In case you are a hardcore PC gamer, you have to learn about Steam – the most effective PC gaming platform. Not solely is Steam simple to make use of and extremely appropriate, but it surely additionally encompasses a large library of video games underneath a single roof.
It is usually the most effective place to staff up with your mates or different PC avid gamers from world wide. Nevertheless, it isn’t all the time rainbows and roses although! Above its varied advantages, there’s a frequent Steam shared library locked or simply locked sport error that always interrupts everybody.
On this article, I’ll talk about what this error is, its frequent causes, and my high 7 fixes to rapidly do away with the difficulty with out scratching your head. So, allow us to get began with out additional ado.
As per Steam’s shared library guidelines, solely a single consumer can entry a Steam library at a time. If multiple consumer tries to entry any library when one other participant is lively, the Steam will mechanically get locked.
You usually tend to face the Steam shared library locked error in your PC when you have shared your library with your loved ones or buddies. If that’s the case, you need to ask them to keep away from coming on-line or accessing the library when you’re doing so.
In case you are nonetheless dealing with the difficulty, under are the opposite frequent causes.
As mentioned above, the Steam library can solely be accessed by a single individual at a time. If multiple individual tries to entry or put it to use concurrently, the Steam shared library locked error is inevitable.
Nevertheless, this isn’t the one motive behind the difficulty.
After my evaluation, I discovered these three main culprits behind the error message, and listed below are them.
1. Antivirus & web points
Are you utilizing an antivirus? In that case, it may be blocking entry to the Steam library and resulting in the message Steam shared library locked on the display screen.
To keep away from this antivirus interference, I like to recommend both disabling the antivirus or including Steam to its exemption listing. Within the latter, don’t forget so as to add the exemption for each personal and public networks.
Equally, internet-related entry points are additionally fairly frequent with Steam. Therefore, you cannot utterly rule out it’s inflicting the Steam shared library locked error.
In case your web connection blocks entry to Steam and comparable functions, you need to add Steam to your web community’s exemption listing from connecting when taking part in video games to keep away from additional blockages.
After you might be performed with gaming, you possibly can reconnect your Steam app to the web community.
2. Steam inside points
Generally, the error message of Steam shared library locked seems resulting from some inside points within the Steam software. In such circumstances, I like to recommend checking Steam’s official web site meant for discussions to get the difficulty(s) sorted out.
You can even attain out to Steam assist for games-related points.
3. Multiple lively customers
As aforementioned, the Steam shared library locked error additionally seems when multiple individual is accessing your Steam library on the identical time. In different phrases, you might be taking part in on Steam and one other particular person tries to entry your shared library.
Moreover, Steam additionally will get locked if no less than two customers are on-line in a library. It doesn’t matter whether or not the second consumer is taking part in or not. That is frequent in Steam household sharing. In both situation, you’ll face the issue.
As options, both one of many gamers should exit Steam or the second participant should anticipate the present participant to finish the sport. Moreover, you possibly can attempt to disable Steam library sharing.
So, these are the three predominant culprits behind the Steam shared library locked error. Allow us to now undergo some fast fixes for a similar.
As soon as you recognize the precise causes behind the Steam locking problem, allow us to work out to resolve it. Listed below are my high 7 fixes for the Steam shared library locked error on Steam. However earlier than that, I like to recommend making an attempt the next preliminary options and checking if issues get sorted.
Restart Steam
Restarting your Steam software is the most effective factor to check out when you encounter any issues. To take action, observe these steps.
- Open the Steam software.
- Discover Steam on the top-left nook and click on on it.
- Click on on Exit from the drop-down menu that opens up.
- This may shut the appliance. Relaunch it.
- Log into your account.
Examine if the issue persists. If sure, attempt the subsequent preliminary resolution.
Steam permits library sharing with a most of 10 individuals without delay. Regardless of this, the opposite 9 customers should hold their programs switched off when you are taking part in the sport.
If even a single consumer tries to activate their system and begin taking part in the sport concurrently with you, the Steam shared library locked downside is inevitable.
You possibly can test if another person is on-line and accessing your library via the next 3 ways.
