of the Steam client.

Step 8: Choose Exit to exit from Steam PC Client completely.

Step 1: Click the Start menu button and search for File Explorer Options. Click the first option which will appear as a result to open it.

Step 2: Go to the View tab and switch the radio button under the Hidden files and folders option to Show hidden files, folders, and drives. Click the OK button to apply the changes.

Step 3: Press on the Windows + R key combination to open the Run box.

Step 4: Type notepad in the Run box to open Notepad program.

Step 5: Copy and paste the following code in the Notepad: ​@echo off set hostspath=%windir%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts echo 0.0.0.0 redshell.io >> %hostspath% echo 0.0.0.0 api.redshell.io >> %hostspath% echo 0.0.0.0 treasuredata.com >> %hostspath% echo 0.0.0.0 api.treasuredata.com >> %hostspath% echo 0.0.0.0 in.treasuredata.com >> %hostspath% echo 0.0.0.0 cdn.rdshll.com >> %hostspath% echo 0.0.0.0 t.redshell.io >> %hostspath% echo 0.0.0.0 innervate.us >> %hostspath% echo Host file edited. pause exit

Step 6: Press the Ctrl + S key to save the file or click on File > Save As… option.

Step 7: Choose All files (*.*) for the Save as type, set Encoding to ANSI, and enter the file name as script.bat (with the .bat extension).

Step 8: Click on the Save button to save script file on your Desktop.

Step 9: Locate the script file on your PC, right-click on it, and choose the Run as administrator option from the context menu.

Step 1: Press the Windows + R key to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2: Type in the command below in the dialog box which appears and use the Ctrl + Shift + Enter key to execute the command with administrator right: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\bin\SteamService.exe" /repair

Note: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam is the default install location of the Steam Client. Replace it if you have installed Steam Client on another location. To identify the installation directory of Steam Client, right-click on the Steam desktop icon and select the Open file location option from the context menu.

Step 1: Start Steam client with Run as administrator option.

Step 2: Click Steam on the top left side and then select the Settings.

Step 3: Click on the Broadcasting tab at the left side menu.

Step 4: Click on the dropdown box for Privacy setting.

Step 5: Select the Broadcasting disabled option.

Step 6: Click the OK button to apply the changes.

Step 7: Click the Steam option at the top left part of the Steam client.

Step 8: Choose Exit to exit from Steam PC Client completely.

Step 1: Start Steam client with Run as administrator option.

Step 2: Click Steam on the top left side and then select the Settings.

Step 3: Click on the Controller tab at the left side menu.

Step 4: Click on the GENERAL CONTROLLER SETTINGS button.

Step 5: Untick all the options and then click on the Back button.

Step 6: Click on the BIG PICTURE CONFIGURATION button, press the OK button and then close it. Repeat the same steps for DESKTOP CONFIGURATION and GUIDE BUTTON CHORD CONFIGURATION.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.

Step 2: Type devmgmt.msc in the Run dialog box and click on the OK button or press the Enter key to open the Device Manager.

Step 3: Go to the device category and click on it to expand the section.

Step 4: Right-click on the device name and select the Update driver option from the context menu.

Step 5: Select the Search automatically for updated driver software option for Windows to start to search and install the latest device driver on the computer.

Step 1: Navigate to the installed Steam directory.

Step 2: Back up the following folder by moving it to another location so that you can restore back the download game or application after reinstall.

Step 3: Delete some files such as appcache, config, bin, and others.

Step 4: Open the Control Panel.

Step 5: Select the Programs.

Step 6: Go to the Programs and Features section.

Step 7: Locate Steam on the list, right-click on it and choose the Uninstall option from the context menu.

Step 8: Steam Uninstall wizard will display, click on the Uninstall button to start the uninstallation process.

Step 9: Restart your computer.

Step 10: Download the latest Steam client and proceed to install it.

Step 11: Move back the backup folder including Steamapps folder you have backed up to the Steam directory.

Step 1: Browse to Steam Support page.

Step 2: Sign in in with Steam account.

Step 3: Select the most relevant option on the page.

Step 4: The Help site will guide you to self-solve the issue or you can raise a help request to the Steam Support team.