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Steam Library Folder is Not Writable: 5 Easy Fixes to Use

You may start be removing read-only permissions from the steamapp folder

5 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

By default, Steam stores all games and the data in a standard directory where the installation is available. This can change only if you choose a specific location when installing the software.

The default installation location will be in the C partition, in the Program Files folder, while the bulk of data will be stored in the Steam folder.

However, the user can change the library location for Steam games manually. This can sometimes create issues with the Steam app resulting in the library folder not being writable.

Fortunately, we’ve compiled a list of practical solutions to fix this annoying problem.

What does it mean if a folder is not writable?

There are a few common causes, at the top of these are the following:

Users have also encountered the following errors.

Regardless of your specific issue, it would be best to try the solutions below.

How do I fix the Steam library folder if it’s not writable?

1. Check if steamapps folder has Read-Only permission

The error may occur if the Steamapps folder does not have the necessary permission to write into the folder and if the folder permission is set to write only. Here is how to fix it.

2. Repair the Library folder using Steam

Your Steam app comes with a built-in library folder repair option that can be used to repair the game folder causing the error. Here is how to do it.

3. Clean Download Cache

The download cache in steam helps with a faster connection. However, the bad cache can create problems with the game starting and downloading. Try clearing the download cache and see if that resolves the error.

4. Change Steam Library Folder

If you haven’t changed the default Steam library folder yet, it might be time to do so. Some users have reported that changing the Steam library folder from default to custom has fixed the issue. Here is how to do it.

5. Reinstall the Game

If the error occurs while trying to play the game or during the update, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the game to fix the issue.

Uninstalling the game will not delete your game data as it is synced with your Steam account, but you will have to download the game files from scratch.

These were the best solutions you can try to make your library folder writable on Steam.

If you have additional questions, do not hesitate to comment in the section below.

Steam Library Folder is Not Writable: 5 Easy Fixes to Use#

What does it mean if a folder is not writable?#

How do I fix the Steam library folder if it’s not writable?#

1. Check if steamapps folder has Read-Only permission#

2. Repair the Library folder using Steam#

3. Clean Download Cache#

4. Change Steam Library Folder#

5. Reinstall the Game#