Steam Content File Locked Error [Quick Fixes]

InterestingPosts

Steam Content File Locked Error [Quick Fixes].

The drawback with most fashionable video games is that they require fixed large-sized updates. While DRMs like Steam make it simple for you, they will typically run into errors. One of probably the most infamous is the Steam Content File Locked Error . This information will talk about what it’s and the way we are able to rectify it.

What Is the Steam Content File Locked Error?

Not solely are giant file updates annoying, however operating into errors can additional irritate your frustrations. However, what does “The Steam Content File Locked” error truly imply?

This error happens when a number of of Steam’s sport recordsdata is locked and can’t be written over. The causes might fluctuate.

For instance, it might consequence from corrupted recordsdata or points together with your onerous drive. Maybe the recordsdata are presently open in one other software.

Usually, this error message will seem as both a immediate or written next to the sport’s standing. Because its root trigger might fluctuate, you can be required to attempt a number of fixes earlier than you’ll be able to repair it. Nevertheless, we’ll cowl probably the most related and efficient on this information.

How to Fix the Steam Content File Locked Error

Reboot Computer

As the rule of thumb goes, the very first thing it is best to do whenever you encounter any error in your PC is, restart it. This will more than likely clear any locks on Steam’s sport recordsdata. Sometimes video games are the results of a number of purposes and processes.

When you shut your sport, it’s presupposed to launch these processes. However, generally it fails to terminate these processes, and so they should still be operating within the background. While you could possibly observe the method using Task Manager, it might be simpler to restart your PC.

Run the Steam Client as Administrator

The Steam sport and software folder are positioned in Program Files (or Program Files (x86)). Only applications and customers with administrative rights could make modifications to this folder construction. Thanks to one among its updates, Windows could also be making use of stricter safety guidelines and blocking Steam from writing to its folders.

The best method to treatment that is to run Steam as an Administrator. You can do this by:

Open the Windows Start Menu
Search for Steam
Right-click on it
Select Run as Administrator

Once you have got the Steam consumer operating as an Administrator, you’ll be able to attempt resuming sport downloads to see when you’re nonetheless receiving the error message.

Review Your Antivirus Settings

Commonly, your antivirus runs real-time scans that detect modifications in your working system’s folder construction. Often, they could uncover false positives. In different phrases, your antivirus might erroneously label Steam’s downloading recordsdata as malicious software program.

You must verify in case your antivirus has quarantined or eliminated the recordsdata. If you’re operating a number of antiviruses, you’ll must verify the quarantine volt of every.

Once that’s performed, it’s good to be certain that the Steam folder has an exception so your antivirus software program can skip scanning it. To verify for quarantined or deleted recordsdata out of your Windows Security (aka Windows Defender), do the next:

Close the Steam consumer (if it’s open)
Open the Windows Start Menu
Click on the Settings icon
Click on Update & Security
Select Windows Security from the left panel
Click on Virus & risk safety from the principle panel
Click on Protection historical past
Scan via the listing till you discover an merchandise that’s linked together with your Steam folder and click on on it
Expand the Actions drop-down field and choose Allow for every file linked to your Steam folder

Once you restore or permit the recordsdata, it’s good to set an exception rule for the Steam folder in order that Windows Security doesn’t intrude with future Steam downloads. While within the Virus & risk safety display:

Once that is performed, restart the Steam consumer and verify if you’re nonetheless encountering the identical error.

Clear Steam’s Download Cache

Like most P2P file-sharing software program, Steam downloads items of video games from completely different servers. Once it’s downloaded all of the items, it compiles them collectively and installs the sport in your PC. Temporary obtain recordsdata are stored in a Steam obtain cache folder.

Sometimes this folder might change into bloated and crammed with corrupt information. To get Steam to work quicker and save space for storing in your pc, you’ll be able to clear Steam’s obtain cache. You can do that by:

Run the Steam consumer (we advocate operating as admin)
Click on the Steam menu merchandise from the highest menu bar
Select Settings from the context menu
Select Downloads from the left panel
Click on the button labeled CLEAR DOWNLOAD CACHE
Click on the OK button on the affirmation dialog

The Steam consumer will clear its obtain cache and restart. You can then log back in and see when you’re nonetheless experiencing the Steam Content File Locked Error.

