Getting The Not Enough Disk Space Error on Steam? Here’s The Fix

Do you get the "Not Enough Disk Space" error on Steam even though you're sure that you have enough disk space? Here's an easy fix for that!

Have you been getting the “Not Enough Disk Space” error on Steam even though you’re sure that you do have enough disk space?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

In this simple guide, we’ll let you in on a few tricks that can help with this annoying error. Keep reading as one of these fixes is sure to resolve the issue for you once and for all.

Note: For the sake of this article, we’ll assume that you do have sufficient hard drive space to install a game/update.

Table of ContentsShow

Disabling Antivirus

This method varies depending on the antivirus software installed on your PC. Refer to official documentation or the developer’s website for exact steps to follow. For the sake of this example, we’re using Avast.

  1. Right-click on the Avast icon in the system tray and hover over ”Avast shields control” in the drop-down menu that appears.
Not Enough Diskspace
  1. Under Avast shields control, select a disable option. We recommend sticking to 10 minutes or 1 hour to allow time for a download/update to complete.
  2. Open up Steam and trigger the download/game causing problems.

Run Steam As Administrator

  1. Close Steam and make sure the Steam icon no longer shows up in the system tray. If it does, right-click and select “Exit.”
  2. Right-click on the Steam icon on the desktop or from the Windows Start menu and select ”Run as administrator” from the contextual list that appears.
Not Enough Disk Space
  1. When prompted with the ”Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?” message, click ”Yes.”
  2. Steam will launch.
  3. Try starting the game/download causing the “no hard drive space” issue.

Alternatively, you can:

  1. Open a Windows Explorer window and navigate to C:Program Files (x86)Steam or wherever the Steam directory is located.
  2. Find the “Steam.exe” file, right-click it and select “Properties” from the menu that appears.
  3. In the “Properties” window, click on the “Compatibility” tab.
Nox Insufficient Disk Space
  1. Tick the “Run this program as an administrator” option under the “Settings” section.
  2. Click “Apply” and then “OK.”
  3. Launch Steam as above.

Clear Steam Download Cache

  1. Load up Steam.
  2. Click on the “View” option in the menu that runs horizontally along the top of the Steam client.
  3. From the drop-down menu, click on “Settings.”
  4. Under Settings, click on “Downloads” from the option running down the left-hand of the window.
Not Enough Disk Space Error
  1. Click on the “CLEAR DOWNLOAD CACHE” button at the bottom of the options on the right.
  2. When prompted with the “This will clear your local download cache and you will need to log in to Steam Again,” click “OK.”
Not Enough Free Disk Space
  1. Steam will do its thing, then load back up.
  2. Enter your login and password.
  3. Start the game/download.

Repair Steam Library Files

  1. Open Steam.
  2. Click on the “View” option in the menu that runs horizontally along the top of the Steam client.
  3. From the drop-down menu, click on “Settings.”
  4. Under Settings, click on “Downloads” from the option running down the left-hand of the window.
  5. Under the “Content Libraries” section, click on “Steam Library Folders.”
  6. In the Steam Library Folders window, right-click on the Steam registry (usually — C:Program Files (x86)Steam) and select “Repair Library Folder.”)
There Is Not Enough Disk Space
  1. When prompted with the “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?” message, click “Yes.”
  2. Once the process is complete, launch the game/download.

Verify Integrity Of Game Files

  1. Load Steam.
  2. Click “Library” among the options near the top of the screen.
  3. Right-click on the game causing problems among the list on the left.
  4. Select “Properties” from the drop-down menu.
  5. Click on the “Local Files” tab.
  6. Click on “Verify Integrity Of Game Files.”
Not Enough Disc Space
  1. Allow Steam to validate the files and fix any issues.
  2. Load up the game/download.

Delete Steam “Downloading” File Contents

The following method works if a download is interrupted by the “Not enough disk space” error.

  1. Close Steam by hitting Ctrl+Alt+Del and selecting “Task Manager.”
  2. Click on the Steam services in Task Manager, then on “End Task” below.
  3. Open a Windows Explorer window and type in the Steam directory location into the search bar (usually — C:Program Files (x86)Steam).
Not Enough Space On Disk
  1. Find the folder called “Steamapps” and click on it.
  2. Locate and click on the folder called “downloading.”
What Does Not Enough Disk Space Mean
  1. Delete the contents or identify the ID for the game causing problems and delete that folder only.
Nox Insufficient Disk Space
  1. Load up Steam and launch the game/download.

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Thomas Bardwell

The UK-based journalist and gamer, Thomas, describes himself as a man of few words with an unhealthy obsession for everything wonderful about the world of gaming. Thanks to his experience in the gaming industry, he brings a wealth of talent into GamingScan.

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