If the VLC media player Setup throws an error message Error opening file for writing when trying to install it on Windows 11/10 PC, this post will help you. This error can appear for Tor, Steam, VLC, MSI Afterburner, CCleaner, GlassWire, Notepad++, OBS, Mod Organizer, WinpCap, FileZilla, NSIS, QBitTorrent, Kodi, Wireshark, BSPlayer, rtcore64, GWCtlSrv.exe, qt5core.dll, vcredist_x86.exe, npf.sys, FL Studio etc and several other programs while installing them.
What is Error opening file for writing during installation?
Error opening file for writing is an error prompt that users have reported to be experiencing during installation of a third-party application like VLC. This error can occur in different scenarios. For example, if you are missing administrator rights to run an installer, you might face this error. Compatibility issues can be another reason for the same error. Another reason for this error could be that the setup file was not downloaded correctly and is corrupted. So, in that case, you can try redownloading the setup file and then run it to check if the error is gone.
If you are running the VLC setup file to update or install the latest version of the media player, it might be the case that several VLC instances are running in the background on your computer that are causing interference. Or, the currently installed copy of the app might be corrupted, which is why you cannot update the app. Besides that, strict User Account Control enforced on your computer can also cause this error.
Error opening file for writing VLC Setup error
If you are experiencing Error opening file for writing while installing or updating the VLC media player on Windows, use the following methods to fix the error:
- Terminate all VLC instances from Task Manager.
- Run Program Compatibility Troubleshooter.
- Run SFC and DISM Scans to fix system file corruption.
- Disable User Account Control.
- Uninstall, then reinstall VLC.
1] Terminate all VLC instances from Task Manager
If you are trying to update the VLC media player, the error could be triggered due to multiple running instances of VLC in the background. Hence, if the scenario applies, you can close all instances of the VLC media player and then attempt to update the software. This fix has been proven to be effective for several affected users. So, try it and see if it helps.
Here’s how to do that:
- First, right-click on your taskbar and select Task Manager to open it. Or, press the Ctrl+Shift+Esc hotkey to quickly open Task Manager.
- Now, in the Processes tab, select the VLC process.
- Next, press the End task button to close it.
- Repeat the above steps to terminate all other instances of VLC.
- Once done, try running the VLC installer and see if Error opening file for writing is resolved.
In case the error still continues, we have some more solutions to resolve this error. So, use the next fix.
See: VLC washed out colors & color distortion problem.
2] Run Program Compatibility Troubleshooter
Another potential cause of this error is compatibility issues. So, if the scenario is applicable, you can try running the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter to fix compatibility issues and this error. Here’s how you can do that:
- First, open File Explorer using Win+E and navigate to the location where you have downloaded the VLC installer file.
- Now, right-click on the installer file and choose the Properties option from the appeared context menu.
- Next, move to the Compatibility tab and press the Run Compatibility Troubleshooter button.
This will launch Program Compatibility Troubleshooter that will detect compatibility issues and recommend suitable fixes to resolve them. You can follow the prompted instructions and complete the process. When done, run the VLC setup file and check if you have stopped receiving the error. If not, you can try the next method to fix it.
Read: Fix VLC not working properly in Windows.
3] Run SFC and DISM Scans to fix system file corruption
As mentioned earlier, system file corruption can be another reason for triggering Error opening file for writing when trying to install or update VLC. So, in that case, you can scan and repair broken system files on your PC and then see if the error is gone.
To fix damaged system files, you can use Windows’ inbuilt command line tools called SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management). You need to enter specific commands and these tools will fix system file corruption on your computer. Here are those commands:
First, open an elevated Command Prompt window. Now, enter the below command to run an SFC scan:
sfc /scannow
Let the command run and finish properly. Once done, enter the below commands one by one to run DISM scan:
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
These commands can take quite some time to finish. So, be patient and let the commands execute and complete successfully.
Once done, reboot your computer and run the VLC setup file to check if the error is gone.
Read: Fix common VLC Errors, Problems, and Issues on Windows PC.
4] Disable User Account Control
User Account Control can prevent a user from installing new applications on a PC. It could also cause errors like Error opening file for writing when running the VLC installer. So, if this scenario is applicable, you can try disabling User Account Control on your computer temporarily and see if it helps.
To do that, open Windows Search and enter User Account in the search box. Now, from the results shown, click on the Change User Account Control settings option.
Next, drag the slider below and set it to the Never Notify option. After that, press the OK button and follow the displayed instructions to disable User Account Control.
See: Your input can’t be opened: VLC is unable to open MRL.
5] Uninstall, then reinstall VLC
If you are trying to install a new version of the VLC media player when it is already installed on your computer, you might face this error. It might be the case that the current copy of VLC is corrupted which is why you are unable to update it or install a new version. So, if the scenario is applicable, you can uninstall VLC from your computer and then reinstall it to fix the error.
To uninstall the VLC media player from Windows 11/10, here are the steps to follow:
- First, open the Settings app using Win+I and move to the Apps > Installed apps option.
- Now, look for the VLC app and select the three-dot menu button attached to it.
- Next, choose the Uninstall option and follow the instructions shown on your screen to complete the process.
- Once VLC is uninstalled, download its latest version from the official website and then install the media player on your computer. You can also install the VLC app from Microsoft Store.
Hopefully, you will be able to run VLC setup files without the Error opening file for writing error message.
How do I fix VLC error 0xc0000005?
If you are experiencing The application was unable to start correctly error with error code 0xc0000005 on VLC, you can fix it by running SFC and DISM scans. You can also try running a virus scan on your computer and remove potential threats. Besides that, you can also perform a clean boot to avoid software conflicts, update your device driver, or simply reinstall VLC on your PC. If the error remains, reset your PC and see if the error is fixed.
Now read: VLC media player keeps lagging/stuttering/skipping on Windows.
