Steam: content file locked

What is STEAM-CONTENT-FILE-LOCKED?

Steam cannot update a game and reports 'An error occurred while updating [Game] (content file locked)'.

Common Causes

• Antivirus or Windows Defender holding file locks
• Game files in a write-protected folder
• Steam library on a full disk

Step-by-Step Fix Guide

• 1
  Add Steam and its library folder to antivirus exclusions
• 2
  Run Steam as administrator
• 3
  Move library to a drive with sufficient free space

Commands & Diagnostics