How to Move Steam Games to Another Drive Without Re-Downloading

The simplest way to move Steam games to another drive is the built-in storage manager: open Steam settings, add the new drive as a library folder, then select the games and use the Move option. Steam copies the files to the new location, updates its records and removes the old copy, so you do not have to download anything again.

If you only want to move one game, there is a per-game option in its properties. For a whole library or a drive swap, a manual copy method also works when done carefully. This guide covers each approach in order of safety, plus the checks that prevent the most common errors. Menu names change slightly between Steam client updates, so follow the wording on your own screen if it differs.

Before You Start

Check Free Space and Drive Format

The destination drive needs enough free space for the games you plan to move, plus a margin for updates. Format it as NTFS on Windows, because other formats can cause permission problems or limit file sizes. Avoid external drives that sleep or disconnect often, since a dropped connection in the middle of a move can corrupt files.

Close Games and Pause Downloads

Exit every running game and let any updates finish. Moving a game that is updating or running can fail or leave a partial install. If the game uses a separate launcher or anti-cheat service, close those too.

Know What Does Not Move

Steam moves the installed game files. Save games stored in Steam Cloud, your Documents folder or AppData stay where they are, so progress is not affected. Shader caches and mod files stored in other locations may need a manual look afterward.

Method 1: Steam Storage Manager (Moves Many Games at Once)

1. Open Steam and go to the Steam menu, then Settings, then Storage.
2. Click the drive dropdown at the top and choose Add Drive, then select the new drive. Steam creates a library folder on it.
3. Select the destination drive in the list. If you want it to be the default for future installs, use the Make Default option.
4. In the list of installed games for the source drive, tick the checkbox next to each game you want to move.
5. Click Move, choose the destination drive and confirm. Wait for the progress bar to finish before launching anything.
6. Open the library and launch one moved game to confirm it starts normally.

Method 2: Move a Single Game From Its Properties

1. Right-click the game in your library and choose Properties.
2. Open the Installed Files tab and select Move Install Folder.
3. Pick the destination library folder from the list and confirm.
4. When the transfer finishes, use Verify Integrity of Game Files on the same tab as a quick safety check.

This option is useful when you only need to free space for one large title or move a favorite game onto a faster SSD.

Method 3: Manual Copy for a Full Library or Drive Swap

If you are replacing a drive or Steam will not cooperate, you can copy the library folder yourself. Treat this as a fallback, and keep the original files until you have confirmed the games work.

1. Exit Steam completely, including the tray icon.
2. Copy the steamapps folder from the old library location to the same folder name on the new drive. It holds the common folder with the game files and the manifest files that tell Steam what is installed.
3. Start Steam, open Settings and Storage, and add the new drive as a library folder if it is not listed.
4. Steam should detect the installed games. If a game shows as not installed, choose Install and point it at the existing folder, and Steam will scan the files rather than download them again.
5. Run Verify Integrity of Game Files for any title that behaves oddly.
6. Once everything works, delete the old copy to free space.

If you only need an emergency copy, Steam’s backup and restore tool in the Steam menu can create archive files for a game, though it is slower than a direct move.

Which Method Fits Your Situation

Choosing What to Move and Where

Moving everything is rarely the best plan. A fast NVMe SSD gives the biggest gains for open-world games, large shooters and anything that streams textures while you play, so keep those on the quickest drive. Slower-paced titles, turn-based games and games you rarely open can live on a larger hard drive or a secondary SSD without much downside.

It helps to sort the library by size in the Storage page and move the largest rarely played games first, since that frees the most space with the fewest transfers. Some modern games also install faster and run with fewer hitches on an SSD, and a few publishers list an SSD as a recommended requirement, so check the system requirements on the store page before moving a demanding title to a hard drive.

After the Move: Cleanup and Checks

When the transfer finishes, launch each moved game once and reach the main menu. If you used the manual method, look inside the old library folder and delete the copied game folders only after you have confirmed the new location works. Leftover folders can quietly consume tens of gigabytes.

It is also worth setting the default install location to the drive you want future downloads to use, so you do not have to move games again later. If you changed drives permanently, remove the unused library folder from the Storage page to keep the list tidy. For titles that store extra data outside Steam, such as separate launchers or mod managers, update their paths so they point at the new location.

Troubleshooting a Move That Fails

Not Enough Space or Permission Errors

Steam needs free space on the destination, and Windows needs to allow the user account to write to the folder. Try running Steam as administrator once, and avoid placing a library folder inside protected locations such as Program Files.

Game Shows as Uninstalled After a Move

Open Settings, then Storage, and confirm the new drive appears. If the drive letter changed, re-add the folder. Use Verify Integrity of Game Files to let Steam reconcile what it finds.

Move Is Very Slow

Copying many small files across a slow hard drive or USB port can take a long time. Use a faster port or a direct internal drive when possible, and leave the PC alone until the process ends.

Before You Move Checklist

• Confirm the new drive is healthy, formatted as NTFS and has enough free space.
• Close all games, launchers and downloads.
• Back up any custom mods or config files stored inside the game folder.
• Plan to launch one game from the new location before deleting any old files.

Common Mistakes

• Copying only the game folder and not the manifest files, so Steam cannot recognize the install.
• Moving games while an update is in progress.
• Using a USB drive that disconnects or sleeps during the transfer.
• Deleting the original folder before confirming the moved game launches.
• Forgetting that mods, shader caches and non-Steam launchers may keep files in other folders.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my save files if I move a game?

Usually not, since saves are kept in cloud storage or in user folders rather than the install folder. Some older games save inside the install directory, so copy the game folder first if you are unsure.

Can I move Steam itself to another drive?

Yes, but it is a separate process from moving games and is not needed just to change where games are installed. Moving the Steam client folder is more involved, so follow current instructions on Steam’s support pages and back up first.

Can I use an external drive for games?

You can, and many players use fast external SSDs. A slow hard drive over USB may increase load times, and a dropped connection can cause file errors, so plug the drive in before launching Steam and avoid unplugging it while a game is open.

Do other stores let me move games the same way?

Other launchers have their own methods, and some require uninstalling and pointing the launcher at the existing files. Check that store’s help pages before moving anything.