I can't delete the steam folder

[kylegood1288]

I am trying to start over from scratch with Steam. I have uninstalled everything from steam, but the folders are still there. I cant delete the folders or anything because it says i dont have permission. I dont know what else to do.

[ChubbyAlvin]

Messaggio originale di Jaqd_UP:

Hi, I just had the same issue with my girlfriend's computer when she was trying to remove and re-install. Turns out the solution for her was to go into the steam folder and delete any sub-folders within each folder. It is an annoying process, but that allowed her to delete the main Steam folder afterwards. Turns out that even though each of the folders were empty of files, because the folders CONTAINED folders (meaning they weren't empty) it would not allow her to delete even as an administrator. Hope this helps someone out in the event you can't perform a system recovery like the above guy.

Thanks a lot man! I just had this happen today when I was reinstalling Steam. I uninstalled it before on my laptop and it left hundreds of empty undeletable folders.

For anyone having this problem in the future, I have a tip to add:
-Go to the Steam folder (via Windows Explorer)
-Search * (asterisk) to show all the hundreds of empty folders as search results.
-Now sort the list by "Path". (You may have to add this column first if not already visible.)
-You can now quickly delete the folders one-by-one from the bottom-up with Delete, Arrow Up, Delete, Arrow Up, Delete, Arrow Up.... til all the empty folders are gone :D

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Install Steam to C:\ or custom folder of your own creation and you never have to worry about this.

You never have Admin access to anything put under here; so this is why...
- Program Data
- Program Files
- Program Files (x86)
- Windows

[[Noaff] Stanovich]

Messaggio originale di Jaqd_UP:

Hi, I just had the same issue with my girlfriend's computer when she was trying to remove and re-install. Turns out the solution for her was to go into the steam folder and delete any sub-folders within each folder. It is an annoying process, but that allowed her to delete the main Steam folder afterwards. Turns out that even though each of the folders were empty of files, because the folders CONTAINED folders (meaning they weren't empty) it would not allow her to delete even as an administrator. Hope this helps someone out in the event you can't perform a system recovery like the above guy.

YOU ARE MY HERO! :D

[Roy]

A solution that worked for me was to change the properties of the folder so that "Read Only" isn't selected:

1. Right-click the folder, then select "Properties".
2. Make sure that "Read Only" isn't activated. If so, remove it.
3. Click on "Apply" and "OK".
4. Try to delete the folder, again.

I hope this works for others.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

It's simple Security Permissions; you never have full control of what you put in Program Files; install Steam to C:\Steam

[AgaTheMighty]

Messaggio originale di JeffreyGoo:

I had the same problem, in particular with Kerbal Space Program, and I found the following solution:

As it turned out for some reason the Intel graphics driver's runtime component had locked the directory. This never happened on another Windows 10 system that didn't have that driver on it for me. If you go download Process Explorer from MS and then use the find function, search for 'kerbal' and see if there is a process locking it. After I killed the process tree locking it I was able to move\delete folders.

I can confirm this solution works. I've just had a similar problem with igfxem.exe locking the folder. Killing t his process helped.

[Yasinardo]

Messaggio originale di Jaqd_UP:

Hi, I just had the same issue with my girlfriend's computer when she was trying to remove and re-install. Turns out the solution for her was to go into the steam folder and delete any sub-folders within each folder. It is an annoying process, but that allowed her to delete the main Steam folder afterwards. Turns out that even though each of the folders were empty of files, because the folders CONTAINED folders (meaning they weren't empty) it would not allow her to delete even as an administrator. Hope this helps someone out in the event you can't perform a system recovery like the above guy.

Messaggio originale di kylegood1288:

Ok I know that I am in fact set as the administrator for this PC. I have even verified my account on the PC. It still says that it is open in another program or I need permission from the administrator.

I tried to delete everything in the steam folder a while back to start from scratch, but I was only able to delete some of the contents. I can't delete anymore because of this issue.

I self had the problem that I couldn't delete the steam files. I also couldnt use the solution as described in the first quote, that didn't work for me. So I tried to make another account on my laptop and made them both administrator. In the 2nd account I could delete the Steam file with no problems at all. I just clicked my right mouse button and clicked on delete and poof it was gone in 3 seconds. So a long story short: Try to make a second account on your pc/laptop and make it a administrator and delete the file.

[alpha]

Messaggio originale di Jason:

In Windows 10, go to settings, recovery, advanced startup settings, restart the PC, when it boots up choose safe mode, now you can delete that folder without any problem.

THAT WORKED SO WELL

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Yes, like every other WinOS, when u have this kind of issues, u go to Safe Mode and do it.
Nothing new.

[NaijaMango]

Messaggio originale di Jason:

In Windows 10, go to settings, recovery, advanced startup settings, restart the PC, when it boots up choose safe mode, now you can delete that folder without any problem.

Thank you sooooooo much for that advice! It worked perfectly for me!

[Zagge]

Messaggio originale di Jaqd_UP:

Hi, I just had the same issue with my girlfriend's computer when she was trying to remove and re-install. Turns out the solution for her was to go into the steam folder and delete any sub-folders within each folder. It is an annoying process, but that allowed her to delete the main Steam folder afterward. Turns out that even though each of the folders was empty of files because the folders CONTAINED folders (meaning they weren't empty) it would not allow her to delete even as an administrator. Hope this helps someone out in the event you can't perform a system recovery like the above guy.

I also have the problem of maps in maps, but the last map says that it no longer exists so I can't open it but I can't delete it either because I need admin privileges even tho im 100% admin and only user of this PC

[Yasinardo]

Messaggio originale di Boi:

Messaggio originale di Jaqd_UP:

Hi, I just had the same issue with my girlfriend's computer when she was trying to remove and re-install. Turns out the solution for her was to go into the steam folder and delete any sub-folders within each folder. It is an annoying process, but that allowed her to delete the main Steam folder afterward. Turns out that even though each of the folders was empty of files because the folders CONTAINED folders (meaning they weren't empty) it would not allow her to delete even as an administrator. Hope this helps someone out in the event you can't perform a system recovery like the above guy.

I also have the problem of maps in maps, but the last map says that it no longer exists so I can't open it but I can't delete it either because I need admin privileges even tho im 100% admin and only user of this PC

Try the thing I did. Make a second account and give it admin privileges. Try to delete the file on that account, then go to your ''main'' account and look if it is also gone there, if not than this time try to delete it with your ''main'' account. This method worked for me.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Just do it from Safe Mode; nothing should run in Safe Mode that would get in your way.
You never have 100% Admin privilege when u install something to a system folder, like Program Files.

[lupara]

Messaggio originale di DucksGoQuack:

its igfem.exe or smthng

Saved the day! Intel Graphics card driver (or a kind of) blocks. Killed that process and removed the folder with no problems. Thanks!

[Wing]

Messaggio originale di Jaqd_UP:

Hi, I just had the same issue with my girlfriend's computer when she was trying to remove and re-install. Turns out the solution for her was to go into the steam folder and delete any sub-folders within each folder. It is an annoying process, but that allowed her to delete the main Steam folder afterwards. Turns out that even though each of the folders were empty of files, because the folders CONTAINED folders (meaning they weren't empty) it would not allow her to delete even as an administrator. Hope this helps someone out in the event you can't perform a system recovery like the above guy.

Thanks man, saved me from resetting my computer.
Steam/ Windows 10 is so stupid