- Examine your Buddies & Chat part
- Examine your pal’s final performed sport standing
- Examine your pal’s sport achievement progress
Each these preliminary options work for many Steam customers. In case you are not amongst them, head to the subsequent potential but sophisticated fixes.
Clear Steam’s cache
The Steam software just isn’t downloaded as a single sport. As an alternative, it’s downloaded in elements from totally different servers. These downloaded information are saved within the app’s obtain cache. With time, this cache will get corrupted or broken.
Because of this, you get the Steam shared library locked error. To resolve it, I like to recommend clearing the cache following these steps.
- Run Steam as administrator.
- Discover Steam on the left nook and click on on it.
- Click on on Settings from the drop-down menu that opens up.
- From the left panel, click on on Downloads.
- On the subsequent display screen, navigate to the CLEAR DOWNLOAD CACHE possibility on the backside and click on on it.
- Full the method by clicking on Okay.
Examine if Steam is working positive or nonetheless exhibiting the error. If sure, corrupt information may be the wrongdoer.
Restore Corrupt Recordsdata
If there are any corrupt information in your system, you’ll face the Steam shared library locked error in your display screen. Therefore, you need to test your system for such information and restore them.
Out of all doable repairing strategies, I like to recommend utilizing the SFC device to test and restore the corrupt information. Beneath is the step-by-step for a similar.
- Open the Search Field of your system.
- Enter cmd to open the Command Immediate and click on on Run as Admin.
- Within the subsequent window that opens up, enter the command – sfc /scannow
- The restore course of for all doable corrupt information in your system has began.
Be aware that the above course of is kind of prolonged and can take time. Therefore, don’t interrupt the method and let it full.
Deny web entry to Steam
As aforementioned, your web connection is one other frequent motive for the Steam shared library locked message. Some web networks both block Steam or deny entry to Steam information.
In both case, I like to recommend denying Steam entry to the web connection. This labored for almost all of Steam customers and is price making an attempt.
To take action, observe these steps.
- Open the Run command window in your system utilizing its shortcut key mixture – Home windows + R or by typing Command Immediate within the search field.
- As soon as opened, kind Firewall.cpl within the enter area. Hit the Enter key.
- Open Home windows Defender Firewall by clicking on the Superior settings possibility from the left panel on the display screen.
- Click on on the Outbound Guidelines possibility.
- Following that, click on on the New Rule possibility underneath the Actions tab.
- The New Outbound Rule Wizard display screen will open. Click on on Packages on the left pane and enter C:Program Recordsdata (x86)Steam within the This program path enter area. Click on on Subsequent.
- Click on on Block the connection and click on on Subsequent.
- On the subsequent display screen, now you can add a brand new rule and its description (optionally available).
- Click on on End.
Relaunch your Steam library and test if the Steam shared library locked problem nonetheless reveals up. If it does, right here is your subsequent resolution.
Shut Steam on Different Gadgets
Even when you have logged out of your Steam account for any motive, there are possibilities of the final sport you performed nonetheless logged into Steam and working within the background.
On this case, you’ll encounter the message “An error occurred whereas updating shared library locked”.
Just one consumer can entry a shared Steam library as already mentioned above. To resolve this, you have to exit Steam on all units by following these steps.
- Utterly exit the Steam shopper in your PC.
- Subsequent, ask your loved ones and buddies you shared the Steam library with to exit from their system.
- Relaunch Steam shopper in your system.
Are you aware the most effective a part of this technique? Apart from serving to you with the above problem, exiting Steam from all units additionally solves the difficulty of the Purchase possibility showing on the already purchased video games as a substitute of the Play possibility.
Set up a “.BAT” File
A batch file is a plain textual content file that consists of varied instructions. These instructions are used for repetitive duties and to run teams of scripts. All batch information have the .bat or .CMD extension.
The identical batch file is one other reply to the Steam shared library locked error message. For this, first, obtain the .bat file and extract it in your system. It’s because will probably be downloaded in compressed format.
After getting extracted the batch file in your system, launch your Steam sport as you often do and double-click on the Steam Off.bat file.
By doing so, you disconnect the Steam app from the web. Apart from, now you can play video games from your mates’ library with out asking anybody to cease taking part in.
To reconnect the Steam app to the web after taking part in the sport, simply click on on the Steam On.bat file.
