Nowadays, Steam has become one of the most popular gaming platforms among millennials. However, when using this application, you will face many issues. One of the more common errors is Steam warning you that you do not have enough disk space to update a game, even if there is plenty of room on the drive. Most gamers try to reinstall Steam to solve this problem, but this usually does not work effectively. Fret not! In this post, we will show you 8 ways to fix the ‘Steam not enough disk space’ error, ensuring your game runs smoothly again.
On Steam, I have got the message you do not have enough disk space to run this game; however, my HDD still has around 500GB left, and my C drive also has 250GB free, so how come this is happening with every game on Steam I try to install? — A Question from Quora
Solution 1: Reboot Your Computer
Steam says there is not enough disk space when sufficient storage is available. The first step that you should take is to restart your computer. Yes, you heard it right. A clean restart can typically close certain software or background processes that conflict with Steam. If this method doesn’t work, move on to other solutions below.
Solution 2: Clear Download Cache
Steam maintains a download cache that stores temporary files related to games you download or update. Over time, this cache can grow large or get corrupted, leading to errors like the “not enough disk space Steam” message. To clear it, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Launch the Steam app on your computer. Click on “Steam” in the top-left corner of the window and then select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
Step 2: Navigate to the “Downloads” tab. There is a button labeled “Clear Download Cache.” Click on it to proceed.
- Step 3: Click “OK” to clear the download cache. Finally, restart Steam.
Solution 3: Extend Your Partition for More Space
If your disk is really low on space, consider extending the current partition to make it bigger. That’s where 4DDiG Partition Manager comes in. This powerful tool can extend the target partition by utilizing unallocated space on the disk or shrinking any other existing partitions. With its user-friendly interface, even a computer novice can get started easily.
Given below is a guide on how to fix the ‘Steam deck not enough free disk space’ error with the help of this tool:
Step 1: Download and launch the 4DDiG Partition Manager tool. From the left sidebar, select “Partition Management.” Next, right-click on the partition you want to extend and choose “Resize/Move.”
Step 2: Resize the partition by dragging its right edge to the right or its left edge to the left. Or, you can adjust an adjacent partition or unallocated space to create free space for the target partition. After making the changes, click “OK” to return to the main interface.
Step 3: A pending operation will be listed in the Task List. Click “Execute 1 Task(s)” and then confirm with “OK.”
Step 4: Keep the program open until the process is complete to prevent data loss or corruption.
Solution 4: Repair Corrupted Game Files
Incomplete or corrupted game files can be the culprit of the ‘Steam not enough free disk space’ error. Fortunately, Steam has implemented a feature that allows you to verify the integrity of game files with just one click. Follow the steps below:
Step 1: Launch Steam and head to your Library.
Step 2: Perform a right-click on the problematic game. Then, opt for Properties.” from the menu.
Step 3: Switch to the “Local Files” tab and select “Verify Integrity of Game Files.”
Step 4: Now, Steam will check all files thoroughly. If there are any damaged or missing files, the client will re-download them.
Solution 5: Remove Unnecessary Files
Deleting junk files always works, especially with the pesky ‘Steam not enough disk space’ error. To free up disk space, Windows provides a native tool to scan unnecessary and temporary files. Here is how to use it:
Step 1: Press Win + S and type “Disk Cleanup” into the search box. Press Enter to open it.
Step 2: You’ll be prompted to select the disk you want to clean up.
Step 3: Once you select the correct disk and click “OK,” Disk Cleanup will show you a list of files that can be deleted.
Step 4: After deleting unnecessary files, open Steam and try running the game.
Solution 6: Fix Corrupted Library
It is a possibility that your Steam library and its structure become corrupted for some reason, such as a virus attack. All data associated with your Steam games is unreadable, preventing games from launching properly. To fix it, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Steam and follow “Steam” > “Settings” > “Downloads” > “Steam Library Folders.”
Step 2: Right-click on your Steam library folder and choose “Repair Library Folder.”
Step 3: Wait for the repair to be completed. Then, try running the game to see if the ‘not enough disk space Steam’ error shows up.
Solution 7: Repair Disk Errors using CHKDSK
If you still experience the ‘Steam not enough free disk space’ issue, you need to check and repair your hard drive. Although many reliable disk repair tools are available on the market, you can also use the CHKDSK utility for the same job.
Step 1: Press Win + E to open File Explorer. Find the disk where the Steam game files are stored, right-click on it, and select ‘Properties’ from the menu.
Step 2: Go to the “Tools” tab and find the section “Error checking.” Then, click on the “Check” button.
Step 3: Click “Scan drive” to fix any disk errors.
Solution 8: Run Steam as Administrator
Sometimes, you might not have enough permissions to install or update a game on Steam. In such a case, running Steam as an Administrator can be helpful.
Step 1: Exit Steam. Right-click on Steam.exe on your desktop.
Step 2: Select “Properties” from the menu.
Step 3: Switch to the “Compatibility” tab. Then, check the box for “Run this program as an administrator.”
Step 4: Click “Apply” and then “OK.”
Final Thoughts
Encountering the ‘Steam does not have enough disk space, but there is’ error can be frustrating. However, the methods above almost include every possibility and should help you easily fix this common issue. Additionally, when you’re running out of disk space, replacing your hard drive with a larger one is recommended. This long-term solution will prevent the ‘not enough free disk space Steam’ error in the future.
