Cities Skylines 2 is a new city-builder simulation game that was released on October 24, 2023. While the game is a big step up from its predecessor, Cities Skylines, the bugs, on the other hand, are ruining the experience for many. Well, recently, many have been reporting about the “Disk Write Error” in Cities Skylines 2. So, if you are encountering the same issue, here’s everything you need to know about fixing it.
This error speaks for itself. This error mainly signifies that the game is unable to access your disk to write data on it, like saving progress or so. The cause can be anything from corrupted game files to your antivirus and firewall blocking the game’s functionalities. Whatever the reason, this guide will help you tackle the issue with ease.
Cities Skylines 2 (II) Disk Write Error: How to fix it
Although there is no official fix for this issue, you can try the given workarounds, as they have been effective in fixing the same issue in other games as well. This is not a new issue, which is why the provided workarounds are more than enough to help you get rid of it.
Reinstall the game
This doesn’t require any technical knowledge, and it’s rather easy to do. Simply right-click on this game from your Steam library and then select the Uninstall option. Then, go to the game’s installation folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities Skylines II) and delete it. Once you reinstall the game, the issue should no longer persist. Also, make sure that you reinstall it on a different drive.
Whitelist the game’s exe file
Antiviruses and firewalls can also interfere with the game’s functioning, causing the error. If you are using Avast or Norton antivirus, then use their separate client to do so. In the case of Windows Defender, follow this:
- First, open Settings, and head over to the Privacy and Security tab.
- Next, click on Windows Security, and select Virus and Threat Protection.
- After this, select Manage Ransomware Protection.
- Now, click on Allow an app to access a controlled folder, select the “Add an allowed app” option, and click Browse all apps.
- After this, head over to this directory: “C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities Skylines II”, select Cities2.exe, and press Open. This will whitelist the game’s .exe file from the Windows Defender.
To do the same for Windows Firewall, follow this:
- Open the Control Panel, and head over to System and Security.
- Select Windows Defender Firewall.
- Now, click on Allow an app or feature through the Windows Defender firewall. In the next window, select Change Settings.
- After this, click on Allow another app, and select Browse.
- Now, head over to the game’s installation folder and add its .exe file. This will exclude the game’s .exe from the Windows Firewall blockade, if any.
Verify the integrity of game files
Corrupted files might also lead to the same issue. This is why verifying the integrity of game files is a necessary step you must take. To do this,
- Open Steam, and head over to Library.
- Find and right-click on Cities Skylines 2.
- Select the Properties option.
- Now, head over to the Installed Files tab.
- Here, click on the Verify the integrity of game files option.
Untick Read-only for Steam Folder
If the Steam folder is set to Read-Only, this issue can occur. So to fix this, you need to uncheck the read-only attribute on the Steam folder. You can do this by following these steps:
- First, search for Steam in the Windows Search bar.
- Next, right-click on the first result. After this, select the Open File Location option.
- This will open the File Explorer. Now, on the address bar, tap on Program Files (X86).
- In this directory, right-click on the Steam folder and select Properties.
- Now, in the General tab, untick the Read-only attribute if it is ticked.
- Click on Apply, and then OK. Now, launch the game and check whether the issue persists.
Repair Steam Library
To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the Steam client and select the Steam option in the top-left corner.
- Next, head over to the Storage tab.
- Here, click on the three dots.
- Now, select the Repair Library option.
Optional workarounds
Here is a list of optional workarounds that you can try.
- Open Steam settings, then enter the Downloads folder. Next, click on the Clear Cache option next to Clear Download Cache and press Yes.
- Search Steam in the Windows search bar, right-click on it, and select the Run as administration option.
- Disable both Windows Defender and Firewall before launching the game.
- You can also try updating your Windows OS to the latest version. Doing so might get rid of any system blockade that might be hindering the game’s functioning.
Well, this was our guide on how to fix the disk write error in Cities Skylines 2. If you find this guide informative, follow Android Gram for more such interesting guides. Also read: Cities Skylines 2 (II): How to upgrade buildings.
