- Achievements not unlocking on Steam in Mirror's Edge Catalyst is usually caused by the Steam overlay, EA App conflicts, or offline mode
- Most fixes take under 10 minutes: verify files, re-enable the overlay, and relaunch online
- Progress achievements like Freeflow and Gridunlocked often unlock after a restart or completing the next mission
- Cross-platform note: Catalyst ships on Steam, Origin, and the EA App, and account linking issues can block achievement tracking
- If all else fails: reinstalling the EA App layer and running Steam as administrator resolves most stubborn cases
Why Mirror's Edge Catalyst Achievements Fail to Unlock on Steam
When Mirror's Edge Catalyst achievements are not unlocking on Steam, the problem is almost never the achievement conditions themselves — it is the layer of launchers sitting between Steam and the game. Catalyst is an EA-published title that runs through the EA App (formerly Origin) even when purchased on Steam, and any communication failure between the two clients breaks achievement tracking.
The most common triggers, ranked by how often players report them:
| Cause | Frequency | Typical Symptom |
|---|---|---|
| Steam overlay disabled or failing | Very common | No achievement popup at all, progress achievements stuck |
| EA App sign-in failure | Common | Game launches but stats never sync |
| Offline mode (Steam or EA App) | Common | Achievements queue locally, never commit |
| Corrupted game files | Occasional | Random crashes plus missing unlocks |
| Antivirus blocking the overlay process | Occasional | Overlay works in other games but not Catalyst |
Before any deep troubleshooting, confirm you are signed into the same EA account in the EA App that is linked to your Steam profile. If the linked account is wrong, Steam achievements for Catalyst can silently fail to register no matter what you fix locally.
Several of Catalyst's story achievements — including Freeflow for completing the campaign — have been reported to unlock only after the next mission or a full game restart. Always complete one more objective and restart before assuming an achievement is permanently broken.
Step-by-Step Fix for Stuck Achievements
Work through these steps in order. Each one targets a specific failure point, and most players resolve the issue within the first three.
Confirm You Are Online in Both Clients
Launch Steam fully online, then check the EA App tray icon. If either client is in offline mode, achievements cannot commit. Sign out and back into the EA App to force a fresh handshake, then relaunch Catalyst from your Steam library.
Re-Enable the Steam Overlay
In Steam, right-click Mirror's Edge Catalyst, select Properties, and make sure "Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game" is checked. The overlay DLL is what Steam uses to detect achievement triggers in this title — if it fails to inject, unlocks stop. If it is already on, toggle it off, launch once, close, and toggle it back on.
Verify Game Files
From the same Properties window, open Installed Files and click "Verify integrity of game files." Steam will re-download any corrupted or missing files. A broken executable or script file can prevent achievement triggers from firing during missions.
Exclude Both Clients from Antivirus
Add Steam.exe and the EA App executable to your antivirus and Windows Defender exclusion lists. Overprotective security software is a known cause of overlay injection failures, which in turn blocks achievement popups in EA titles on Steam.
Run Steam as Administrator
Right-click the Steam shortcut and choose "Run as administrator." Elevated permissions let the overlay attach to Catalyst's process reliably. If achievements begin unlocking this way, set the compatibility setting permanently in the shortcut's Properties menu.
After each step, launch Catalyst, complete a short measurable action — smashing a GridLeak hub or finishing a Dash — and watch for the Steam popup. A single confirmed unlock means tracking is restored and any queued achievements will usually flush through within minutes.
Platform-Specific Issues and Workarounds
Because Catalyst runs across multiple launchers, the same achievement can behave differently depending on where you play. Here is how the platforms compare and what each one needs:
| Platform | Achievement System | Common Blocker | Recommended Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | Steam achievements | Overlay / EA App handshake | Steps 1–2 above |
| EA App (Origin) | Origin achievements | Cache corruption | Clear Origin cache folder |
| Console (PS4/Xbox) | Trophies / Gamerscore | Offline play | Re-sync on next login |
Steam + EA App Link
- Most fragile path
- Verify account link on EA website
- Re-linking often fixes silent failures
EA App Cache Clear
- Close both clients
- Delete the Origin cache subfolders
- Relaunch and sign in fresh
Late-Unlock Pattern
- Story achievements often lag one mission
- Gridunlocked may need one more hub
- Restart the game to force a sync
Remember that Catalyst's in-game progression — Upgrade Chips, gadgets like the MAG Rope and Disruptor — is stored separately from platform achievements. If gadgets unlock normally but Steam achievements do not, the problem is purely on the platform side, which narrows your troubleshooting to the steps in this guide.
Achievements Most Often Reported as Stuck
Not every achievement fails equally. Based on community reports across Steam discussions and the r/mirrorsedge subreddit, these are the ones players most frequently flag, along with the specific reason each one stalls:
| Achievement | Requirement | Why It Sticks | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freeflow | Complete the main story | Triggers on final cutscene, not last input | Watch full ending, restart |
| Gridunlocked | Disable all GridLeak hubs | Hub count desync between save and server | Smash one hub, restart game |
| Never Stop Moving | Complete a mission without losing Flow | Flow detection is frame-sensitive | Retry on early mission Breathe |
| Pacifist Approach | Mission with no knockouts | Accidental Focus attack voids it | Replay mission, use stealth routes |
| Tools of the Trade | Unlock all gadgets | Gadget unlock flag not synced to Steam | Restart after final gadget |
Catalyst tracks achievements against your active save. Deleting your save to "reset" a stuck achievement wipes hours of GridLeak, Document, and Chipset progress without improving the odds of the unlock. Exhaust the client-side fixes first.
Pre-Troubleshooting Checklist
Run through this checklist before submitting a report to Steam or EA support. Support tickets that confirm every item get resolved noticeably faster.
Before You Contact Support:
- Steam overlay confirmed enabled for Catalyst specifically
- Signed into the correct linked EA App account, online
- Game file verification completed with no errors
- Antivirus exclusions added for Steam and EA App
- One measurable achievement action tested after each fix
FAQ
Q: Why are my Mirror's Edge Catalyst achievements not unlocking on Steam even though I met the requirements?
The usual cause is a failed handshake between Steam and the EA App, which Catalyst runs through even on Steam purchases. Re-sign into the EA App while online, confirm the Steam overlay is enabled for the game, and verify your game files. Story achievements like Freeflow may also simply require a game restart after meeting the condition.
Q: Can I unlock Steam achievements while playing offline?
No. Steam achievements require an online connection to commit. If you earned qualifying progress offline, the unlock is generally not retroactive for this title, so replay the relevant mission, Dash, or GridLeak hub once you are back online.
Q: Do achievements differ between the Steam and EA App versions of Catalyst?
The achievement lists mirror each other, but they are tracked separately by platform. A Steam copy awards Steam achievements only, and progress does not transfer if you later buy the game on another launcher.
Q: Will reinstalling the game fix stuck achievements?
It can, but treat it as a last resort. Reinstalling does not touch your save data on most setups, but it also rarely fixes anything that file verification and overlay repair have not already addressed. Try the five-step fix sequence first.