Fix: Rise of the Tomb Raider “Unable to Open BIGFILE.000” Error One of the more frustrating errors encountered when launching Rise of the Tomb Raider (particularly on PC) is the “Unable to open BIGFILE.000” message. This error prevents the game from starting, often appearing immediately after clicking “Play” on Steam or hitting the game executable. This article explains what the error means, why it happens, and how to fix it permanently. What is BIGFILE.000? BIGFILE.000 is not a corrupt or random file—it is the primary game archive containing most of Rise of the Tomb Raider’s critical assets: textures, sound, levels, and scripts. The game engine needs to read this file to load anything. If the game cannot open it, startup fails immediately. Common Causes The error typically stems from one of four issues:
Anti-virus or ransomware protection – Security software blocks the game from accessing large archive files. File permission problems – Windows prevents the game from reading the file (often after a moved or reinstalled game). Partial file corruption – An incomplete download or update damaged the archive. Mod conflicts – Some mods that modify BIGFILE.000 can break the file structure.
How to Fix “Unable to Open BIGFILE.000” Try the following solutions in order. Most users resolve the issue with Solution 1 or 2. Solution 1: Disable Controlled Folder Access (Windows Defender) Windows 10 and 11’s Controlled Folder Access (part of Ransomware Protection) often blocks games from reading large archives in protected folders like Documents or Program Files . Steps:
Press Win + I → Privacy & Security (Windows 11) or Update & Security (Windows 10). Rise Of The Tomb Raider Unable To Open Bigfile.000
Click Virus & threat protection .
Scroll down → Manage ransomware protection .
Turn Controlled Folder Access to Off (temporarily for testing). If you prefer to keep it on: Click Allow an app through Controlled Folder Access → Add the game’s .exe file (e.g., RiseOfTheTombRaider.exe ). Fix: Rise of the Tomb Raider “Unable to Open BIGFILE
Restart the game.
Solution 2: Run the Game as Administrator & Set File Permissions The game may lack read permissions for BIGFILE.000 . Steps:
Go to your game installation folder (right-click Rise of the Tomb Raider in Steam → Manage → Browse local files ). Right-click on RiseOfTheTombRaider.exe → Properties → Compatibility . Check Run this program as an administrator → Click OK . Next, locate BIGFILE.000 in the same folder. Right-click BIGFILE.000 → Properties → Security . Select your username → Ensure Read & Read & Execute are allowed. Click OK and launch the game. What is BIGFILE
Solution 3: Verify Game File Integrity (Steam) Steam can detect and redownload only the damaged parts of BIGFILE.000 . Steps:
Open Steam → Library . Right-click Rise of the Tomb Raider → Properties . Go to Installed Files → Click Verify integrity of game files . Wait for the process to finish (may take 5–10 minutes). Relaunch the game.