Games that were used for children were digitalized when computers arrived. As games, developed people of all age groups started playing games. Whether it may be a child or an adult, gamers always experience some kind of error.
One of such errors is Steam Content File Locked, this error indicates that your steam is not able to use your computer hard disk for storing the game or some files of the game. There are several ways that we can use to fix this issue. Some of the methods for resolving this error are discussed below in this article.
Solution 1: Check Antivirus
Most of the time, the steam content file locked error appears because of your antivirus. Antivirus usually considers the gaming files as a potential virus and then the antivirus isolates the file. To overcome this issue, we usually disable the antivirus, there are many ways in which we can disable our antivirus.
McAfee Antivirus
If your system has McAfee Antivirus then under any circumstances the antivirus will not be able to select certain files and exclude them during real-time scanning. You can prevent this issue only by completely disabling your antivirus until the game update is complete. You have to follow the given steps and your steam will not give you an error:
STEP 1: Firstly, select and open McAfee
STEP 2: Afterwards, search and find “Virus and Spyware Protection”
STEP 3: Look for the “Real-time scanning” option. Select and turn off that option.
STEP 4: Next, check and certify the game files’ integrity.
STEP 5: After verifying, you will have to restart your computer. STEP 6: After restarting the system, you have to relaunch Steam.
STEP 7: Next, select the library section and look for the game, that is the source for your trouble.
STEP 8: Select the properties of that game and then choose the local file tab.
STEP 9: Finally, search for the verify integrity of games button and select it. The steam will require some time for checking the integrity of the game.
ESET NOD32
If you have the ESET NOD32 antivirus on your device then you will see that this antivirus has a pattern of selecting certain files and marking those application files as malignant, and so the antivirus will isolate such files. Because of this tendency we face some serious issues while updating a game file. For getting rid of this issue follow the steps given below:
STEP 1: Firstly, search for your current steam directory.
STEP 2: After that locate your Steam directory address and copy it.
STEP 3: You can see the default location of the steam directory is “C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\common”
STEP 4: After copying the address open ESET NOD32
STEP 5: Select the exclude from real-time scanning option and paste the location there.
STEP 6: Next, check and certify the game files integrity.
STEP 7: After verifying, you will have to restart your computer. STEP 8: After restarting the system, you have to relaunch Steam.
STEP 9: Next, select the library section and look for the game, that is the source for your trouble.
STEP 10: Select the properties of that game and then choose the local file tab.
STEP 11: Finally, search for the verify integrity of the games button and select it. The steam will require some time for checking the integrity of the game.
Kaspersky AV
If your computer has Kaspersky AV you will find that this antivirus marks Steam as an intruder and hence it prevents Steam from making any changes on your device. Follow the steps given below to fix this error:
STEP 1: Firstly, search the option “threads and exclusions” STEP 2: Find the ‘trusted zone’
STEP 3: Next move to the trusted files, and add Steam.exe STEP 4: Go to settings.
STEP 5: Change your settings to do not restrict application activity and do not scan open files.
STEP 6: Next, check and certify the game files’ integrity.
STEP 7: After verifying, you will have to restart your computer. STEP 8: After restarting the system, you have to relaunch Steam.
STEP 9: Next, select the library section and look for the game, that is the source for your trouble.
STEP 10: Select the properties of that game and then choose the local file tab.
STEP 11: Finally, search for the verify integrity of games button and select it. The steam will require some time for checking the integrity of the game.
Solution 2: Reset Winsock
Another reason behind the steam content file is locked error is the Winsock catalog. For fixing this we just have to reset Winsock and then turn the settings back to default. Follow the steps given below:
STEP 1: Firstly, select and launch the Windows key + R, this will open up the Run window. STEP 2: Second, look for the dialog bar and type ‘netsch winsock reset’
STEP 3: After typing execute the command.
STEP 4: Finally, restart your device.
Solution 3: Repair Corrupt File
In case, the above solutions fail, you can also troubleshoot and find out which file is missing or went corrupt. After finding the corrupt file re-download the whole file. For repairing corrupt files follow the steps given below:
STEP 1: Firstly, go to your Steam directory or if you have selected a custom location then go to that location.
STEP 2: Next, move to the “Logs” folder, and after that open “txt” file.
STEP 3: Look for recent errors in the text file. STEP 4: Move to the root folder of mod.
STEP 5: Now restart steam and then go to the downloads folder.
STEP 6: Afterwards, you will be able to see that the Steam wants to update the game.
STEP 7: Finally, update the game and your error will be resolved.
Solution 4: Relocate Steam Installation and Game file
Relocating the Steam installation and Game file is yet another method we can use for solving the content file locked issue. This method has two parts. In the first part, we relocate the steam and then launch and run it, by any chance if you face some issues during launching then we have to reinstall the steam. For this follow the steps given below:
STEP 1: Firstly, go to the Steam client and then click on the Settings option.
STEP 2: Second, click on downloads.
STEP 3: Select the Steam Library folder.
STEP 4: Now, you have to select a new path for your Steam location for that click on the Add Library folder.
STEP 5: Now, all the files will be installed here.
STEP 6: Next, select all the existing steam files and move them to the new steam location.
STEP 7: Now, exit Steam client.
STEP 8: Go to your current Steam directory.
STEP 9: Other than SteamApps, exe and UserData folder, delete all other files
STEP 10: Cut and paste all the folders into a new directory. STEP 11: Finally launch Steam.
STEP 12: At last, Re-login.
If you face any difficulties while moving or launching the Steam folder, you have to follow the steps given below:
STEP 1: First, Close the Steam.
STEP 2: Come to the new steam location.
STEP 3: Select the SteamApps folder from that directory and move it to the desktop.
STEP 4: Now, uninstall and then re-install the steam to the initial location you have selected.
STEP 5: Next, relocate the SteamApps folder from the desktop to the new Steam directory.
STEP 6: Finally Launch steam and verify steam game file integrity.
Solution 5: Check Disk Scan
Another reason behind the Steam Content File Locked issue is that the Hard Drive containing the game installation setup has been corrupted or some parts of the hard drive have been. If that is the case then the speed of the hard drive reduces and certain parts become inaccessible. For solving this issue we usually run a disk scan and find out the corrupted parts, this can be done by following the steps listed below:
STEP 1: At first, Press the Windows key + R key that will open the run window.
STEP 2: Afterwards, a dialog box will appear on your screen, type “cmd” in that box. STEP 3: Next, for initiating the disk check, type “chkdsk c: /f” and then click on enter. STEP 4: In order to confirm the disk scan press Y.
STEP 5: Finally, after the disk scan is completed check if the corrupted files are still there.
Solution 6: Run as Administrator
There are times when Windows block you from accessing a certain folder. In such cases, you are going to need special permission which you will get by Running Steam as Administrator. For doing so, follow the steps listed below:
STEP 5: Firstly, select the Steam icon and right-click on it.
STEP 5: Next go to properties.
STEP 5: Now, select the compatibility tab.
STEP 5: Next, see the run as administrator option.
STEP 5: Now, press the Apply button for making the changes.
STEP 5: Once again, run your Steam.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Steam Content File Locked issue is a source of frustration for many gamers. This error occurs very frequently and not many people know how to tackle the issue. The provided six solutions for this issue are very effective and convenient for beginners as well. Hopefully, the above methods are the answer to your problem and you found them useful.