How To Fix Steam Disk Write Error

As an online gaming distribution platform, Steam stands out as the top choice for many gamers. Steam is renowned for its standalone gaming launcher, making playing PC games a breeze. The platform offers a wealth of additional features, an enhanced user interface, and more to ensure a superior gaming experience. However, several bugs or errors can occasionally mar the experience for users. One such issue is the Steam Disk Write Error.

Numerous reports indicate that affected Steam users encounter this specific error when downloading or installing game updates. The error may surface when you try updating a game you’ve previously installed or downloading a brand-new game. This issue can be a major annoyance for Steam users and should be addressed as soon as possible to restore a seamless gaming experience

How To Fix Steam Disk Write Error

Well, the chances are high enough that your Steam cannot download and save game data properly to the disk storage on your computer. It can show you an error message out of the mentioned messages whatsoever:

An error occurred while installing game title (disk write error): C:\Program Files (x86)\steam\steamapps\common\game_title

An error occurred while updating game_title

An error occurred while installing game_title

According to multiple affected Steam users, this error may appear due to a write-protected Steam or disk drive folder, hard drives have defected, antivirus or firewall is blocking Steam from downloading or installing data, corrupted or missing game files are there, etc. Additionally, it can possible that maybe your device drivers are outdated, Steam folder security doesn’t have full permissions, and more.

1. Restart Steam

Restarting the Steam client on your PC can fix all the temporary glitches or cache data issues completely. After restarting, you should download or install the problematic game again.

2. Reboot Your PC

Well, if restarting your Steam launcher doesn’t come in handy, try rebooting the computer as well. Restarting the system can also eliminate all the possible glitches or temporary cache data issues easily. Just click on the Start menu > Go to Power > Select Restart.

3. Check Your Internet Connection

It’s also highly recommended to check your internet connection because a slower or unstable network can also trigger game download or installation issues. If you’re using a Wi-Fi network then switch it to a wired (ethernet) connection or vice versa.

4. Remove Disk Drive Write Protection

Try removing the disk drive write protection on which you’ve installed Steam. To do so:

• Click on the Start menu > Type cmd.
• Right-click on Command Prompt from the search result.
• Select Run as administrator > If prompted by UAC, click on Yes to proceed.
• Once the command prompt window opens, type the following command and hit Enter to execute it:

diskpart

• Now, run the command below:

list disk

• Run the following command:

select disk #

• Finally, execute another command below:

attributes disk clear readonly

• Once done, close the command prompt, and restart your computer to apply changes.

This method should fix the Steam Disk Write Error easily.

5. Set Steam folder security to full control

It may also possible that your Steam folder doesn’t have the full permission to do the task easily. To give it full control, you can follow the steps below:

• Close Steam and end task from Task Manager.
• Press Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Type %ProgramFiles(x86)% and hit Enter to open Program Files.
• Right-click on the Steam folder > Go to Properties.
• Make sure that the Read-only (Only applies to files in folder) checkbox is not enabled. [If already activated, then uncheck the checkmark]
• Now, click on the Security tab > Click on Edit.
• From Group or user names, click on your PC name (user account).
• Then check Full control (Allow) from Permissions for Users.
• Once done, click on Apply and then OK to save changes.

6. Disable Antivirus and Firewall Protection

The chances are high enough that maybe your default Windows Defender Firewall protection or any third-party antivirus program is preventing the ongoing connections or game files to run properly. So, make sure to temporarily disable or turn off the real-time protection and firewall protection. To do this:

• Click on the Start Menu > Type firewall.
• Select Windows Defender Firewall from the search result.
• Now, click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off from the left pane.
• A new page will open > Select the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) option for both the Private & Public Network Settings.
• Once selected, click on OK to save changes.
• Finally, restart your computer.

Similarly, you have to turn off the Windows Security protection too. Just follow the steps below:

• Press Windows + I keys to open the Windows Settings menu.
• Click on Update & Security > Click on Windows Security from the left pane.

• Now, click on the Open Windows Security button.
• Go to Virus & threat protection > Click on Manage settings.

• Next, you’ll need to simply turn off the Real-time protection toggle.
• If prompted, click on Yes to proceed further.

