Steam is the dream software for any gamer. However, just like any software, it is not free from bugs. One such error that has been troubling gamers across the globe is the Steam Disk Write Error. This error prevents users from downloading new games or updating installed ones. It can occur when the user is playing a particular game or trying to move games from one disk to another. But there is nothing to worry about, as we have compiled the best possible methods that have worked for many games based on their experiences on various troubleshooting forums.
If you wish to know more about this problem, such as its causes and effects, scroll down the post. But if you want to resolve this problem quickly and get on with playing your favorite game, read on.
Why Does The Error Occur
There are many reasons why the error occurs on PC’s. We have listed a few known reasons:
- When a user tries to download a new game via the Steam app.
- When the user tries to save a game on his/her PC.
- If the Hard disk is corrupt or has bad sectors.
- The Windows firewall and antivirus prevent Steam from writing on a hard disk.
- Outdated or corrupt Steam system files and game files.
- The drive or folder where Steam is installed is write-protected.
- There is an issue with storage disk drivers.
Troubleshooting Roadmap
We have categorized all the troubleshooting steps into 5 categories. After performing all the steps in a category, you need to check on the issue. This way, you can stop troubleshooting after resolving your issue and ignore the remaining steps. Here is what we are going to do:
- Restart everything.
- Change settings within the Steam app.
- Perform basic troubleshooting steps.
- Move to advanced troubleshooting.
- Reinstall and Reset.
Here is a list of all the troubleshooting steps you need to perform to fix the Steam Disk Write Error on Windows 11/10.
| Category 1: Reboot Everything | Restart Steam |
| Restart Computer | |
| Restart Modem/Router | |
| Restart the Steam App as Admin | |
| Category 2: Troubleshoot within the Steam Interface | Update Steam Client |
| Clear Download Cache | |
| Repair Libray Folder | |
| Verify Integrity | |
| Change Download Server/Region | |
| Category 3: Steam-Related Windows Troubleshooting | Delete 0KB file |
| Delete Corrupted Files | |
| Steam Flush Config | |
| Set steam folder security to full control. | |
| Remove disk write protection | |
| Category 4: Windows Troubleshooting | Disable Overclocking |
| Update Drivers | |
| Disable your antivirus program. | |
| Check your firewall | |
| Run Chkdsk | |
| Move Steam to Another Disk | |
| Category 5: Final Options | Reinstall Steam |
| Reset Windows | |
| Contact Steam for help |
So, without further ado, let’s begin.
Best Troubleshooting Steps To Fix Steam Disk Write Error on Windows 11/10
Troubleshooting Category 1: Reboot Everything
A simple “Restart” fixes many things. We are not sure why this happens, but in the case of hardware and software issues, simply restarting the device or app resolves the problem. Here is what you need to do:
Step 1: Exit The Steam app.
Step 2: Shut down your computer.
Step 3: Power off your modem/router and wait for 60 seconds.
Step 4: Now turn on your computer and modem/router.
Step 5: Launch the Steam app as an administrator after a successful reboot.
Step 6: Right-click the Steam app icon and choose “Run as administrator” from the context menu.
Note : The Steam app will now run in elevated mode. Check if you are still facing the error .
Troubleshooting Category 2: Troubleshoot Within The Steam Interface
The next category of troubleshooting steps is a bit more techier than the previous one. In this category, we will make a few changes to the Steam interface. Let begin:
Method 1: Update Steam Client
Updates are software patches that fix bugs and provide new features. Hence, it is important to update your OS and apps. Here are the steps to Update the Steam client:
Step 1: Launch the Steam App and click Steam in the top-left corner.
Step 2: Click on Check for Steam Client Updates from the dropdown menu.
Step 3: Wait until the update process completes, and then reboot the Steam app.
Method 2: Clear Steam Download Cache
The cache is a temporary file that helps apps download faster. If these files get corrupted, you might face this problem. Here is what you need to do:
Step 1: Launch the Steam App, click the Steam tab and choose Settings.
Step 2: Next, click on the Downloads tab in the left panel.
Step 3: Click the Clear Download Cache button in the right section.
Method 3: Repair Library Folder
The Library folder within the Steam app contains some important files for functioning properly. If these files get corrupted, then the Steam app can cease working. Here is what you need to do:
Step 1: Launch the Steam app and click on Steam > Settings > Downloads.
