How to Fix Error 16 (Container Locked) World of Warcraft
Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment, World of Warcraft (WoW)
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.
