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.
Method 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. Navigéiert op de Startmenü.
2. Elo, wielt de Kraaft Ikon.
Opgepasst: In Windows 10, the Power icon is found at the bottom. Whereas in Windows 8, the Power icon is located at the top.
3. Several options like Schlof, Ausmaachen, an Neistart will be displayed. Here, click on Neistart.
Method 2: Run Steam als Administrator
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. Riets-klickt op de steam.exe Datei a wielt Properties.
2. Gitt an der Kompatibilitéit Tab a kontrolléiert de Leeft dëse Programm als Administrator Optioun.
3. Endlech klickt op gëllen > OK Ännerungen ze späicheren.
4. Neistart Dampmaschinnen 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. Open de Aufgab Manager andeems en de Ctrl + Shift + Esc Tastekombinatiounen zesummen.
2. Locate and select the ongewollt Hannergrond Prozesser using high Erënnerung.
3. Dann, klickt Enn Task, as shown highlighted.
4. Elo, relancéiere der Dampmaschinnen App.
Och liesen: Wéi deaktivéiert Steam Overlay Windows 10
Method 4: Kontrolléiert d'Integritéit vu Spilldateien
Please check the integrity of the game files by following the procedures below after deactivating the installed antivirus:
1. Start de Dampmaschinnen application on your system and switch to the Bibliothéik Tab vun uewen.
2. Under Game Library, you will see the list of all your games. Locate the Spill you wish to verify. Make a right-click on it to open Properties, wéi gewisen.
3. Wiesselen op de Lokal Dateien tab in-game Properties window.
4. Hei, klickt op Z'iwwerpréiwen Integritéit vun Spill Fichieren Knäppchen, wéi ënnendrënner gewisen.
5. waart 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. Hit der Windows Schlëssel, Typ Dampmaschinnen, a klickt op Führen als Administrator.
2. Elo, gitt op d' Dampmaschinnen Reiter a wielt Parameteren from the drop-down menu. Refer to the pic below.
3. Wielt d ' erofgelueden settings on the left pane.
4. Scroll down to the bottom a klickt op de LËSCHT DOWNLOAD CACHE Knäppchen.
5. Klickt op OK an Kloer Download Cache Confirmatiouns Prompt.
6. Endlech klickt op OK Ännerungen ze späicheren.
Och liesen: 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.
Opgepasst 1: It is not recommended to uninstall any antivirus program from your PC, since it protects your system from viruses and threats.
Opgepasst 2: Mir hunn d'Schrëtt gewisen fir Norton Security Antivirus as an example.
1. Riets-klickt op de Antivirus Programm Ikon aus dem Systemtablett a wielt Disable Auto-Protect.
2. Als nächst, Wielt d'Dauer dropdown menu for which the Antivirus will remain disabled on the Security Request Säit.
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. Start Dampmaschinnen a klickt op de LIBRARY Tab.
2. Hei, riets-klickt op de Installed Game a klickt op Eegeschaften… wéi ënnert illustréiert.
3. On the new screen, click on LOCAL FILES > Move install folder… wéi gewisen.
4. Wielt de fuert (z Drive G:) vun Select the target drive “name & size of game” should be moved to the drop-down menu. Then, click on Beweegt.
5. Elo, waart for the process to complete. You can check progress in the MOVE CONTENT Écran.
6. Once the moving process is completed, click on Zoumaachen, wéi hei ënnen beliicht.
Och liesen: Wéi Backupsatellit Steam Games
Method 8: Repair Steam Library Folders
1. Start Dampmaschinnen a gitt op Är Parameteren nom Klick STEAM an der ieweschter lénkser Ecke vum Bildschierm.
2. Wann Dir an Parameteren, gitt op den erofgelueden Optioun am lénksen Deel.
3. Klickt op déi STEAM Bibliothéik Mappen Knäppchen.
4. Here, select the drive and click on the dräi Punkten icon, then choose Reparatur Dossier from the context menu. Refer to the pic below.
5. Wait for Steam to Reparatur Dossier.
6. Endlech, Restart 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. Klickt op Start an Typ Kommando Prompt. Da klickt op Führen als Administrator aus de Sichresultater.
2. Klickt op Jo an Benotzerkont Kontroll Confirmatiouns Prompt.
3. Typ Netsh winsock récksetzen in the Command Prompt window, and press the gitt Schlëssel.
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.
Method 10: Systemdateien reparéieren
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. Start Kommando-Prompt als Administrator.
2. Typ chkdsk C: / f / r / x Kommando an Hit Gitt Schlëssel.
3. If you are prompted with a message, Chkdsk cannot run…the volume is… in use process, then, type Y an de Goal schéissen Gitt Schlëssel.
4. Again, type the command: sfc / scannow an dréckt op Gitt Schlëssel den ze lafen System Dateie Checker scannen.
Opgepasst: A system scan will be initiated and it will take a couple of minutes to finish. Meanwhile, you can continue performing other activities but be mindful of not accidentally closing the window.
After completing the scan, it will show either of these messages:
- Windows Ressource Protection huet keng Integritéit Verletzunge fonnt.
- Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.
- Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
- Windows Ressource Protection huet korrupt Dateien fonnt, awer konnt e puer vun hinnen net fixéieren.
5. Once the scan is finished, Neistart Äre PC.
6. Again, launch Kommando-Prompt als Administrator and execute the given commands one after the other:
dism.exe /Online /cleanup-image /scanhealth dism.exe /Online /cleanup-image /restorehealth dism.exe /Online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup
Opgepasst: You must have a working internet connection to execute DISM commands properly.
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.
Och liesen: Fix Steam hält Crashing
Methode 11: Steam nei installéieren
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 Dampmaschinnen folder and right-click on steamapps Dossier, da wielt de kopéieren Optioun.
2. Dann, paste the folder in the other location to erstellt e Backup of the installed games.
3. Now hit the Windows Schlëssel, Typ Apps an Features, a klickt op Open.
4. Auswielen Dampmaschinnen a klickt op de Installéieren Knäppchen markéiert gewisen.
5. Nach eng Kéier, klickt op Installéieren ze bestätegen.
6. An Steam Uninstall Fënster, klickt op Installéieren to remove Steam.
7. Dann, Neistart your Windows PC.
8. Luet den neitst Versioun of Dampmaschinnen from your web browser, as shown.
9. After downloading, run the downloaded SteamSetup.exe Datei andeems Dir zweemol klickt.
10. An Steam Setup wizard, click on the nächst Knäppchen.
11. Wielt de Destinatioun Dossier mat der Benotzung Blieder ... option or keep the Standard Optioun. Da klickt op installéieren, wéi ënnendrënner duergestallt.
12. Wait for the installation to be completed and click on Freck, wéi gewisen.
13. After installing Steam, move the steamapps backup folder you previously made to the installed Steam folder.
14. Endlech, start Äre PC neu.
Froen (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, eng 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 Lokal Dateien Tab vun der Properties menu. Steam will validate the game’s integrity in a few minutes if you click the verify integrity of game files button.
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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.