7. Close Background Running Tasks

It’s needless to say that a couple of unnecessary background running tasks or programs can easily consume a lot of system resources on your computer that may reduce the performance. It directly affects your game launching, gameplay, rendering, other programs running, etc. It’s required to close such programs or tasks completely.

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open up the Task Manager.
• Now, click on the Processes tab > to select tasks unnecessarily running in the background and consuming enough system resources.
• Click on End Task to close it one by one.
• Once done, restart your system.

8. Run Steam as an administrator

Make sure to run Steam as an administrator because it may not run properly if it doesn’t have admin access to the Windows user account control system. To do so:

• Right-click on the Steam (exe) file > Click on Properties.
• Go to the Compatibility tab > Enable the Run this program as an administrator checkbox.
• Click on Apply and then OK to save changes.
• Once done, restart your computer, and try checking the Steam Disk Write Error again.

8. Delete 0 KB File

Whenever something goes wrong while Steam is downloading a game or even installing an update, it may create a corrupted file in the installed directory that causes the Steam disk write error. To fix this issue:

• Close Steam and end task from Task Manager.
• Press Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Type %ProgramFiles(x86)% and hit Enter to open Program Files.
• Open the Steam folder > Go to the Steamapps folder.
• Open the Common folder > Scroll to the bottom and delete the 0KB file (if any).
• Once done, restart your computer, and check the Steam Disk Write Error.

9. Verify Integrity of Game Files

Well, if your installed game files are missing or corrupted for some reason, you may start receiving multiple issues or crashes, or errors on your PC randomly. So, simply verifying the game files can reduce issues drastically. You can do this from the Steam client easily by following the steps below:

• Launch the Steam client > Go to Library.
• Right-click on the problematic game > Click on Properties.
• Click on the Local Files tab.
• Select Verify Integrity of Game Files.
• Wait for the process to complete and then restart your game.

10. Clear Steam Download Cache

If in case, the Steam download cache becomes corrupted for some unexpected reason, make sure to clear it. To do this:

• Open Steam > Click on the Steam category from the top-left corner.
• Go to Settings > Select Downloads.
• Now, click on Clear Download Cache.
• Once done, restart Steam, and check for the issue again.

11. Reinstall Steam to a different drive

Sometimes it can also possible that the installed Steam drive partition is causing some issues or doesn’t have enough free space left. In that scenario, you should uninstall Steam first and then try reinstalling it to a different drive partition to check whether it has fixed Steam Disk Write Error or not.

12. Run SFC

The System File Checker (SFC) is a utility tool for the Windows operating system that simply allows users to scan for corrupted or missing Windows system files and restore them automatically. This method should resolve the startup crashing issues completely.

• Click on the Start Menu and type cmd.
• Now, right-click on Command Prompt from the search result.
• Select Run as administrator > If prompted, click on Yes to give admin privileges.
• Once the command prompt window opens, type the following command and hit Enter to execute it:

SFC /scannow

• Now, wait for the process to complete.
• Make sure to restart your computer to apply changes.

13. Update Device Drivers

Well, it’s worth mentioning that if in case, you haven’t updated any of your device drivers for a while that means a couple of drivers are already running on the outdated version which may bring compatibility issues. Make sure to always be up-to-date with your device drivers whatsoever. To do this:

• Press to open up the Quick Start Menu.
• Click on Device Manager from the list.
• Now, double-click on the respective drive category to expand the list.
• Then right-click on the dedicated graphics card name.
• Select Update driver > Choose Search automatically for drivers.
• An update will automatically download and install the latest version if available.
• Once done, make sure to reboot your computer to change the effects.

14. Contact Steam Support

If nothing works for you, try contacting Steam Support for further assistance. Additionally, you can find more helps in the Steam Community Forum.

In conclusion, encountering errors on Steam, such as the Steam Disk Write Error, can frustrate users. However, following the right troubleshooting steps and guidance can resolve these issues, allowing gamers to return to a seamless and enjoyable gaming experience. Stay informed and prepared to tackle these common Steam issues, ensuring your gaming time remains uninterrupted and stress-free.