how to move steam games to another drive

How to Move Steam Games to Another Drive

Moving your Steam games to a different drive, whether internal or external, can free up valuable space on your primary drive and improve game loading times if the new drive is faster. Here's how to do it:

Method 1: Using Steam's Built-in Feature (Recommended):

1. Open Steam: Launch the Steam client.
2. Steam Settings: Click on "Steam" in the top-left corner, then select "Settings."
3. Downloads: In the Settings menu, navigate to the "Downloads" tab.
4. Steam Library Folders: Click on "Steam Library Folders."
5. Add a Library Folder: Click the "Add Library Folder..." button.
6. Select New Location: Browse to the location on your desired drive where you want to install your games. Create a new folder if necessary. Click "Select Folder."
7. Move Games: Now, you need to move individual games. Right-click on a game in your Steam library, select "Properties," then go to the "Local Files" tab. Click "Move Install Folder..." and select the new library folder you just created. Steam will handle the moving process. Repeat this for each game you want to move.

Method 2: Manually Moving Files (Not Recommended):

While possible, manually moving Steam game files is strongly discouraged. This method is more complex and carries a higher risk of breaking game installations. Steam's built-in method is much safer and more reliable.

Can I Move Steam Games to an External Hard Drive?

Yes, you can absolutely move Steam games to an external hard drive. The process is the same as moving them to a different internal drive, using the method described above. However, keep in mind that:

• Connection Speed Matters: The speed of your external hard drive's connection (USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB 3.1, etc.) will significantly impact loading times. A slower connection will lead to longer loading screens.
• Portability Considerations: While convenient for freeing up space, remember that you'll need to connect the external drive every time you want to play the games stored on it.
• Drive Reliability: External hard drives are generally more susceptible to damage than internal drives due to their portability. Regular backups are highly recommended.

Will Moving Steam Games Affect My Game Saves?

No, moving your Steam games to a different drive will not affect your game saves provided you use Steam's built-in move function. Steam carefully manages the save files, keeping them separate from the game installation files. However, if you manually move the game files without using Steam's tools, you risk losing your saves or encountering game-breaking issues.

How Much Space Will I Save by Moving My Steam Games?

The amount of space you save depends entirely on the size of your Steam game library. Each game occupies a different amount of space, ranging from a few gigabytes to dozens of gigabytes. To find out how much space you'll save, you can check the properties of each game in your Steam library to see its individual size. You can then sum the sizes of the games you intend to move to get an accurate estimate of the space you'll reclaim on your primary drive. Remember to factor in the space needed on the new drive to accommodate the moved games.

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