Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common inherited form of intellectual disability and prevailing known genetic basis of autism, is caused by an expansion in the Fmr1 gene that prevents transcription and translation of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). FMRP binds to and controls translation of mRNAs downstream of metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) activation. Recent work identified striatal-enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase (STEP) as an FMRP target mRNA. STEP opposes synaptic strengthening and promotes synaptic weakening by dephosphorylating its substrates, including ERK1/2, p38, Fyn, Pyk2, and subunits of NMDA and AMPA receptors. Here we demonstrate that STEP translation is dysregulated in Fmr1KO mice, resulting in elevated basal levels of STEP with a concomitant loss of mGluR-dependent STEP translation. We hypothesized that the weakened synaptic strength and behavioral abnormalities reported in FXS may be linked to excess levels of STEP. To test this hypothesis, we reduced or eliminated STEP genetically in Fmr1KO mice. In addition to attenuating audiogenic seizures and seizure-induced c-Fos activation in the periaqueductal gray, genetically reducing STEP in Fmr1KO mice reversed characteristic social abnormalities, including approach, investigation, novelty-induced hyperactivity and anxiety. Loss of STEP also corrected select non-social anxiety-related behaviors in Fmr1KO mice, such as open arm exploration in the elevated plus maze. Our findings indicate that genetically reducing STEP significantly diminishes seizures and restores social and non-social anxiety-related behaviors in Fmr1KO mice, suggesting that strategies to inhibit STEP activity may be effective for treating patients with FXS.