Steam was first developed to allow for automated updates for their games, but it was subsequently expanded to include games from other publishers. Because of its compatibility and large game library, it’s simple to manage all of your material in one place, schedule times with friends, and even join groups of like-minded gamers. However, while trying to update some titles through Steam, you may receive Steam Content File Locked message. This is highly inconvenient, and you are not the only one facing this issue. Steam download content file locked is a common problem that might be misinterpreted as a sophisticated or complicated issue. We bring to you a helpful guide to fix this issue. So, continue reading!
How to Fix Steam Content File Locked in Windows 10
Sometimes Steam may not be able to copy the updated files to your computer’s hard drive, stopping you from playing the most recent version of any game. Difficulty with permissions is frequently the cause of this issue. You may solve Steam download content file locked problem without putting in a lot of work if you use the appropriate and reasoned approach.
Follow the methods given below step by step to fix the said issue.
Metudu 1: Restart PC
Some apps on your PC may clash with Steam or your game, causing the content file to be locked. To switch off undesirable apps, restart your computer in this scenario. Once your computer has rebooted, reinstall your game to see if your problem has been resolved.
1. Navigate à a Menu di iniciata.
2. Avà, selezziunà u icona di putenza.
nota: In Windows 10, the Power icon is found at the bottom. Whereas in Windows 8, the Power icon is located at the top.
3. Diversi ozzione cum'è sonnu, Chjodi, e Restart serà affissatu. Quì, cliccate nant'à Restart.
Metudu 2: Eseguite Steam cum'è Amministratore
Steam may require special rights to access certain files and directories. The simplest way is to run Steam as administrator every time to fix Steam content file locked issue.
1. Cliccate cù u dirittu nantu à u steam.exe fugliale è selezziunate Joint.
2. Andate à a Vincenti tabulazione è verificate l ' Eseguite stu prugrammu cum'è amministratore funziunalità.
3. Infine, cliccate nant'à Apply > OK per salvà cambiamenti.
4. Ripigliate vapore and verify if the problem of steam download content file locked still exists or not.
Method 3: Restart Steam
Follow these steps to restart Steam.
1. Grapi lu Task Manager colpendu u Ctrl + Shift + Esc chjavi nsemmula.
2. Locate and select the micca vuluntà fond prucessi using high memoria.
3. Allora, cliccate Capua finale, cum'è mostra evidenziatu.
4. Avà, rilancià u vapore App.
Also Read: Cumu disattivà Steam Overlay in Windows 10
Metudu 4: Verificate l'integrità di i schedarii di ghjocu
Please check the integrity of the game files by following the procedures below after deactivating the installed antivirus:
1. Lanciate u vapore application on your system and switch to the Library tabulazione da a cima.
2. Under Game Library, you will see the list of all your games. Locate the ghjocu you wish to verify. Make a right-click on it to open Joint, cumu mostratu.
3. Cambia à u I fugliali lucali tab in-game Properties window.
4. Quì, cliccate nant'à Verificate l'integrità di i fugliali di ghjocu buttone, cum'è mostra sottu.
5. Aspettate for Steam to verify the integrity of your game files.
Method 5: Clear Download Cache
Steam download cache functions similarly to other caches. While this makes it easier and faster to retrieve files stored in the cache, errors can compound, resulting in failed updates and a content file-locked warning.
1. Colpite u Windows key, tipu vapore, è cliccate nantu Executà cum'è amministratore.
2. Avà, vai à u vapore tabulazione è selezziunate taliata from the drop-down menu. Refer to the pic below.
3. Sceglite u Downloads settings on the left pane.
4. Scroll falà à u fondu è cliccate nant'à u CLEAR DOWNLOAD CACHE buttone.
5. Cliccate nant'à OK in u Sguassà a cache di scaricamentu prompt di cunferma.
6. Infine, cliccate nant'à OK per salvà cambiamenti.
Also Read: Where are Steam Games installed?
Method 6: Disable Third-party Antivirus (If Applicable)
If you have third-party antivirus installed on your PC then it also may block the Steam app and cause Steam content file locked issue. So follow the steps listed below to disable third-party antivirus.
Nota 1: It is not recommended to uninstall any antivirus program from your PC, since it protects your system from viruses and threats.
Nota 2: Avemu dimustratu i passi per Norton Security Antivirus as an example.
1. Cliccate cù u dirittu nantu à u Icona di u prugramma antivirus da a bandeja di u sistema è selezziunate Disable Auto-Protect.
2. Dopu, Sceglite a durata dropdown menu for which the Antivirus will remain disabled on the Security Request pagina.
Method 7: Move Steam Game Files
Try moving the Steam installation and game files to a different location. You might be able to resolve the steam download content file locked problem once you’ve done that.
1. Launch vapore è cliccà nantu à u LIBRARY tabulazione.
2. Quì, right-cliccate nant'à u Installed Game è cliccà nantu Pruprietà ... cum'è illustratu quì sottu.
3. On the new screen, click on FILE LOCAL > Move install folder… cum'è mostratu.
4. Sceglite u Drive (per esempiu Drive G:) da Select the target drive “name & size of game” should be moved to the drop-down menu. Then, click on Move.
5. Avà, Aspettate for the process to complete. You can check progress in the MOVE CONTENT schermu.
6. Once the moving process is completed, click on chiudi, cum'è evidenziatu quì sottu.
Also Read: Cumu fà una copia di salvezza di i ghjochi di Steam
Method 8: Repair Steam Library Folders
1. Launch vapore è vai à u vostru taliata dopu à cliccà STEAM in u cantonu in alto à sinistra di u schermu.
2. Once you’re in taliata, andate à u Downloads opzione in u pane di manca.
3. Cliccate nantu à u FOLDERS BIBLIOTECA STEAM buttone.
4. Here, select the drive and click on the icona di trè punti, then choose Cartulare di riparazione from the context menu. Refer to the pic below.