Step 2: Click on the Steam Library Folders button in the right pane.
Step 3: Finally, click the three dots in the right corner and choose Repair Folder from the context menu.
Method 4: Verify Integrity Of Game Files
When you face the Steam disk write error in only one game, you can check the integrity of the game files stored on the PC. If the Steam-related files get corrupted then you could face this issue. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Launch the Steam App and click on the Library tab.
Step 2: Locate the game causing this issue and right-click on it.
Step 3: Choose Properties and then click on Local Files.
Step 4: Click on Verify integrity of game files and wait until the process completes.
Step 5: Exit Steam and reboot your PC.
Method 5: Change Download Server/Region
Some experts have suggested changing the Download Server/Region. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Open the Steam app and click on Steam > Settings > Downloads tab in the left pane.
Step 2: Click on the Download Region dropdown menu and change the server selected to another nearby server region.
Step 3: Reboot Steam and check if the issue persists.
Troubleshooting Category 3: Steam-Related Windows Troubleshooting
If you are still facing the error after making all the modifications in the Steam app, then it is time to make some Steam-related changes to your Windows OS.
Method 1: Delete 0 KB file
If you have 0kb files within the Steam folder, these files can cause issues. Here is how to delete them:
Step 1: Press Win + R to open the Run box.
Step 2: Type %ProgramFiles(x86)% in the text box and click on the OK button.
Step 3: A new window will open where you have to navigate to Steam > Steamapp > Common.
Step 4: From the list of files and folders, locate the 0kb files, select them, and delete them.
Step 5: Update the Steam app as explained above and check if the issue persists.
Read Also: Steam Download Stuck at 0 Bytes? Here’s What You Can Do!
Method 2: Delete Corrupted Files
Another method is to delete all the corrupted files related to Steam by following these steps:
Step 1: Press Win + R to open the Run box.
Step 2: Type %ProgramFiles(x86)% in the text box and click OK..
Step 3: A new window will open where you have to navigate to Steam > Logs > Content_log.
Step 4: Navigate to the bottom of the screen and click on Failed to Write.
Step 5: Follow the name and path of the error and remove the corrupted files.
Step 6: Repeat these steps for all error-related files and reboot Steam.
Method 3: Steam Flush Config
Step 1: Press Win + R to open the RUN box, type Steam://flushconfig, and press OK.
Step 2: Press OK on the confirmation prompt.
Step 3: Reboot your PC.
Step 4: Press Win + R and type %Program Files(x86)% followed by the Enter key.
Step 5: Locate the Steam folder and open it to find the Steam executable.
Step 6: Double-click on it to launch Steam and check for updates.
Method 4: Set Steam Folder Security To Full Control
Step 1: Close Steam and restart your computer to ensure no Steam process runs in the background.
Step 2: Press Win + R to open the RUN box.
Step 3: Type %Program Files(x86)% and click on the OK button.
Step 4: Locate the Steam folder and right-click on it to view the context menu.
Step 5: Choose Properties to open a new dialog box and click on the General tab.
Step 6: Next, locate the Read-only option in the Attributes section and uncheck the box before it.
Step 7: Next, click on the Security tab and then click on the Edit button.
Step 8: Click on your User account and check the box next to Full Control.
Step 9: Click on Apply and then on OK.
Step 10: Make a right click on the Steam icon and click on Run As Administrator.
Method 5: Remove Disk Write Protection
Step 1: Press Win + R to open the RUN box and type cmd.
Step 2: Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Command Prompt as administrator.
Step 3: Copy and paste the following commands and press Enter after each command.
diskpart
list disk
select disk #
attributes disk clear readonly
Step 4: Close the Command prompt window and reboot your PC.
Troubleshooting Category 4: Windows Troubleshooting
It seems nothing is wrong with your Steam client, so we recommend you begin troubleshooting basic Windows errors.
Method 1: Disable Overclocking
Some users try to overclock their PCs to utilize them to their maximum capacity. However, this also has some negative effects, like Steam Disk Write Error. Experts suggest disabling overclocking and then rebooting your PC.
Method 2: Update Drivers
Another important troubleshooting method is to update the drivers and fix the disk write error when updating and installing game issues. You can update the drivers manually using the Device Manager. However, we prefer the automatic driver updater software, known as Advanced Driver Updater. Here are the steps to identify and replace corrupt, missing, and outdated drivers with updated ones.