This technique serves a number of functions as mentioned right here and is without doubt one of the best methods to do away with the Steam shared library locked downside.
Disable Household Sharing mode
Steam Household Library Sharing is one other helpful function from Steam. Because the title suggests, the function permits you to share and entry the identical Steam library video games with a number of customers.
Nevertheless, it’s good to full a verification course of to arrange household sharing. After finishing the verification course of, a most of 5 allowed accounts can entry the identical Steam library video games on 10 totally different units.
Nevertheless, there stays the identical downside as earlier than. That’s, just one consumer among the many 5 allowed can play the sport at a time. If multiple individual tries to entry the library, you’ll get the Steam shared library locked mistake code on the display screen.
Then, you would want to disable the Steam household shared library mode if you’re the account holder.
In case you are not the account holder, observe these steps to do the identical.
- Launch the Steam app on the system of one other consumer.
- Open the Settings by clicking on the Steam possibility on the top-left facet of the display screen.
- The Settings menu will open up. Click on on the Household possibility from the left sidebar to open the Household view menu.
- From the menu, uncheck Authorize Library Sharing on this laptop to disable the household sharing library mode.
- Restart your system and attempt to open the sport.
You need to be capable of entry Steam with out the Steam shared library locked error bombarding your display screen.
If it continues to take action, right here is one other easy resolution.
Attempt the SFS-Choose
Since the commonest motive to your lack of ability to entry the Steam app or play video games is having a number of customers accessing your library concurrently, the SFS-Choose is constructed to remove precisely this.
That’s, this device securely eliminates anybody who concurrently runs the sport and results in the Steam shared library locked error in your facet.
The device is extraordinarily helpful for all Steam customers and ensures that no two customers play the identical sport at a time. If such a state of affairs arises, it eliminates the second individual.
Be aware: You can even use the SFS-Choose third-party device when you see the next message in your display screen.
“Chosen drive already has a Steam library folder. Steam will handle a number of sport installs in a single folder for you.”
So, right here you go. These had been the highest 7 tried and examined fixes for the frequent Steam shared library locked error. I hope these strategies work in your case as nicely.
A Step-By-Step Information To Create & Handle A Steam Library
In case you are discovering it troublesome to create and handle a Steam library and witness the Steam shared library locked error too typically, observe these steps.
- Open the system you want to share your Steam library with.
- Log into your account.
- Navigate to the Steam Guard safety.
- Discover Steam on the top-left nook and click on on it.
- Click on on Household on the left facet of your display screen.
- From the subsequent display screen that opens up, click on on Authorize Library Sharing on this laptop. This may current you with the whole listing of approved customers.
- Choose the customers you want to share your library with amongst the listing. Be aware that Steam lets you add solely 5 customers at a time.
- Click on on Okay to finish the method.
Conclusion
In case you are a gamer, the Steam shared library locked message shouldn’t be unusual to you. Based on the Steam neighborhood guidelines, solely a single approved consumer can entry and play video games in a shared library at a time.
If even two gamers attempt to play the sport concurrently, the library will get mechanically locked for security causes. To unlock Steam, both one of many customers should stop the sport or buy a separate copy for the sport and proceed taking part in.
Regularly Requested Questions (FAQs)
To unlock a shared Steam library, open the app on one other participant’s system, click on on Steam from the left sidebar, and choose Settings. Subsequent, choose the Household possibility and uncheck the Authorize Library Sharing on this laptop. Restart your system to entry the sport now.
The Steam shared library locked error is a standard error that signifies another person can be working the shared sport library on their system concurrently. In such circumstances, Steam locks the sport for safety causes. Nevertheless, you possibly can nonetheless unlock Steam utilizing the above methods.
Can You Switch Steam Video games To One other Account?
No, you cannot switch video games from one Steam account to a different account. After getting bought a sport, its license will get completely sure to your account. There isn’t a strategy to switch that sport to a different account. You possibly can solely share Steam video games.
Does Uninstalling Steam Delete Video games?
Sure, uninstalling Steam out of your system will completely delete all of your video games and different purchases from the system. Therefore, when you want to reinstall Steam on one other machine, ensure to take a backup of all video games. Additionally, you need to transfer the location maps exterior the Steam listing.
