Steam Content File Locked [SOLVED]

The Content File-Locked error in Steam has swallowed a ton of players. The problem generally happens when Steam doesn’t have the permissions it needs to write or perform routine operations. The usual causes of this error include missing game files or permissions. But worry not, as I will guide you through the most probable fixes to the problem.

The error states, “An error occurred while updating ‘Game Name’ (content file locked).”

Steam Content File Locked — Error Message (Image by eXputer)

Basic Fixes: I recommend you try restarting your computer, followed by launching Steam as an administrator. These may seem simple enough, but sometimes straightforward solutions are the way forward.

Key Takeaways

Try the following solutions to fix the error:

Reset Winsock.
Whitelist Steam in your Antivirus Software.
Scan your Hard Drive for Errors.
Verify the Integrity of your Game Files.
Clear Steam’s Download Cache.

Reset Winsock

Winsock is how applications send and receive data over a network. It essentially enables applications like browsers, clients, and online games to function as intended. If there is a network-related problem between Winsock and Steam, it could be the cause behind the content file-locked error.

Resetting Winsock can potentially solve this problem, as it would reset the permissions, allowing Steam the access it needs.

Here’s how you can do it:

Search CMD > Click on Run as Administrator.
Opening CMD as administrator (Image Copyrighted by eXputer)
Type ‘netsh winsock reset’ > Press Enter.
Wait for the Confirmation Message to be displayed.

Finally, restart your computer and retry the operation you were trying to do.

Scan Your Hard Drive For Errors

As Steam is unable to access some files from your game directory, the problem could be because of poor drive sectors. We typically never format our drives more than once after getting them. So, as they age, some sectors can get corrupted. So, I recommend scanning your game drive to see if that fixes the content file-locked error.

Luckily, Windows has a built-in diagnostic tool that scans and even repairs any drive errors, if possible.

To do this, follow these steps:

Open CMD > Type ‘chkdsk C: /f’ > Press Enter.
Press Y to Confirm and start the scan.
Wait till you get a Confirmation Message.

Once done, exit and check if the error persists.

Whitelist Steam In Antivirus

Antivirus software can, a lot of times, flag non-harmful files and remove them from your system. This is a tale as old as malware itself. If the files are no longer there, Steam will of course not find anything to update, throwing the content-locked error.

So, I recommend you whitelist Steam and your entire game directory. This will make your antivirus not bother either, potentially eliminating a cause for the problem.

Validate Your Game Files

If you are done whitelisting Steam and your game directory, the subsequent action is to validate the game files’ integrity. Even if your antivirus didn’t delete any files, they could have still gotten corrupted due to malware, bugs, or incomplete updates. Doing so would identify any missing or damaged files, effectively restoring them. So, it’s always a recommendation in my and even Valve’s book.

Clear Steam’s Download Cache

Lastly, I recommend clearing Steam’s Download Cache. This works for the content file-locked error because, over time, the download cache can become corrupted, which leads to issues in downloading and updating files. Doing so will refresh stuck downloads and any old residue from updates, potentially fixing the problem.

My Thoughts On The Issue

There have been countless reports of the issue on various sites such as Steam, CreateEntertainment, Paradox, Larian, and FatShark Forums. But I still can’t say it’s widespread as the problem originates from the user side.

Seeing people talk about it, I think it would be more appropriate to say that the problem occurs much more than it should and isn’t game-specific. This is to be expected from an error of this nature.

Hey @larianstudios new patch for #dos2 on Steam now won't launch "content file locked" – "supporttool.exe", reinstalled, same issue. Halp?

— RoyalTurnip (@ChrisAniballi) September 21, 2017

While I have listed the major fixes, there are still many more simple ones, like freeing up space or terminating racing processes; the list goes on and on. This is simply because the operating system is at fault here.

Due to this, there hasn’t been any word from Steam as well. I mean, the problem isn’t from their end to begin with. What makes it much more frustrating is that you get stuck at such an initial stage of installing a game. But the saving grace, however, is that the solutions are quite simple. So, you shouldn’t have a hard time.

Lastly, if you are still experiencing the problem after following through with the guide, I recommend you open a ticket on the Steam Forums to get one-on-one support.

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