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To move Steam games to another drive without reinstalling them, open Steam > Settings > Storage, select the drive that currently holds the games, check the titles you want to move, choose Move, and select a Steam library on the destination drive. Steam transfers the installed game files locally, so you do not need to download the whole game again.
You can also move one game through its own properties: right-click it in your Library, open Properties > Installed Files, select Move Install Folder, and choose the destination library. Both are supported Steam tools. Use Storage when moving several games; use Installed Files when moving one.
Before you move anything
A Steam move is safer than manually dragging game folders in File Explorer, but three quick checks prevent most avoidable problems:
- Confirm the destination has enough free space. Leave some breathing room beyond the game’s displayed size because updates and temporary files may require additional capacity.
- Close the game and its launcher. A running game, anti-cheat service, or third-party launcher can keep files open.
- Protect saves and mods. Moving an installation is not the same as backing up progress. Steam Cloud coverage varies by game, and mods or local saves may live outside the installation folder.
To check Steam Cloud for a particular title, right-click the game, select Properties > General, and inspect the Cloud setting. Valve’s Steam Cloud documentation explains that developers choose which files are synchronized. If a game does not support Cloud—or if synchronization shows an error—find the developer’s save location and make a separate copy before changing storage.
Method 1: Move several Steam games with Storage Manager
This is the quickest method when an SSD is full or you want to reorganize a large library.
- Open the Steam desktop client.
- Select Steam > Settings.
- Open Storage.
- At the top, select the drive that currently contains the games.
- Check the box beside each game you want to transfer.
- Select Move.
- Choose the destination Steam library.
- Confirm the move and leave Steam open until it finishes.
Valve’s current moving Steam games instructions use this Storage tab workflow. The operation copies the selected installations to another registered Steam library and removes their old install data after the transfer completes.
Do not disconnect an external drive, force-close Steam, or restart the computer during the move. The duration depends on the game size and the slower of the source drive, destination drive, and connection between them.
Method 2: Move one game through Installed Files
For a single title, its properties page is more direct:
- Open your Steam Library.
- Right-click the game and select Properties.
- Select Installed Files.
- Choose Move Install Folder.
- Select the destination Steam library and confirm.
Valve also documents this route in its download and update guide. If Move Install Folder is missing, first make sure Steam recognizes another usable library location.
How to add another Steam library drive
If the new SSD or hard drive does not appear as a destination:
- Open Steam > Settings > Storage.
- Open the drive selector at the top of the Storage page.
- Choose the option to add a drive or library folder.
- Select the destination drive and create or choose a Steam library location.
- Return to the source drive, select the game, and start the move.
The exact icon or label can shift between Steam client versions, but the destination must be registered in Storage Manager before it becomes a move target. Do not create a look-alike folder and drag files into it while Steam is running.
Will moving a Steam game delete your saves?
Moving a game through Steam is designed to relocate the installed game files, not erase your progress. However, a successful installation move is not proof that every save is backed up.
| Data | What the Steam move does | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| Installed game files | Moves them to the selected Steam library | Let Steam finish; verify afterward if needed |
| Steam Cloud saves | Cloud synchronization remains a separate feature | Confirm Cloud is enabled and synchronized |
| Local saves outside the game folder | Usually remain where the game or Windows stores them | Back them up using the developer’s documented location |
| Mods inside the installation | May move with the files, but support varies | Record your mod setup and follow the mod manager’s instructions |
| Workshop content | Steam manages subscribed content separately from the base install | Allow downloads to finish after the move |
| Screenshots and controller settings | Not the purpose of Move Install Folder | Do not treat the move as a complete Steam backup |
Games with separate launchers may keep additional data in their own folders or account services. If a title uses EA app, Ubisoft Connect, Rockstar Games Launcher, or another companion client, close it before moving and let it detect the new Steam path after launch.
Should you move games to an SSD or HDD?
An SSD is usually the better destination for games with frequent loading, large streamed worlds, or storage-speed requirements. An HDD remains useful for older titles, small games, or a library you play infrequently.
Check the game’s official system requirements before moving it to slower storage. Some current games explicitly require an SSD. Steam will generally let you organize libraries across available drives, but that does not override a developer’s storage requirement.
