Steam update failed disk write error​

Gaming on Steam is one of the most popular ways to access games, engage with the community, and experience the latest releases. However, like all software, Steam is not immune to technical issues. One particularly frustrating error that gamers may encounter is the “Steam update failed disk write error.” This error can prevent you from updating or even installing games, and it often leads to confusion, frustration, and delays in your gaming experience.

What is the Steam “Update Failed Disk Write Error”?

The “disk write error” in Steam typically occurs when the platform is unable to write the downloaded files to the specified location on your hard drive. This issue can prevent updates or installations from completing and often leads to the game or Steam client being stuck in a perpetual state of “updating.”

There are several potential causes of this error, including:

Permission issues: Your operating system may not allow Steam to write to the specified folder.

Corrupt or full disk: If the disk you’re installing to is full or has bad sectors, Steam may fail to write the update.

Antivirus interference: Some antivirus programs block Steam from performing certain actions, which can cause write errors.

Steam client or cache corruption: Corrupt files within Steam itself can trigger issues like disk write errors.

Wrong download location: Steam may be trying to download or install games to a location with limited access or insufficient space.

Now that we have an overview of the error and its potential causes, let’s explore the solutions.

1. Run Steam as Administrator

One of the first things to try when facing the disk write error is running Steam with elevated administrative permissions. Doing so grants Steam full access to your system’s resources, which is particularly useful if you suspect the error is related to permissions.

Steps:

Close Steam completely.

Right-click the Steam shortcut or executable file (usually located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam).

Select Run as Administrator from the context menu.

Try updating or installing the game again.

By running Steam as an administrator, you ensure it has the necessary permissions to write to the hard drive. If this resolves the issue, Steam might have been restricted by your operating system’s security settings.

2. Check Disk Space

A common reason for the disk write error is insufficient disk space. Steam needs enough free space on your hard drive to download, update, and install games. If your primary drive or game installation folder is full, Steam will not be able to complete the necessary operations.

Steps:

Open File Explorer and navigate to the drive where Steam is installed (usually your C: drive).

Check how much free space is available. You can do this by right-clicking on the drive and selecting Properties.

If the drive is full or nearly full, free up space by deleting unnecessary files or transferring some data to another drive.

Try updating or installing the game again.

If space is an issue, consider moving your game library to another drive with more space or installing new games on a different partition.

3. Change the Download Folder Location

Sometimes, the error may arise from Steam trying to write to a folder that’s restricted or has issues. Changing the download folder or installation directory can resolve these problems.

Steps:

Open Steam and go to Settings.

Click on the Downloads tab.

Select Steam Library Folders.

Choose Add Library Folder and select a different drive or folder.

Move the game or installation to this new folder.

This method is particularly helpful if the default location has become corrupted or inaccessible due to disk errors.

4. Clear the Steam Download Cache

Steam stores temporary files in its cache to speed up the download and installation process. However, over time, these cache files can become corrupted, leading to errors such as the disk write error.

Clearing the cache can help resolve this issue.

Steps:

Open Steam and click on Steam in the upper-left corner.

Select Settings from the drop-down menu.

Go to the Downloads tab.

Click on Clear Download Cache.

Confirm your action when prompted.

Clearing the cache will force Steam to re-download necessary files the next time you try to update or install a game, which can resolve issues caused by corrupt cache files.

5. Check Disk for Errors

Another potential cause of the disk write error is a faulty or corrupt hard drive. Running a disk check to repair any bad sectors or file system errors can help resolve the problem.

Steps:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator (search for “cmd” in the Start menu, right-click, and select Run as Administrator).

Type the following command and press Enter:

bash

chkdsk /f C:

(Replace C: with the letter of the drive where Steam is installed, if different).

If prompted to schedule a disk check on the next restart, type Y and restart your computer.

The chkdsk utility will scan the disk for errors and attempt to fix them, which may solve the disk write error.

6. Disable Antivirus or Firewall Temporarily

In some cases, your antivirus software or firewall may be blocking Steam from accessing the necessary files or writing to the disk. This can cause a disk write error when updating or installing games.

Steps:

Temporarily disable your antivirus or firewall software.

Try updating or installing the game again.

If it works, you may need to add Steam to the list of exceptions in your antivirus software or firewall to prevent future issues.

Be sure to re-enable your antivirus software after testing.

7. Verify Game Files

Corrupt or missing game files can also trigger the “disk write error.” Steam has a built-in tool to verify the integrity of game files and ensure everything is in order.

Steps:

Open Steam and go to your Library.

Right-click on the game you are having trouble with and select Properties.

Go to the Local Files tab.

Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.

Steam will check for any missing or corrupted files and download replacements if necessary. This can help if the error is related to specific game files.

8. Reinstall Steam

If all else fails, reinstalling Steam can fix issues caused by corrupt installation files. This method is more drastic, as it involves uninstalling and reinstalling the entire Steam client, but it often resolves persistent errors like the disk write error.

Steps:

Uninstall Steam through Control Panel > Programs and Features.

Make sure to back up your game files before uninstalling, as you will need to reinstall games after the reinstallation.

Download the latest version of Steam from the official website.

Install Steam and restore your game files if necessary.

Reinstalling Steam ensures that any underlying software issues are resolved.

9. Check for Windows Updates

Sometimes, outdated Windows system files or drivers can interfere with Steam’s ability to write to the disk. Ensure that your operating system is fully updated.

Steps:

Open Settings and go to Update & Security.

Click on Check for Updates.

If updates are available, install them and restart your computer.

Keeping your operating system up to date can prevent compatibility issues that might cause the disk write error.

10. Reconfigure Steam’s Download Region

If you’re encountering download issues with Steam due to regional server problems, changing your download region can help. Steam automatically connects to servers based on your geographical location, but switching to a different region can sometimes resolve download issues.

Steps:

Open Steam and go to Settings.

Click on the Downloads tab.

Under Download Region, select a different server from the list.

Choosing a server closer to you or with fewer issues can potentially fix problems related to downloads and updates.