There is one other means to make sure that your Steam obtain cache is deleted with no residual recordsdata. You can use Windows File Explorer to search out the Steam cache folder and delete it. You can do that via the next steps:

Open Windows Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc)
Click on the Steam (32-bit) course of and click on on End process – this may shut all Steam-related processes, but when it doesn’t, you’ll need to seek for every course of and finish it manually
Open a Windows Run Dialog (Winkey + R)
Type %localappdata% into the textual content area and hit Enter
Search for the Steam folder within the file listing
Right-click on it and choose Delete from the context menu
Confirm the deletion

Once you’ve utterly deleted the Steam folder, you’ll be able to restart the Steam consumer to verify if the Steam Content File Locked error has been resolved.

Run Netsh Winsock Reset Command

The Windows Sockets API (Winsock) principally comprises configuration settings for web connectivity. However, typically it might change into corrupt on account of an error or a malicious script. It’s potential that this can be inflicting the Steam Content File Locked error. To repair it, all it’s good to do is reset Windows’ Winsock.

Open the Windows Start Menu
Search for CMD
Right-Click on the primary match (Command Prompt)
Click on Run as Administrator
Click on Yes to substantiate the choice
Type netsh winsock reset into the command immediate display and hit Enter

After it’s performed, restart your pc and take a look at if Steam nonetheless shows the Steam Content Locked error.

Verify Integrity of Game Files

The sport recordsdata could also be corrupted. This might trigger Steam’s Content Locked Error. To verify if that is so, you’ll be able to confirm the integrity of the sport recordsdata you’re making an attempt to update. To accomplish this, it’s good to do the next:

Run the Steam consumer (ideally as an admin)
Right-click on the affected sport
Select Properties from the context menu
Click on LOCAL FILES from the left panel
Click on Verify integrity of sport recordsdata…

Steam will take a second to validate the integrity of your sport recordsdata. If it finds any corruption, it should mechanically repair the errant recordsdata. Once that is performed, you’ll be able to try to update the sport once more and see if this solves the problem.

Check Your Disk for Errors

Often, a write disk error stands out as the wrongdoer behind the Steam File Content Locked error. To be certain that onerous disk learn and write errors aren’t inflicting points with Steam obtain and installs, we advocate that you just run a Check Disk command in your foremost onerous drive.

Run Command Prompt as an Administrator
Type Chkdsk c: /f into the terminal window
Hit enter

The command ought to verify for any errors and restore them.

Note: Generally, steam will host its recordsdata on the native drive (c:). However, in case your Steam folder is hosted on one other, you’ll must run the Check Disk command on this file. Thus, in case your Steam folder is on the G: drive, the Check Disk command will seem like this: Chkdsk g: /f. The /f parameter tells the Check Disk command to repair all errors that it encounters. The command should be run on a locked disk. If it isn’t locked, the Check Disk command will run upon restart.

You can learn more about it from Microsoft’s official CHKDSK documentation.

Check Your Firewall Settings

The Windows Firewall is designed to dam any suspicious web site visitors. Most purposes are restricted to entry to native networks. Some are utterly blocked off. While Steam might have full entry to non-public and public networks, the sport might not. To treatment this, you’ll must create an exception for the sport on Windows Firewall.

Relocate Game Files to an Alternative Disk

If you’re nonetheless experiencing the Steam Content File Locked error and not one of the above steps labored for you, you’ll be able to attempt shifting the place Steam’s sport recordsdata keep.

Of course, this may require you to have a further onerous drive with ample house (ideally inner). Nevertheless, emigrate Steam’s sport recordsdata to another disk, do the next:

After you click on on the Move button, Steam will transfer the sport recordsdata to the brand new drive and folder. How lengthy it should take relies on the dimensions of the sport, what sort of onerous drive you’re using, and your system’s specs.

However, as soon as it’s performed shifting all of your recordsdata, you’ll be able to take a look at if Steam nonetheless encounters a Steam Content File Locked error whenever you attempt to update the sport.

Delete Game Files

If all else fails, generally it’s good to start out over. If you’ve reached this level of the information and not one of the above steps labored for you, you’ll be able to attempt deleting your native sport recordsdata and reinstalling them.

Open the Steam Client
Click on the LIBRARY tab
Right-click on the affected sport
Click on Properties
Select LOCAL FILES from the left panel
Click on the Browse… button on the principle panel
Select all recordsdata from the Windows File Explorer window and Delete them
Close the Windows File Explorer window as soon as the deletion is full
Click on the Verify integrity of sport recordsdata… button