[Full Guide 2022] How to Move Games to SSD without Reinstallation - Qiling  

[Full Guide 2022] How to Move Games to SSD without Reinstallation


Is It Possible to Move All Games to SSD

Dealing with low disk space can be frustrating, especially when your hard drive is almost full and you need to free up some space. One common solution is to delete large files, but this can be a problem if you have critical files like games that you don't want to lose.

Moving games to an SSD is a reliable solution to improve gaming performance. To do this, you can follow a straightforward method to transfer games from your HDD to your SSD, which includes moving Steam games, as well as Epic, Blizzard, and Origin games to another drive. This process allows you to take advantage of the faster loading times and responsiveness that an SSD provides, making it an ideal solution for gamers looking to upgrade their gaming experience.

Carry out the one best suited to your needs on the following list.

Workable Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Fix 1. Move Steam Games to SSD 1. Steam game mover...Full steps
2. Move Install Folder feature of Steam...Full steps
More ways...
Fix 2. Move Epic Games to the SSD Find your game folder > Open Epic game store...Full steps
Fix 3. Move Blizzard Games to Another Drive  Uninstall Blizzard games on the Blizzard Battle.net Desktop App...Full steps
Fix 4. Move Origin Games to SSD Open Origin and right-click the games, choose...Full steps

With Qiling Disk Master, you can easily achieve all transfer processes in just a few clicks. Enjoy a seamless experience with its user-friendly interface.

How to Move Steam Games to SSD

1. Move Steam Games to SSD with Free Steam Game Mover Tool

To move all games from your HDD to SSD, consider using a third-party Steam game mover tool, such as Qiling, a free PC transfer software that allows you to transfer Steam games to your SSD without reinstalling, making the process safe and easy.

Qiling Disk Master

  • Transfer to a new PC: Steam, Origin, LOL, Blizzard.
  • Transfer to a new drive: DIABLO, WORLD OF WARCRAFT,
    OVERWATCH, HEARTHSTONE, HEROES OF THE STORM, etc.
  • To migrate games and apps to a new PC or drive, follow these 3 simple steps: First, back up your existing games and apps by creating a system image or using a backup software to save them to an external drive. Next, install the new operating system or drive, and ensure it's properly configured and updated.

Step 1. Run Qiling Disk Master to start

Run Qiling Disk Master on your Windows computer. Go to the "Backup and recovery" page and click on "File sync".

choose app migration to transfer games to ssd

Step 2. Choose the games you want to transfer

On the list view, choose the drive where the games are installed, select the games you want to transfer, and check the box. Then, since you're moving the selected games to the SSD, click the triangle icon to set the SSD as the target location.

choose SSD as the destination drive to save games

Step 3. Initiate the transfer process

Finally, click "Proceed". Qiling Disk Master will start immediately to migrate the games from one hard drive to the SSD. Wait for the process to complete.

transfer games to ssd

Besides the benefits of moving games from HDD to SSD, you may also need to transfer Steam games to a new computer. We have a helpful guide on how to transfer games from one PC to another.

2. Move Steam Games to the SSD with "Move Install Folder" Feature

The Steam also has a built-To move Steam games to another drive, you can use the "Move" feature in Steam, but it only works for one game at a time. If you need to migrate multiple games, you may want to consider alternative methods such as using Qiling Disk Master or one of the three other methods available.

How to put Steam games on SSD:

Step 1. Create a new Steam Folder.

To add a library folder to Steam, go to Settings, then Downloads, and select Add Library Folder. Choose the drive you want to use and click New Folder.

move steam game

Step 2. Move the game files to the second Library.

1. On your Steam library, right-click the game and click Properties.

2. To move the install folder, select the "Move Install Folder" option under the "Local Files" tab. This allows you to relocate the install folder to a different location on your computer.

If you're looking to free up space on your computer, you can consider moving your Steam library to another drive. This can help declutter your primary drive and improve your computer's performance.

3. Move Steam Games to Another Drive with Steam Library manager 

The Steam Library manager can help solve the problem of moving games from an HDD to an SSD. Upon opening the main interface, you'll see all your Steam Library on your PC, and can simply select a game, drag and drop it to another Library on your SSD, following the steps to move all your Steam games to the new drive.

Step 1. Download Steam Library manager from the official website.

Step 2. In the Steam Library manager's main interface, you can see which games are stored in the library. To move games to another drive, simply drag the game from the list to the desired drive. This action will relocate the game's files to the new location.

Step 3. To move a Steam game to another drive, go to the Task Manager, click on the Steam game that's currently using a lot of resources, and then click on the "Start" button to move it to another drive. This will free up space on your current drive and allow you to run the game from the new drive.

move steam library

Step 4. If you have any problems, check the log file below.

4. Move Steam Games to the SSD by Copying Steam Games Folder

Step 1.To change the Steam library location, go to the Steam client, click on "Settings", then select "Downloads", and finally click on "Steam Library Folders". At the top, you can add a new location where you'd like to install your Steam games. This will allow you to move your existing games to the new location.

manual migrate steam games to ssd step 2

Step 2.The instructions are to copy the game folder to the Steam games folder on the SSD.

Step 3. In Steam, go to the game you just moved, right-click it, and select "Delete local content".

Step 4. Install the game on the SSD where you had copied it, so the game files will be stored on the faster storage drive. This will improve the game's loading times and overall performance.

Step 5. You can then start the game, and it should launch without any issues. The Steam client will also periodically check the files to ensure they're still valid and won't download anything if they are.

If some error occurs after the program migration, please refer to the bonus tips at the end of the page for further assistance.

How to Move Epic Games to SSD

Go back to the steam part and run Qiling Disk Master to finish the games transfer. Now we also teach you how to move games to another drive in a manual way. 

Step 1. To relocate the Fortnite game folder, find its default path (usually C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite), move it to a new location, and rename the folder to something like "Fortnite*" to avoid conflicts with the original game.

Step 2. To uninstall and reinstall a game on the Epic Game store, follow these steps: Click on the 3 dots of related games, select the game you want to uninstall, and choose "Uninstall". Once the uninstallation is complete, you can redownload the game from the Epic Game store.

Step 3. To cancel the Fortnite installation, choose the desired location and click the Downloads tab when the installation begins, then click the X to stop the installation.

Step 4. Navigate to the new folder on the targeted drive. Delete the Fortnite folder and rename Fortnite* as Fortnite.

Step 5. Open Epic launcher. > Click game to continue downloading.

how to move games to SSD - epic

How to Move Blizzard Games from HDD to SSD

To move Blizzard games from the HDD to SSD, you can either follow the automatic method by clicking here or manually transfer them by copying the game files from the HDD to the SSD. This involves navigating to the game's installation directory on the HDD, selecting the game files, and then pasting them to the corresponding directory on the SSD. Ensure to copy the entire game directory and not just the game executable to avoid any issues with the game's functionality.

Step 1. Run Blizzard Battle.net Desktop App, uninstall blizzard games.

Step 2. Reinstall the games.

Step 3. Under the Install part, browse the right drive and click Start Install.

how to move a game to SSD - blizzard games

More details you can get:

How to Move Blizzard Games to a Different Drive

There are three proven ways to move Blizzard games to a different drive, including transferring them without re-installation using Qiling Disk Master to change the drive, and installing the games manually to another drive.

move blizzard games to a different drive

How to Move Origin Games to SSD

Open Origin games and click the built-in Move Game button.

To move a game on the Origin game library, right-click the game, select "Move Game" and choose your desired destination.

how to move games from HDD to SSD - origin

Back to the top of the page.

Bonus Tips: What To Do if Steam Error Happens

If there is something wrong after the migration, you can follow the solutions below to fix it:

If a game on Steam has become corrupt, you can have Steam automatically fix the issue by verifying the integrity of your local data, which includes seeking and swapping damaged files. This process ensures that the game is restored to its original, working state.

Right-To fix a broken Steam game, click on it in your Steam library, go to Properties, then Local Files, and select Verify integrity of game files. This will check and repair any corrupted game files, allowing you to play your Steam games again.

All You Want to Know is Here! Take A Quick View!

There are some frequently asked questions from the internet. You can get your answers here.

Q; How do I move Windows 11/10 to SSD?

A: Users can install Windows 11/10 to an SSD without reinstalling Windows by cloning the system drive with disk imaging software, allowing for a seamless transition from HDD to SSD.

Q: Should I put games on my SSD?

A: SSDs (Solid-State Drives) significantly outperform HDDs in speed, reliability, and durability, thanks to their use of flash memory. This results in faster load times for games, applications, and movies, making them ideal for users who value quick access to their digital content. Additionally, SSDs are lighter and more resistant to movement and drops, making them a more practical choice for those who need a reliable storage solution.

Upgrading to a solid-state drive (SSD) can significantly improve the speed of your operating system, application programs, and most-used files, making it a wise choice for storing games and other frequently used data.

Q: Can I move games from HDD to SSD?

A: You can move Steam games to an SSD using software or by manually changing the games folder, which is often sought after for transferring Steam to another drive.

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