MSI Afterburner Error Opening File For Writing Fix

If you’re getting the “Error opening file for writing” in MSI Afterburner, it usually means the program is trying to write to a protected file or folder without the necessary permissions.

Here are the most effective ways to fix it:

🔧 Fix 1: Run MSI Afterburner as Administrator

1. Right-click the MSI Afterburner shortcut or executable.

2. Click “Run as administrator”.

3. See if the error still occurs.

✅ Why this works: It gives Afterburner permission to write to system-protected files or folders.

🔧 Fix 2: Close Conflicting Software

Some antivirus or monitoring tools (like RivaTuner, which comes with Afterburner) may interfere.

• Try closing:

  • RivaTuner (RTSS)

  • Any hardware monitoring tools (HWInfo, AIDA64, etc.)

  • Antivirus temporarily (just for testing)

Also Read : 8 Best Ways to Fix YouTube TV Playback Error

🔧 Fix 3: Disable UAC or Install in a Different Directory

If MSI Afterburner is installed in C:\Program Files, UAC (User Account Control) may block write access.

1. Uninstall MSI Afterburner.

2. Reinstall it to a different folder (e.g., C:\MSIAfterburner).

3. During install, right-click setup → Run as administrator.

🔧 Fix 4: Check File Permissions

1. Go to the folder where MSI Afterburner is installed.

2. Right-click the folder → Properties → Security tab.

3. Click Edit and make sure your user account has Full control.

4. Click Apply and OK.

🔧 Fix 5: End Background MSI Afterburner Processes

Sometimes an older process keeps files locked.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

2. Find any MSIAfterburner.exe or RTSS.exe processes and end them.

3. Re-run the installer or app as administrator.

🛑 Common Files Affected:

Users report errors with files like:

• RTSSHooks.dll

• MSIAfterburner.exe

• RTSS.exe

These are often locked by background services or antivirus software.

✅ Final Tip: Use Latest Versions

• MSI Afterburner and RTSS (RivaTuner Statistics Server) must be compatible.

• Download latest versions from Guru3D:

  • Afterburner: https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/msi-afterburner-beta-download.html

  • RTSS: https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/rtss-rivatuner-statistics-server-download.html