Step 1: Download and install Advanced Driver Updater using the download button below.
Step 2: Open the app and click the Start Scan Now button. A list of driver anomalies will appear on the screen.
Step 3: Click the update button next to the driver that requires updating.
Step 4: Restart your computer.
Method 3: Disable Your Antivirus Program
There have been reports in the tech forums that certain antivirus software does not allow Steam to write files or make changes on the hard disk. Hence, we will have to temporarily disable the antivirus and check if this error occurs because of the antivirus software.
Method 4: Check Your Firewall
Windows Firewall is another software that ensures your PC is safe and secure. The firewall may be blocking Steam from running. Hence, you should try adding Steam to the safe list or temporarily disabling it.
Step 1: Press the Win key and type Control Panel.
Step 2: Select the best match result and locate Windows Defender Firewall among all the options in the Control Panel.
Step 3: Double-click, and a new window will open.
Step 4: Click on Allow an app… in the left panel window.
Step 5: Locate Steam and check the box next to it, both private and public.
Method 5: Run Chkdsk
When Steam tries to save a file to your hard disk, it may generate the Disk Write Error. Therefore, we need to run a check disk scan on your hard disk to check it for errors. The Check Disk is a built-in tool for bad sectors on the hard drive. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Press Win + S to open the Windows Search box and type Command Prompt.
Step 2: Click on Run As Administrator and type the following command.
Step 3: Type the following command and press the Enter key.
C:\chkdsk /f /r
Let the Check Disk tool run to find and fix errors on your hard disk.
Read Also: Steam Not Enough Disk Space Error [FIXED]
Method 6: Move Steam To Another Disk
Steam app allows its users to move stored games from one drive to another. This is usually done when one user’s drive is full, and there is insufficient storage left. Here is how to do it:
Step 1: Launch the Steam client, click on the Steam option in the top-left corner, and select Settings.
Step 2: Click on Downloads in the left panel and then click on Steam Library folders on the right side.
Step 3: To move your Steam games, click the add symbol, choose the drive, and then create a SteamLibrary folder on that drive.
Step 4: The new destination disk will be visible in Storage Manager.
Step 5: Choose the games you wish to move by checking the box next to them and then clicking the Move button.
Step 6: In the Move Content window, select the drive where you wish to move the game and then click the Move button.
Troubleshooting Category 5: Final Options
These are the final methods that will make major changes to your PC, and they should be followed if you have no other options.
Method 1: Reinstall Steam
The final set of troubleshooting steps involves uninstalling and reinstalling the Steam app. You will lose all the downloaded games, settings, and other content when you uninstall it. This step is to be taken when none of the other troubleshooting methods work and you cannot play games on Steam. To uninstall Steam, follow these steps:
Step 1: Press the Win key, type “Add or Remove Programs,” and click on the best-match result.
Step 2: A list of installed apps will be populated on your screen alphabetically.
Step 3: Locate the Steam app and click on the three dots next to it.
Step 4: Choose Uninstall and follow the onscreen instructions to remove the app from your PC.
Step 5: Reboot your PC to ensure a complete uninstallation.
Step 6: Visit the Steam Official website to download and install the Steam Client.
Method 2: Reset Windows
The next method under the final troubleshooting category is to reset your Windows. You will not lose any files or folders, but taking backup before you attempt to do it is recommended. This will restore your Windows OS settings to default. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Press Win + I to open the Windows Settings.
Step 2: Type Reset in the search bar located in the left panel.
Step 3: Choose Reset This PC from the multiple options.
Step 4: Next, locate the Reset PC button on the right side and click on it.
Step 5: You will get two options: Keep My Files & Remove Everything.
Step 6: Choose Keep My Files and proceed with the online instructions.
Method 3: Contact Steam For Help
After trying out all the above options, if you are still facing the Steam Disk Write Error, we suggest you contact the Steam Support team for further assistance. You can also visit the Steam community forums, where you can search for the issue or post a new thread.
Have You Fixed The Disk Write Error In Steam
There are thousands of gamers playing on Steam, and very few face the Steam disk write error for only one game or all games. The steps mentioned above have been compiled from various tech troubleshooting forums based on their success rates and comments. We hope we have helped you solve the problem and assisted you in playing games on Steam. Write to us in the comments section below describing which method helped you fix this issue.
Next Read:
