Many Steam games are large files that can slow down your gaming experience if not managed properly. To achieve better performance, it's recommended to have a highly configured laptop or desktop with separate hard drives. Installing games and the operating system on the same drive can lead to freezing and system halting due to disk space issues. To avoid this, it's essential to learn how to move Steam games to another drive, which can be done using three effective methods.
Overview: The Best Overall Free Steam Game Transfer Tool of 2022
Qiling Disk Master is the best overall Steam game transfer tool, offering three practical game transfer modes: PC to PC, Image Transfer, and App Migration. Once downloaded, it allows users to automatically move a PC game to another drive, making it a convenient and efficient solution for Steam users.
Step 1. Connect the destination drive to your computer
To transfer games from their original location, connect the drive where Qiling Disk Master is installed to your computer using the correct method. Then, run the games transfer software and select the "Backup and recovery" option, followed by clicking "File sync" to initiate the transfer process.
Step 2. Choose the games you want to change the location
To transfer games from one drive to another, select the original drive where the game programs are installed on the left bar, choose the games you want to transfer and tick the checkboxes next to them. Then, click the triangle icon to select the target drive as the destination file path. Once you've made your selections, click the "Transfer" button.
Step 3. Transfer the games to the destination drive
The software will move the selected games from their original location to your chosen location, and the process will complete once it's finished.
Overview: The Inbuilt Function to Change a Steam Game Location
Steam has a built-in function that allows you to change a game's location, making it easier to migrate a game from one drive to another. However, the process can be complex, so it's essential to have the latest Steam update installed, specifically after the January 18, 2017, build.
Step 1. To add a library folder in Steam, navigate to Steam > Settings > Downloads > Steam Library Folders, then click the "Add Library Folder" button.
Step 2. To add a new library folder, select the other drive, create a folder on it, name it, click OK, and then select the newly created folder. This allows you to close the window.
Step 3. To move an installed game to the newly created folder on the new drive, click LIBRARY, right-click on the game and head to Properties.
Step 4. To move a game on Steam, click on the Local Files tab, then go to the Move Install Folder button, select the desired Steam library, and click the Move Folder button.
Step 5. To move an existing game installation to the new drive, point the game's installation directory to the new location and repeat the full steps for each game you want to move.
Overview: The Comprehensive Tool to Manage Steam Libraries
Steam Library Manager (SLM) is a viable alternative to the Steam app for moving multiple games to another drive. Downloadable from its official website, SLM offers a solution for migrating games, although the process may be slightly more involved compared to Qiling Disk Master. Despite this, it's still worth considering as a viable option.
Step 1. To move a game from the Steam Library to another library, open Steam Library Manager, and then drag the game from the current library to the desired library. This will relocate the game to the new library, effectively moving it.
Step 2. To relocate games from Steam, switch to the Task Manager tab, where listed games will be displayed. You can select and move multiple games, then click Start to initiate the transfer process to another drive.
Step 3. The log will display the transfer status during the transfer process. Once complete, the dropped games will be successfully moved to the designated library folder on the other drive.
1. How to move Fortnite to another drive?
To migrate the Steam Fortnite to a different drive or PC, you can use Qiling Disk Master, an easy PC transfer tool that helps transfer data, applications, and account settings in one click.
2. What's the best Steam game mover?
For most Windows Steam game players, the Qiling Steam game mover software is the best choice when upgrading their gaming laptop. This tool allows them to move all installed Steam games to a new PC, laptop, or hard drive without the need for reinstallation, making it a convenient option.
3. Can I move Steam games to SSD?
Playing games on an SSD is significantly faster than on a traditional HDD. If you're interested in moving your Steam games from HDD to SSD without any issues, a safe and easy way to do this is by using Qiling games transfer software.