You Cannot Use This It Is Obstructed in Starfield

Starfield is a massive and relatively new game. Therefore, players are starting to discover bugs that will need to be patched in the future. One of the more talked about and annoying current glitches in Starfield is “You cannot use this, it is obstructed” error message. You receive this notification when you try to use your workbench and will not be fully fixed until the game developers step in and repair it.

However, there are some simple workarounds to this problem that will allow you to circumnavigate it until the patch arrives. Read on to find out everything you need to know about to fix the “You Cannot Use This It Is Obstructed” bug in Starfield.

How to Confirm You Cannot Use This It Is Obstructed Is a Glitch

You expect to deal with bugs in games that are newly released. The sheer scale and scope of Starfield only makes the chances of bugs more likely. However, the “You Cannot Use This It Is Obstructed” feature in Starfield is a legitimate feature of the game, it’s designed to let you know if something is obstructing your workbench. The part that makes it a glitch is that you receive this notification even when there is clearly no obstruction.

Here’s how to confirm whether you’re experiencing a bug or not:

1. Go to the workbench that is reporting the issue.
   
2. Look around and ensure that there is nothing blocking your workbench. If you find something that is or may be obstructing it, move it out of the way and try to use your workbench.
   

If you move the object out of the way but still receive the notification or if there’s nothing obstructing your workbench then you’re experiencing the dreaded Starfield bug.

How to Fix the You Cannot Use This It Is Obstructed Bug in Starfield by Relocating Your Workbench

Once you’ve confirmed that there is nothing obstructing your workbench, you will have to address the glitch to continue using it. There are a couple of methods being used by the Starfield community to fix this frustrating bug. The first way is to try deleting your workbench and installing it at a different location to see if it resolves the problem.

Here are the steps to move your workbench to a different location:

1. At your workbench, navigate to Outpost Mode. Switch over to Edit Mode and delete your workbench.
   
2. Add a new Workbench to a different location and see if it works.

The issue can also stem from the workbench being close to a wall or clipping outside the habitat foundation perimeter. Choose a location away from other objects and walls and see if that works.

How to Fix the You Cannot Use This It Is Obstructed Bug in Starfield by Saving and Reloading

If deleting and relocating your problematic workbench doesn’t allow you to start using it again, you will have to try another way. The second route to address this irritating problem is to try saving and reloading your game to get around it.

These are the steps to save and reload your game to fix the problem:

1. Pause your game or press ESC.
   
2. On the Data Screen, Save your game and restart the game.
   
3. Go to Load game and choose the recently saved file and see if it resolved the issue.
   

This method is the most likely to be effective and get you back to utilizing your workbench quickly. However, the issue may resurface the next time you try to use the workbench.

How to Fix the You Cannot Use This It Is Obstructed Bug in Starfield by Restarting Your Game

The final and most drastic method for addressing this widespread Starfield glitch is to restart the entire game. This method should be used only as a last resort. You will go back to the beginning of the game and have to earn everything back. However, if the bug is getting to you that much, you may decide that it’s worth the sacrifice.

These are the steps to restart your game in Starfield:

1. Exit your current game and go to the Main Menu on Starfield.
   
2. Select New from the options to start a new game.
   

The bug may still appear after you’ve started a new game, it will only be completely resolved when Bethesda makes the required fix.

Why Is the You Cannot Use This It Is Obstructed Bug in Starfield Frustrating?

While this may only be a relatively small bug, it is extremely annoying because it affects your workbench. In Starfield, workbenches are used for a multitude of things that are integral for gameplay. There are three different types of workbenches – weapon, industrial, and spacesuit and all of them play a critical role in the game. Hence, if you can’t use your workbench, you won’t be able to do a bunch of stuff that you really need to do.

• Spacesuit: If you can’t access your Spacesuit workbench because of the Starfield bug, you will not be able to craft anything related to your spacesuit. That includes crafting and upgrading spacesuits and crafting equipment modifications.
• Weapons: The universe is a dangerous place and it becomes more dangerous if you can’t use your weapons workbench. Without it, you won’t be able to craft and upgrade weapons or craft weapon modifications.
• Manufacturing: When you can’t use your industrial workbench because of the glitch, you will lose the ability to build manufactured components from your outpost.

Some of the items you can craft via your workbench can be substituted by purchasing. However, this will cost you valuable credits for things that you could craft for free with your workbench using your gathered resources.

FAQs

Are these fixes permanent?

Unfortunately, not. Most of the solutions to fix this bug were found by Starfield players and may or may not work for you. Furthermore, even if they do work, you may experience them again and again until the developer releases a patch that contains a permanent fix.

When is the next Starfield patch due to be released?

Bethesda released a patch on November 20th but it doesn’t seem to have addressed this specific bug. The publisher has yet to provide an update as to when the next patch will be dropped and if it will contain a fix for this bug.

Should I report the bug to the developer if I encounter it?

Yes. In the grand scheme of things, despite how irritating this bug can be, it is comparatively minor compared to some other bugs in Starfield. Therefore, the developers may not prioritize fixing this bug unless they get enough feedback from players. Additionally, the more information you can provide about replicating the bug, the more likely it is to get fixed.

This Bug Is Bugging Me

Bugs in games are a common occurrence that affects all newly released games. Given the magnitude and complexity of Starfield, you can expect to run into more than a few during gameplay. However, not all bugs are created equal. The “You Cannot Use This It Is Obstructed” glitch affects your ability to interact and use one of the core elements in the game – workbenches and this makes it more noticeable and more infuriating than some other bugs. Fortunately, you’re now equipped with a range of temporary fixes that will get you through until the developers rectify the problem for good.

How have you handled the bugs in Starfield so far? Let us know in the comments section below.