How to Fix Error 16 (Container Locked) World of Warcraft

Trying to launch World of Warcraft (WoW) and getting hit with Error 16: Container Locked? Yeah, it’s not fun. The game refuses to start, downloads get stuck, and you’re sitting there wondering if your launcher has just given up on life.

Good news: you can fix it, and it’s usually not as scary as it sounds. Here’s a quick and easy guide to get WoW working again.

What Is Error 16?

It usually means the game files are locked because a download is stuck, paused, or glitching in the background. Even if it looks like nothing’s downloading, something is.

How to Fix Error 16 in WoW

1. Fully Close Battle.net (Really Close It)

• Right-click the Battle.net icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner of your screen)

• Hit Exit

• Press Ctrl Shift Esc to open Task Manager

• End all processes named Battle.net and Agent.exe

2. Restart Your PC

Old-school advice, but a reboot clears file locks and temp files that could be causing the problem.

3. Clear the Battle.net Cache

This one fixes weird update issues:

• Press Windows R, type: %ProgramData%

• Hit Enter

• Find the Battle.net folder and delete it

• Reopen Battle.net. It will rebuild the folder.

4. Check for Background Downloads

Sometimes Battle.net hides downloads (like WoW Classic) that aren’t moving.

• Go to the Downloads tab in Battle.net

• Pause, then Resume any stuck downloads

• If that doesn’t work, try to cancel the stuck download and restart it later

5. Run Battle.net as Admin

• Right-click the Battle.net shortcut

• Choose Run as Administrator
  This helps unlock files that are stuck due to permission issues.

6. Uninstall/Reinstall (If Nothing Works)

If all else fails:

• Use Add/Remove Programs in Windows to uninstall Battle.net

• Reinstall from blizzard.com
  Sometimes the launcher just needs a fresh start.

Final Blurb

Blizzard’s launcher can be a bit of a diva, but Error 16 doesn’t mean you’re stuck forever. A few quick file cleanups and a reset usually do the trick. And if the launcher’s still being weird? Just remember—it’s not you, it’s Battle.net.

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