Updated on May 08, 2024

User Case 1:

"Insufficient disk space" error message despite having plenty of disk space. I've attempted restarting Steam, deleting, and re-downloading the game (the issue occurred during an update). Any assistance would be appreciated. I really want to play this game now. - From Steam Community

User Case 2:

44.8 GB free on my drive, but Steam says there isn't enough free disk space (to update a 500 MB file)!!! I have no more free space, can't move the game to another drive, and have nothing to delete to create space! How do I proceed with the update? - From Reddit

Steam is one of the world's largest and most renowned game distribution platforms, developed by Valve in September 2003 for Microsoft Windows. The platform is called Steam due to its download speeds being as swift as the steam itself. In recent years, it has offered numerous excellent games, both exclusive and third-party titles, such as "CS:GO," "Dota 2," "PUBG," and more, attracting millions of gamers worldwide.

Overview of the Steam "Not Enough Disk Space" Issue

While Steam is an excellent gaming distribution platform, numerous users still encounter some of its glitches. One of the most well-known issues is the "Steam Out of Disk Space" error when downloading, installing, or running a game. Despite users claiming to have ample space on their drives, these warnings persistently appear, causing frustration as they disrupt your activities.

In the upcoming content, you will discover how to promptly rectify this error. The initial approach is the quickest and most secure method to eliminate this issue. Let's delve into the process.

Steam low disk space

Extend Partition Without Losing Any Game Data

When there's insufficient disk space for installing games, the most direct and efficient solution is to extend the current partition without losing any game data. The tools Partition Master Professional tool can expand the target partition by utilizing unallocated space on the disk or available space from other drives.

Here's how to utilize this powerful partition management software to extend the partition where you install Steam games.

Step 1. Locate the Target Partition.

Go to Partition Manager, locate the target partition and select "Resize/Move".

Select target partition to extend

< b >Step 2. Extend the Target Partition.< /b >

Slide the partition panel rightward or leftward to add the unallocated space into your current partition, and then click "OK" to confirm.

choose another drive to allocate space

Additional Option: Acquire Space from Another Drive

如果磁盘上没有足够的未分配空间,右键单击一个具有足够自由空间的大分区,然后选择“分配空间”。

Then select the target partition that you want to extend at the Allocate space to column.

choose another drive to allocate space

Step 3. Perform Operations to Extend the Partition.

Drag the dots of the target partition into the unallocated space and click "OK".

Finish extending partition

点击“执行任务”按钮,然后点击“应用”以保存所有更改。

Now, you'll notice that the target drive has sufficient space. Apart from resizing partitions, you can utilize the Partition Master tool to shrink, move, merge, delete, or create partitions. Don't miss out on this utility; install it to experience these powerful features.

How to Solve the Steam Insufficient Disk Space Error

The "Steam Out of Disk Space" issue is truly frustrating gamers worldwide. Occasionally, customer support may not offer a precise solution. Hence, you can attempt the remedies below to rectify this error.

Solution 1: Restart your PC and Steam

Restarting your PC and Steam typically resolves this error, as certain updates and random Windows issues can impact Steam's core functionality. The restart process effectively addresses these problems. Occasionally, third-party software can interfere with Steam game downloads or installations. Restarting your computer prevents such non-essential programs from loading, which might be what Steam requires to function properly.

Fix 2: Verify the Integrity of Steam Game Files

This is the most common approach taken by Steam users when encountering an error. Most games on Steam typically span tens of gigabytes, and occasionally, it's unavoidable for some files to become corrupted. Hence, verifying the integrity of game files allows you to detect damaged files, delete them, and re-download them to fix the issue.

Step 1. Close all games running on your computer.

Step 2. After closing, head to the "Game Library" in Steam.

Step 3. In the game list on the left, find the problematic game. Right-click on it and choose "Properties".

Step 4. After inputting the property options, locate the "Local Files" tab in the navigation bar.

