Effortlessly Migrating Steam Games to a New Disk: A Comprehensive Guide

Migrating Steam games to another disk can significantly improve your gaming experience by freeing up space on your primary drive. This guide outlines two methods to help you move your games seamlessly: using Steam's built-in feature and the manual method. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth transition and enhance your gaming setup.

Method 1: Utilizing Steam's Built-in Feature

The most straightforward approach to moving Steam games to another disk is to use Steam's built-in feature. Here’s how you can do it:

Create a New Steam Library Folder:

Open Steam and navigate to Settings. Click on the Downloads tab. Select Steam Library Folders. In the new window, click on Add Library Folder and choose the new disk and folder where you intend to store your games.

Move Games to the New Library:

Go to your Library in Steam. Right-click on the game you wish to move and select Properties. Navigate to the Local Files tab. Click on Move Install Folder. Select the newly created library folder and click Move Folder.

Ensure that the new disk has sufficient space for the games you are moving. After moving the games, you can delete the original files to free up space on your primary drive.

Using this built-in feature is highly recommended as it ensures correct handling of game files and dependencies. This method streamlines the process and minimizes potential errors.

Method 2: Manual Migration

If you prefer or need to use the manual method, follow these steps:

Note: It is crucial to ensure that you have enough space on the new disk and that the game files are moved correctly to avoid any issues.

Close Steam completely.

Locate the Steam installation folder, usually found at C:Program Files x86Steam.

Go to the steamapps folder, which contains all your game data.

Copy the folder of the game you want to move from the steamapps/common folder.

Paste the folder into the new location on your other disk.

Open Steam and go to your Library.

Right-click the game and select Install. Steam will recognize the existing files and verify them.

It is a good practice to create the folder you want to move the game into beforehand to avoid any last-minute issues.

Notes and Considerations

While Steam does not allow you to create folders on the fly during the change of installation folder, it is always a good idea to be prepared by ensuring that the necessary space is available.

After transferring the games, consider deleting the original files from the old location to free up valuable space on your primary drive.

Using the built-in Steam feature is generally recommended due to its reliability and ease of use. It ensures proper handling of game files and dependencies, reducing the risk of errors and issues.

This process should help you effectively manage your Steam games on multiple disks, ensuring a smooth and efficient gaming experience.