How to Move Steam Games to Another Drive: The Complete Guide

The Gamer’s Storage Crisis: When Your SSD Screams for Help

You just found the perfect new game on Steam, but as you click “Install”, the dreaded message appears:

⚠️ “Not enough disk space.”

Before you start uninstalling your favorite games, there’s a better solution—moving them to another drive without losing progress or reinstalling. Here’s exactly how to do it in minutes.

Method 1: Steam’s Built-In Tool (Easiest)

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Open Steam → Go to Settings (top-left corner).
2. Select Downloads → Steam Library Folders.
3. Click “Add Library Folder” → Choose your new drive (e.g., D:\SteamLibrary).
4. Right-click the game you want to move → Properties → Local Files.
5. Click “Move Install Folder” → Select the new drive.

Pros:
✅ No manual file copying
✅ Keeps all game data intact
✅ Works for most games

Cons:
❌ Slower for large games (50GB+)

Method 2: Manual Move (For Advanced Users)

When to Use This Method:

• Steam’s tool fails
• Moving multiple games at once

Steps:

1. Copy the game folder from:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\[Game Name]

2. Paste it to the new drive:

   D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\[Game Name]

3. In Steam, uninstall the game (don’t worry—your files are safe).
4. Reinstall the game, but select the new drive. Steam will discover existing files.

Note: For games with cloud saves (like Skyrim), progress stays safe!

Method 3: Symbolic Links (For Power Users)

Best for: Moving only part of a game (e.g., huge mods).

1. Open Command Prompt as Admin.
2. Run:

   mklink /J "C:\Steam\steamapps\common\GameName" "D:\MovedGames\GameName"

3. Steam will think the game is still on C: while it’s actually on D:.

Which Games Can’t Be Moved?

Some games don’t support relocation due to:

• DRM restrictions
• Registry dependencies

Examples:

• GTA V (Rockstar Launcher conflicts)
• Destiny 2 (Battle.net integration)

Workaround: Reinstall these directly to the new drive.

Pro Tips to Save Space

1. Prioritize SSDs for:

• Open-world games (Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077)
• Competitive shooters (CS2, Valorant)

1. Keep on HDDs:

• Older games
• Single-player RPGs

1. Use Steam’s Storage Manager to see which games take the most space.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

❌ “Move Install Folder” grayed out?

• Restart Steam as Administrator.

❌ Game won’t launch after moving?

• Verify game files:
  Right-click game → Properties → Local Files → Verify Integrity.

❌ New drive not detected?

• Format it as NTFS (Steam doesn’t recognize exFAT).

Alternative: Just Reinstall?

When to consider:

• Moving tiny games (<5GB)
• Your internet is fast (500Mbps+)

How:

1. Uninstall from the original drive.
2. Reinstall to the new location.

When is the next Steam sale?

Now You’re a Storage Wizard!

No more agonizing over which games to delete. With these methods, you can:

• Keep your SSD breathing room
• Avoid download wait times
• Organize games by drive (e.g., SSD = Competitive, HDD = Single-Player)

Which game are you moving first? Tell us in the comments!

#SteamTips #PCGaming 🎮💾