Fix Steam 'Disk Write Error' (Download Paused)

Updated: 11/29/2025

You are downloading a massive 100GB game. At 99%, the download stops. The status changes to: 'An error occurred while installing... (Disk Write Error)'. This is infuriating. It doesn't usually mean your hard drive is broken. It means Steam tried to save a file data chunk, but Windows said 'Access Denied' because the file was locked, read-only, or corrupted.

Method 1: Clear Download Cache

This is the 'soft reset' for the Steam downloader.

Step 1: Settings

Open Steam > Settings (top left) > Downloads.

Step 2: Clear Cache

Click the button 'Clear Download Cache'. Steam will restart and ask you to log in again. This flushes out any partial, corrupted files blocking the write process.

Method 2: Remove 'Read-Only' Attribute

Sometimes Windows locks the Steam folder, preventing new data from being written.

Step 1: Locate Folder

Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common.

Step 2: Properties

Right-click the folder of the game giving you the error. Select Properties.

Step 3: Uncheck Read-Only

If the Read-only box is checked (or has a square), uncheck it. Click Apply. If asked, select 'Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files'.

Method 3: Delete the 0KB File

Go to steamapps\downloading. If you see a file matching the game's ID that is 0KB in size, delete it. This forces Steam to create a new placeholder file.