Step 5. Click "Verify integrity of game files" to begin.

verify the game

完成后,重新启动Steam游戏,看看是否还会出现空间不足的错误。

Fix 3: Clear Steam Download Cache

Steam downloads can accumulate excessive cache data in the cache, leading to various issues, including the out-of-disk-space error you're encountering. Clearing the Steam download cache often resolves this problem.

Step 1. Launch Steam from the desktop and click on "Steam" from the top navigation bar. Next, choose "Settings" from the dropdown menu.

Step 2. In the list on the left, select the "Download" tab, click "Clear Download Cache," and then follow the prompts.

Step 3. When finished, Steam will restart on its own.

Clear Steam Download Cache

Once Steam has restarted, attempt to resume the download or installation and verify if everything is functioning properly now.

Aside from Steam, other programs can also generate cache and junk files. Hence, you may refer to the page below to acquire a free disk cleaner to eliminate junk files.

Further Reading: Top 5 Best Free Disk Cleaner Recommendations

Fix 4. Run Steam in Administrator Mode

In numerous Steam error scenarios, the issue lies in the fact that your Windows account lacks the necessary permissions to modify Steam. To rectify this, you should attempt to launch Steam in administrator mode.

Step 1. Close all Steam-related applications.

Step 2. Right-click on the desktop icon and choose "Run as administrator" from the context menu.

Step 3. Once Steam has loaded, you'll enter management mode. Redownload, reinstall, or run the game to check if the issue has been resolved.

Share these solutions to assist more Steam users encountering the same issue.

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Fix 5: Check for Hard Drive Errors

A "Steam Out of Disk Space" error is also more prone to occur if there are any issues on your hard drive. To check if the hard drive you're using has bad sectors or other potential errors, please follow the tutorial below.

Step 1. On the desktop, double-click "This PC," right-click on the drive where you intend to install or download the game, and then select "Properties."

Step 2. In the Properties wizard, select Tools.

Step 3. Click "Check" under the "Error Checking" section.

click check

Step 4. Choose the Scan and attempt to recover bad sectors option.

Step 5. Lastly, click "Start".

Once the process is complete, restart or revert to the download/installation process to check if the issue has been resolved.

Fix 6: Run Disk Cleanup

Perhaps when the "Steam running out of space" error appears, the disk space is indeed much less than before. In this scenario, deleting some junk files or unnecessary data from the hard drive can swiftly rectify this error. In the upcoming guide, we will utilize Disk Cleanup to消除不必要的数据 with a single click.

Step 1. In the search box, type "disk cleanup" and then press the "ENTER" key.

Step 2. Choose the correct drive to clean and click OK. Select the items you wish to delete and click OK again. Lastly, wait patiently for the process to finish and then attempt to reinstall or run the game.

run disk cleanup

Conclusion

What steps can you take when encountering the "Steam disk space is low" error? In this guide, you've discovered six methods to address this issue. If you wish to resolve the error without deleting any files, it is suggested that you utilize the tool Partition Master. This utility allows you to expand the current partition without the need for data deletion.

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"Steam Low Disk Space Error" FAQs

When installing or running a game, do you encounter a Steam insufficient disk space error? Continue reading this section to learn more details on how to resolve this issue.

**1. Why does Steam say there is no disk space?**

This error can result from various factors, including insufficient disk space on the drive where Steam is being installed, conflicts with third-party software, an excessive amount of Steam game cache, and bad sectors on the hard drive.

**2. How do I add more storage to Steam?**

You can run Disk Cleanup to free up more space for Steam. Here's how:

Step 1. Type "disk cleanup" in the search box on the Windows taskbar, and then press the "ENTER" key.

Step 2. Choose the drive you want to clean, such as the C drive, and click OK. Select the items you want to delete and click OK.

3. How do I resolve the "Steam not enough disk space" issue?

如何解决Steam中“磁盘空间不足”的错误?请尝试以下修复方法:

  • Restart your computer.
  • Delete the downloading folder.
  • Clear the download cache.
  • Run Steam as an administrator.
  • Repair the Steam Library Folder.
  • Verify the integrity of game files.
  • Free up disk space.