Partition Recovery™
An expert tool for recovering lost partitions
An expert tool for recovering lost partitions
Last updated: Aug 26, 2021

Content file is locked in Steam? Fix it now!

Content file is locked in Steam

In this article you will find out:

  • how to deal with this issue
  • how to protect your data

Are you ready? Let's read!

About this issue

According to various reports from users, when launching the Steam application, a steam "content file locked" error message appears when they try to update their video games. This error lies in the fact that steam does not write files to the local disk. So let's figure out how to fix the steam content file locked issue.

Let’s fix the issue


1. netsh winsock reset

First, try resetting Winsock. To do this, press the Windows Key + R hotkey combination. In the Run window that opens, type the netsh winsock reset command in the search field and press the Enter key or the OK tab. After completing the steps, restart your PC or laptop.

2. Work with files location

If the previous solution did not work for you, go to changing the location of the Steam files and the video game itself.

  • Go to the Stream Client application and click Settings.
  • Left click on Downloads and navigate to the Steam Library Folders.
  • Click on Add Library Folder and select a hard drive space as the new location.
  • Close Stream Client application.
  • Open the Steam folder, which is usually located in the following path: C: Program FilesSteam.
  • Delete all files, including the .exe format, except for the UserData and SteamApp directories.
  • Move these files to the directory you chose earlier as the new location for the Steam folder.
  • Launch the Steam app again.
  • Check if the Steam file locked error has disappeared.

If there is no change, follow the next instruction.

  • Close the steam application.
  • Go to the directory of the new steam location.
  • Select the SteamApps folder and move it to your Desktop.
  • Delete your Steam.
  • Reinstall Steam, but with a new localization.
  • When the installation process is complete, select the SteamApps directory on your Desktop and move it to the new directory.
  • Start Steam and log in.

To facilitate the process of moving files on Steam, you can configure auto-move yourself. To do this, follow the next sequence of actions

  • Right-click on your video game and click the Properties tab.
  • Click on the Local Files section.
  • Click on the Move installation folder value.
  • Select a new localization and click OK.
  • Now you need to select a new location on your Steam installation disk and video game files.

3. Examine antivirus

Sometimes it happens that your antivirus can cause the steam "content file locked" error, so it will not be superfluous to check your antivirus. Before installing the video game update, try disabling your antivirus software during installation.

The way to disable antivirus varies depending on which antivirus you have installed. It will not be superfluous to visit the website of the official developer and find out how to turn off the antivirus program.

If turning off the antivirus software does not solve the steam "content file locked" problem, try installing another antivirus on your OS.

Make sure your game progress is safe!

In order to work successfully with files of any type, such as documents, music, video files, or for recreation, you need to always be sure of their safety. However, files and even entire partitions are damaged due to accidental deletion, attack by virus or malware, or power outages. The first thing to do in such a situation is to stop panicking. There are many programs that are designed to recover deleted and damaged files in various situations.

One of the more popular DiskInternals Partition Recovery stands out from the others with a number of advantages.

DiskInternals Partition Recovery allows you to recover on most known and common external and internal storage media, for example external hard drive, memory cards, IDE disk, HDD, SSD, flash drive, SATA disk, SCSI disk, etc. Moreover, large file sizes for DiskInternals Partition Recovery is not a problem! You have three scanning modes “reader,” “uneraser,” or “full recovery,” and three recovery wizards: Partition Recovery Wizard, NTFS Recovery Wizard, and FAT Recovery Wizard.

You can try all the features of the program without paying a cent simply by downloading a demo version from the manufacturer's official website. After performing a preliminary simple configuration of the program and going through just a few steps after a short period of time, you will be provided with files available for recovery in the preview tool.

Are you convinced of the efficiency and convenience of using DiskInternals Partition Recovery? Purchase a license key and save your files in any convenient place on the disk and no longer worry about the safety of your data.

DiskInternals Partition Recovery will do everything for you!

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