Steam Content File Locked is a bug that can emerge due to a patch update in the Steam app. It appears whenever some users want to download or update games using the gaming client. If the Steam Content file is locked, it cannot write update files to the hard drive. As a result, you won’t be able to play games on Steam.
Some users report their inability to install games even after they can download them using the Steam app. Restarting or rebooting might not be able to get rid of the error as well. Similarly, removing the entire patch directory and re-downloading can still not solve the issue.
How to fix the Steam Content File Locked error?
In this article, we discuss 21 ways to fix the Steam Content File Locked error. The most potent yet time-consuming method is to remove the Steam app and its games and install it again on your PC. However, that should be a solution as a last resort.
Table of Contents – Fix Steam Content File Locked error
- Restart you PC
- Fix corrupt system files
- Reset Netsch Winsock
- Verify integrity of game files in Steam
- Clear Steam Cache
- Delete the locked file in the game directory
- Re-install Steam EXE file
- Run the game in Steam library
- Re-install the game in a new directory
- Delete all the VPK files
- Update Steam patch
- Rollback to the stable build
- Update Drivers
- Delete the locked content file in safe mode on your PC
- Disable the antivirus software on your PC
- Change settings in Windows Firewall
- Run Disc Scan
- Start the game from the PC
- Run as Administrator
- Change the hard drive location of Steam and its game files
- Re-install Steam
1. Restart your PC
- Exit the Steam app.
- Restart your PC.
- Launch the Steam app to verify the Steam Content File Locked error fix.
2. Fix corrupt system files
- Launch the CCleaner app on your PC.
- Scan the hard drives to search for Steam files and folders with issues.
- Repair any missing data to fix the Content File Locked Steam error message.
- Launch the Steam app to verify the error fix.
3. Reset Netsch Winsock to fix Steam Content File Locked
The first method to fix the Steam Content File Locked error message is to reset Netsch Winsock. To do that,
- Type in Run in the search bar next to the Windows Start menu on your desktop.
- Enter netsch winsock reset in the text bar of the dialog box that opens as a result.
- Press Enter or OK.
- Once you finish this step, reboot your PC.
- Launch the Steam app to verify the error fix.
4. Verify integrity of game files in Steam
- Launch the Steam app.
- Select the Library tab near the top of the screen.
- Right-click on the game that you want to download or update in the navigation pane at the left.
- Select Properties in the dialog box.
- Next, select Local Files.
- Press the VERIFY INTEGRITY OF GAME FILES button.
- Click on Close.
- Exit the dialog box by pressing the Close button.
- Verify the error fix.
5. Clear Steam Cache
- Launch the Steam app.
- Press the Steam tab at the top-left corner of the screen.
- Click on Settings to open its dialog box.
- Press the Downloads tab.
- Click on the Clear download cache button.
- Press OK.
- The Steam app will exit automatically.
- Launch the Steam app to verify the Steam Content File Locked error fix.
- Sign in to your user account.
- Download the game’s update.
6. Delete the locked file in the game directory
The Steam app creates clones of all the data, including game files, once you download a patch. It modifies these once the download process is complete. As a result, the app locks the original Steam Content file on some PCs.
A solution is to get rid of the locked file in the game directory. Next, you should start the patching process. Wait for the patch to download and the app to modify the cloned files. That will copy the modified data from the downloading directory to the game folder. Next, launch the Steam app to verify the Steam Content File Locked error fix.
7. Re-install Steam EXE file
- Navigate your PC to find the .exe file of Steam.
- Re-download and install on top of your existing file.
- Launch the Steam app to verify the error fix.
8. Run the game in Steam library
- Launch the Steam app.
- Select Library near the top-left corner of the screen.
- Start the game.
- Check Launch game when ready to play in the dialog box that pops up as a result.
- Wait for a few moments.
- Verify the Steam Content File Locked error fix.
9. Re-install the game in a new directory
- Launch the Steam app.
- Navigate to Settings > Downloads > Steam Library Folders.
- Press the Add a new library folder.
- Remove the affected game from the PC.
- Download and install the game in a new location on the hard drive.
- Verify the error fix.
10. Delete all the VPK files
- On your desktop, navigate to This PC > Local Disc (C:) > Program Files > Steam > steamapps > downloading > … > game > dota to find which pak_..vpk files are updated.
- You may also look for other types of files that are modified.
- Delete all of them from This PC > Local Disc (C:) > Program Files > Steam > steamapps > common > dota 2 beta > game > dota.
- Launch the Steam app to verify the Steam Content File Locked error fix.