5. Wait for Steam to Cartulare di riparazione.
6. Infine, riavvia Steam after repairing all the library folders by following the above steps.
Method 9: Reset Windows Sockets
The Winsock catalog is another problem that might cause Steam content file locked. The Windows Sockets API, sometimes known as Winsock, is a technical standard in computing that governs how Windows network software should access network services, particularly TCP/IP. Winsock is a protocol that connects a Windows TCP/IP client program to the TCP/IP protocol stack. To restore the system to its default settings, use the reset command and follow the instructions below:
1. Cliccate nant'à Start è tipu Command Prompt. Dopu, cliccate nantu Executà cum'è amministratore da i risultati di ricerca.
2. Cliccate nant'à Iè in u Control di Cunsigliu d'Usuariu prompt di cunferma.
3. Type netsh winsock resettore in the Command Prompt window, and press the Rinsignate chjave.
Once you’ve completed the three procedures and given Winsock a chance to rest, you may attempt updating the game to see whether the steam content file locked issue has been resolved.
Metudu 10: riparà i schedarii di u sistema
The game installation files on your hard disc may be corrupted or have faulty sectors. Parts of the hard disc that have bad sectors can’t be accessed or run slowly. If you want to see if your hard disc has any damaged sectors, do a Disk Check scan:
1. Launch Invitu di cumandamentu cum'è amministratore.
2. Type chkdsk C: / f / r / x cumanda è culpisce Intra chjave.
3. Sè vo site dumandatu cù un missaghju, Chkdsk ùn pò micca eseguisce ... u voluminu hè ... in prucessu di usu, poi, scrivite Y e culpisce u Intra chjave.
4. In novu, scrivite u cumandamentu: sfc / scannow È stampa Intra chjave a curriri lu Sistema di Verificante di Schedariu scansà.
nota: Una scansione di u sistema serà iniziata è duverà un paru di minuti per finisce. Intantu, pudete cuntinuà à realizà altre attività, ma esse attenti à ùn chjude micca accidentalmente a finestra.
Dopu à compie a scansione, vi mustrarà unu di sti missaghji:
- A Prutezzione di e Risorse di Windows ùn hà trovu alcuna violazione di l'integrità.
- A Proteczione di Risorse Windows ùn pudia micca fà l'operazione dumandata.
- A Proteczione di Risorse di Windows hà truvatu i fugliali corrupti è li hà riparatu cù successu.
- A Proteczione di Risorse di Windows hà trovu i fugliali corrotti, ma ùn hà micca pussutu risolve alcuni di elli.
5. Una volta u scan hè finitu, restituisce u vostru PC.
6. Una volta, lanciari Invitu di cumandamentu cum'è amministratore è eseguite i cumandamenti datu unu dopu l'altru:
dism.exe /Online /cleanup-image /scanhealth dism.exe /Online /cleanup-image /restorehealth dism.exe /Online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup
nota: Duvete avè una cunnessione Internet chì funziona per eseguisce i cumandamenti DISM bè.
Steam is a fantastic gaming platform for PCs. Don’t allow a few little blunders to get in the way of a gaming marathon–just know how to fix any issues that arise along the way, and you’ll be OK.
Also Read: Fix Steam Continua à Crashing
Metudu 11: Reinstallate Steam
If none of the above methods fix Steam content file locked issue then, reinstall Steam by following the given steps.
1. Firstly, go to the vapore folder and right-click on steamapps cartulare, dopu selezziunate u Copy funziunalità.
2. Dopu, paste the folder in the other location to creà una copia di salvezza of the installed games.
3. Now hit the Windows key, tipu Applicazioni è funzioni, è cliccate nantu Open.
4. Select vapore è cliccà nantu à u Uninstall buttone mostratu evidenziatu.
5. Torna, cliccate nant'à Uninstall pè cunfirmà.
6. In u Steam Uninstall finestra, cliccate nantu Uninstall to remove Steam.
7. Dopu, restituisce your Windows PC.
8. Scaricate u ùltima versione of vapore from your web browser, as shown.
9. After downloading, run the downloaded SteamSetup.exe fugliale clicchendu doppiu nantu à questu.
10. In u Steam Setup wizard, click on the Next buttone.
11. Sceglite u Cartulare di destinazione aduprendu u Esplora ... option or keep the opzione predefinita. Dopu, cliccate nantu stallà, cum'è illustratu quì sottu.
12. Wait for the installation to be completed and click on Finisci, cumu mostratu.
13. After installing Steam, move the steamapps backup folder you previously made to the installed Steam folder.
14. Infine, ripigliate u vostru PC.
Domande Frequenti (FAQs)
Q1. Why is it taking so long for my Steam download to complete?
Ans. Too many games and large titles in the Steam library, a malfunctioning download server, un obsolete network driver, and an unreliable network connection are all reasons for sluggish Steam download speeds.
Q2. Why isn’t Steam downloading?
Ans. Servers in a particular region may be sluggish, overloaded, or suffer from a hardware breakdown, creating download problems. Use a different set of content servers and temporarily move to a different download area. Download Region > Steam > Settings > Downloads
Q3. What is the procedure for unlocking a content file?
Ans. Steam should be relaunched when you restart your PC. Go to the LIBRARY menu and right-click on the game that’s causing you trouble. Select the I fugliali Locali tab da u Joint menu. Steam will validate the game’s integrity in a few minutes if you click the verify integrity of game files button.
ricumandatu:
We hope this information was helpful and that you were able to fix Steam content file locked issue. If you have any questions, suggestions, or if you have any other way to steam download content file locked issue, please reach out to us in the comment section below.