Fix Error opening file for writing on Windows 11/10

If when running a setup file for installing the software you receive message Error opening file for writing on your Windows 11/10/8/7 then this post will help you fix the problem. This can occur when running a setup file for installing a program and commonly occurs for Steam, VLC, MSI Afterburner, GlassWire, Notepad++, OBS, Mod Organizer, WinpCap, FileZilla, NSIS, QBitTorrent, Kodi, Wireshark, BSPlayer, rtcore64, GWCtlSrv.exe, qt5core.dll, vcredist_x86.exe, npf.sys, etc.

Error opening file for writing in Windows 11/10

If you receive such an error message, here is what you need to do.

1] Restart your computer and try

Ensure that another installation is not in progress. The easiest way is to restart your computer and try to install the program. This will also ensure that locked files if any will get released.

2] Use the Retry button

If you receive this error even after you start the installation after restarting the computer, then select Retry. If it does not work, select Abort and terminate the installation. Now navigate to the folder where you downloaded or placed the Setup file and delete it.

3] Clear the Temporary files folder

Next, use Storage Sense, Disk Cleanup Tool or a free junk file cleaner to delete the contents of the Temporary files folder.

4] Download the setup file to a different location

Visit the official homepage and fresh download the setup file to a different location.

5] Download the correct setup file

Ensure that you have downloaded the correct setup file for your OS – viz. x64 or x86

6] Run the setup file as administrator

Restart your computer, sign in as administrator. Next right-click on the setup file and select Run as administrator.

This should help.

If it doesn’t, then you may need to:

• Take ownership of the folder where you are planning to install the application.
• Use Permissions Time Machine to change Folder permissions for the folder where you are planning to install the application.

But before you do either of these two, we strongly recommend that you create a system restore point first.