As a Steam user, you might find yourself running out of storage space on your primary drives, particularly as games become more graphically demanding and larger in file size. Fortunately, Steam offers a built-in solution that allows you to move your games to another drive without reinstalling them. Whether you’re looking to free up space or transfer your games to a faster SSD for quicker loading times, this tutorial will guide you through the process.
By following the steps in this guide, you will be able to create a new Steam library folder on a secondary drive and move your installed games to the new location. This can help optimize your gaming experience and ensure that your storage space is used efficiently.
Additionally, moving Steam games to another drive can protect your files from unexpected hardware failures and make future installations easier. This tutorial is especially helpful if you’re managing multiple drives or if you’ve recently upgraded your system with additional storage.
Now, let’s dive into the detailed instructions on how to move Steam games from one drive to another, ensuring that your game files remain intact and playable throughout the process.
How to Create a Second Steam Folder on Another Drive
Creating a second Steam library folder on another drive is the first step before transferring your games. This folder will act as the new location where you store and play your games. Follow the steps below to set it up.
- Open Steam Settings
Navigate to the top-left corner of the Steam client and click on “Steam.” From the dropdown menu, select “Settings“.
- Go to the Storage Section
Once you’re in the “Settings” menu, click on “Storage” on the left. From here, click on “Add Drive“.
- Add a New Steam Library Folder
Confirm with a click on “Add“.
- Check if your Additional Drive Was Added Correctly
How to Move Steam Games to The Second Library from Storage Settings
Once your second Steam library folder is ready, you can start moving games from your old drive to the new one. This method allows you to manage the process directly from the storage settings, ensuring you don’t have to reinstall games.
- Open Steam Storage Settings
In “Storage“, click on your main drive to Show all games that are installed there and select the game you want to move to the second Steam Library Folder. Then, click “Move” to start moving the Steam game.
- Confirm
In the Move Content dialog, click “Move” again to confirm the action and begin the transfer.
- Finish the Transfer
After the game has been successfully moved, close the window. The game should now reside in the new Steam library folder.
How to Move Steam Games to The Second Library via the Library
This method allows you to move your Steam games directly from the Steam Library interface. It’s another way to manage your game locations without going through the storage settings, if you already set up a second Steam library on another drive.
- Open the Game’s Properties
Navigate to your “Steam Library“, right-click on the game you want to move, and select “Properties“.
- Go to Installed Files
In the game’s Properties window, click on “Installed Files“. From here, you’ll see the option to “Move Install Folder“.
- Confirm the Move
Hit “Move” to begin transferring the game files to the new location.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About
Can I move multiple Steam games at once to a new drive, or do I need to transfer them one at a time?
Steam currently does not offer an option to bulk move games to another drive; you must transfer them individually. You will need to initiate the move process for each game separately either from the game’s properties in the library or from the Steam storage management settings.
Does moving a game to another drive affect its performance or load times?
Moving a game to an SSD can significantly enhance its loading times and overall performance due to faster read and write speeds compared to traditional HDDs. However, moving a game to a drive with similar specifications as the original will not noticeably affect its performance.
What should I do if the new drive does not show up in the Steam settings after adding it?
First, ensure that your drive is correctly connected to your PC and recognized by your operating system. If the drive is visible in your OS but not in Steam, restart the Steam client to refresh its drive listings. If the issue persists, check for driver updates or filesystem issues that might be causing the detection problem.
What happens to my game saves when moving games to a new drive?
Game saves are generally not affected by moving the installation files because they are usually stored in a separate system folder or within cloud storage if you have that feature enabled in Steam. However, it’s advisable to back up your saves either manually from the respective game save folders or ensure Steam Cloud synchronization is active.
How can I verify that a game has been successfully moved to a new drive?
After moving a game, you can verify its new location by going to the game’s properties in your Steam library, clicking on the “Local Files” tab, and checking the “Current content location” detail. This will show the directory path where the game is now installed.
Is there a risk of data loss when moving Steam games between drives?
While Steam’s game-moving feature is designed to be safe and should prevent data loss, it’s prudent to ensure the destination drive is functioning properly and has enough space for the game files. Back up important data before moving large or critical game installations as a precaution.
How long does it typically take to move a game to another drive?
The time it takes to move a game depends on the game’s size and the read/write speeds of the drives involved. Transfers to or from SSDs are typically quicker than those involving mechanical hard drives. Larger games can take significantly longer, so plan accordingly.
Can I still play games while they are being transferred to another drive?
It is not recommended to play a game while it is being transferred between drives as this can lead to data corruption or transfer errors. Wait until the transfer process has completely finished before launching the game.
What are the signs that I should consider moving Steam games to another drive?
You should consider moving games if your primary gaming drive is nearly full, which can slow down your system, or if you want to optimize performance using a faster SSD. Additionally, if you’re managing multiple drives or have newly upgraded your system with additional storage, redistributing games can help balance storage use.
Is it possible to move Steam games back to the original drive after transferring them?
Yes, the procedure for moving games back to the original drive is the same as moving them to a different one. You can use the methods outlined in the tutorial to transfer games to any drive where you have a Steam library folder set up.
How can I manage and organize multiple Steam library folders across different drives?
Steam allows you to manage multiple library folders through its settings. Go to “Steam” -> “Settings” -> “Downloads” -> “Steam Library Folders.” Here you can add, remove, or move library folders across drives as needed.
If I encounter an error during the transfer, how should I handle it?
If errors occur, try restarting Steam and retry the transfer. Check the health of the drive as issues might indicate hardware problems. If persistent issues occur, consult Steam’s Support page or forums for specific error messages and troubleshooting tips.
What precautions should I take before beginning the process of moving Steam games?
Before moving games, close any running games and other intensive applications to ensure the process goes smoothly. Backup important game files and saves, particularly for large or critical games, to avoid accidental loss.
Do I need special permissions or administrator rights to move Steam games to another drive?
Generally, moving game files within the same machine does not require administrator rights. However, if you are setting up a new drive or making changes at the system level (like formatting or partitioning), administrator privileges might be necessary.
Can I move part of a game’s files instead of the complete game to another drive to save space?
Steam does not currently support moving partial game files; it requires the entire game directory to be moved. This ensures that all necessary game components are kept together to avoid issues with game functionality.
Related: How to Stop Steam from Opening on Startup
Steam automatically starts when you log into your computer after installation. While this feature can be convenient for frequent gamers, it can also slow down your system’s boot time and consume unnecessary resources. In our other guide, we show you how you can stop Steam from opening on startup on Windows and macOS to block it from running in the background all the time.
Related: How to Free up Space on Windows with Disk Cleanup in Classic and Extended Mode
All too often, temporary files and deleted items can build up, getting your drive so clogged that it can affect performance. Because of this, Microsoft has created the Windows disk cleanup tool, which you can utilize to free up space on your C: drive or any other drive. In our other guide, we show you how to clear disk space on Windows using Disk Cleanup in classic mode and the more unknown extended mode which can free up space even more aggressively.
Last Updated on October 3, 2024 12:58 pm CEST