Moving a game from one SSD to another does not inherently improve graphics quality or frame rate. The likely benefit is shorter loading and asset-access time when the destination is meaningfully faster. Actual results depend on the game and hardware.
Can you use an external drive?
Steam can use a library on an external drive that the operating system and Steam recognize, but it needs a stable connection and a compatible filesystem. For a library you launch regularly:
- Prefer a direct USB connection instead of an unreliable hub.
- Keep the drive connected while Steam is running or a game is updating.
- Exit Steam before disconnecting it.
- Use the operating system’s safe-eject process.
- Avoid changing the drive letter on Windows after creating the library.
If the drive is absent when Steam starts, installed games may appear unavailable or uninstalled. That does not necessarily mean their files were deleted; reconnect the drive and make sure its library is still registered.
What to do if Steam says the moved game is uninstalled
Valve’s missing installed games guide recommends adding the existing library folder through Storage Manager so Steam can recognize the files. Use this order:
- Confirm the destination drive is connected and visible to the operating system.
- Restart Steam.
- Open Settings > Storage.
- Add the existing Steam library folder on that drive if it is missing.
- Return to Library and check the game again.
Do not immediately delete the destination folder or start a full download. First verify that the existing library is mounted and selected. If Steam offers an install to the same library, it may discover existing files, but keep a backup before experimenting with a manually moved folder.
How to fix a Steam game move that fails or gets stuck
1. Check free space on both drives
The destination needs room for the game, and Steam may need working space to complete file operations. Clear unnecessary files or choose another library.
2. Restart Steam and try one game
Exit Steam completely, reopen it, and move one title instead of a large batch. This separates a one-game problem from a destination-library problem.
3. Close launchers, mod tools, and the game
Another process can hold files open. Close associated launchers and mod managers, then retry without deleting anything.
4. Repair or verify the installation
If a move finishes but the game will not launch, use Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files. Our Steam file-verification guide explains what the scan repairs and what to try next.
5. Test another Steam library
Valve’s installation troubleshooting specifically suggests moving a game to an alternate drive when testing update or installation problems. If transfers fail only on one disk, inspect that drive’s connection, permissions, free space, and health.
6. Avoid manual folder surgery as the first fix
Moving steamapps folders by hand can work in special recovery situations, but it is easier to create mismatched library records or incomplete installs. Use Steam’s Move command whenever the client can see both drives.
Moving a game is different from moving Steam itself
Storage Manager moves game installations between Steam libraries. It does not relocate the Steam client application. If you want to move Steam itself to another disk, use Valve’s dedicated Steam installation migration instructions and preserve the documented folders rather than treating the program like an individual game.
For most players, there is no need to move the client. Leaving Steam on the system drive while placing large games on a second SSD is a normal multi-library setup.
Quick answers
Do I need to reinstall or redownload the game?
No. Steam’s Move command transfers the existing installation locally. A small download may still occur if the game needs an update or Steam repairs changed files.
Can I move multiple Steam games at once?
Yes. Use Steam > Settings > Storage, select the source drive, check multiple games, and choose Move.
Can I choose where new Steam games install?
Yes. Steam lets you choose a library when installing. Storage settings also allow you to manage libraries across multiple drives.
Will achievements and playtime disappear?
No. Achievements and playtime are associated with the Steam account and game, not the local library path. Local save protection is a separate question, so confirm Cloud or back up saves.
Can Steam move a game while it is running?
No practical workflow should depend on that. Close the game and related launchers before starting the transfer.
Bottom line
Use Steam’s built-in Storage Manager to move several games, or Properties > Installed Files > Move Install Folder for one game. Both routes avoid a full reinstall and are safer than dragging folders manually.
Before starting, verify free space, close the game, and protect saves or mods that may not be covered by Steam Cloud. Afterward, launch the game once and verify its files if anything behaves incorrectly. If you share the reorganized library with people in your household, our Steam Families explainer covers ownership, simultaneous play, DLC, and cooldown rules.
Official sources
- Steam Support: Moving a Steam Installation and Games
- Steam Support: Managing Steam Downloads & Updates
- Steam Support: Installed Games Are Appearing as Uninstalled
- Steam Support: Steam Cloud
- Steam Support: Update & Installation Issues
Steam menu paths and support guidance checked October 26, 2026. Client labels can change in future updates.
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