11. Update Steam patch to fix Steam Content File Locked
- Launch the Steam app.
- Update the latest patch.
- Verify the error fix.
12. Rollback to the stable build
- Launch the Steam app.
- If you’re having a problem in the Steam beta, roll back to the stable build.
- Verify the error fix.
13. Update Drivers to fix Steam Content File Locked
- Check for device drivers on your PC.
- Make sure you install missing and fix outdated drivers.
- Verify the error fix.
14. Delete the locked content file in safe mode on your PC
- Start your Windows PC in the safe mode.
- Remove the locked content file from the operating system.
- Reboot your OS.
- Launch the Steam app to verify the error fix.
15. Disable the antivirus software on your PC
Another reason for the Steam Content File Locked error message to appear could be due to the antivirus software installed on your PC. To update the app, you should first disable the antivirus program. It is essential to follow the precise instructions in each program to get the desired results. All antivirus programs require different sets of instructions to disable them.
However, if the error message persists, remove the antivirus software from your PC altogether. You can then download a new antivirus such as Avira on your PC. Launch the Steam app to verify the fix.
16. Change settings in Windows Firewall
- Launch the Windows Firewall from the Start menu of the desktop screen.
- Select Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall.
- Press the Change Settings button.
- Scroll down to find the Steam game that you wish to download or update.
- Uncheck all the boxes next to the game.
- Exit the Windows Firewall.
- Reboot your PC.
- Launch the Steam app to verify the Steam Content File Locked error fix.
17. Run Disc Scan to fix Steam Content File Locked
Over time, the hard disk containing the Steam game can accumulate junk and bad sectors that could reduce the speed of your OS. As a result, it could slow down the performance of your PC. At the same time, that will make certain areas of your hard drives inaccessible to the system. So, run a Disc Scan to find out bad sectors.
- Type in Run in the search bar next to the Start menu of your desktop.
- Enter CMD in the text bar and press OK.
- Type in chkdsk c: /f and hit Enter.
- Next, press Y to confirm.
- Wait until the Disc Scan is complete.
- Launch the Steam app to verify the Steam Content File Locked error fix.
18. Start the game from the PC
- Navigate to the game’s (affected by the Content Locked File error) folder in the Steam folder.
- Run the game’s .exe file as administrator.
- Launch the Steam app to verify the Steam Content File Locked error fix.
19. Run as Administrator
On some PCs, the Steam app requires special permission to access its data. If users try to access them, they won’t be able to, as Windows will prevent them from making changes to files and folders. Hence, you should run the Steam app as an administrator.
- Right-click on the Steam app icon on your desktop.
- Choose Properties from the dialog box that appears as a result.
- Select the Compatibility tab.
- Make sure to check Run this program as administrator.
- Press the Apply button.
- Click OK.
An alternate way to run as administrator is to,
- Locate the .exe file of the Steam app in This PC > Local Disc (C:) > Program Files > Steam.
- Right-click on the file and select Properties at the bottom of the dialog box that appears as a result.
- Select the Compatibility tab.
- Check Run this program as administrator.
- Press the Apply button.
- Click OK.
- Launch the Steam app to verify the Steam Content File Locked error fix.
20. Change the hard drive location of Steam and its game files
Another method to fix the Steam Content File locked error message is to change Steam’s hard drive location and its game files on your PC. To do that,
- Launch the Steam app from your desktop
- Press Downloads and choose Steam Library Folders.
- Next, click on the ADD LIBRARY FOLDER button and change it to an alternate location of your choice.
- Exit the Steam app.
- Navigate to This PC > Local Disc (C:) > Program Files > Steam.
- Remove all the files, excluding UserData and SteamApp folders from your OS.
- Cut these two files and paste them in the new location in Step 3.
- Launch the Steam app and sign in to your user account one more time.
- Verify the Steam Content File Locked error fix.
Once you change Steam’s location and its game files on the hard drives, it should solve the problem.
21. Re-install Steam
The last method to fix the Steam Content File Locked error is to re-install the Steam app on you PC.
- Exit the Steam app.
- Navigate to This PC > Local Disc (C:) > Program Files > Steam.
- Remove all the files, excluding SteamApps folders from your OS.
- Cut and paste the SteamApps folder in the new location in Step 3.
- Remove the Steam app from your PC.
- Install the Steam app again to a new location.
- Cut the SteamApps folder and paste it in the Steam directory.
- Launch the Steam app.
- Sign in to your user account.
It is essential to try all of the above methods. Once you follow the steps in this article, you should quickly fix the Steam Content File Locked error message.