How do I move steam games from one drive to the other?

[Chrispurvis32]

I bought a completely new drive just to install games from steam on, since my main hdd was running out of space.

 

[cin19]

Here is how to from steam https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129

 

[bigirishman]

Just uninstall them and the next time you install the game steam gives you an option to put it on the other drive.

 

[Hawkeye22]

I beleive the newest steam client now allows you to select an alternate directory to save games. Your currently installed games will remain in the current directory, but I don't see why you shouldn't just be able to move them to the alternate directory.

 

[Pitkid777]

I beleive the newest steam client now allows you to select an alternate directory to save games. Your currently installed games will remain in the current directory, but I don't see why you shouldn't just be able to move them to the alternate directory.

As long as Steam reassociates the shortcuts with the new file locations this will work.

 

[Hawkeye22]

I beleive the newest steam client now allows you to select an alternate directory to save games. Your currently installed games will remain in the current directory, but I don't see why you shouldn't just be able to move them to the alternate directory.

As long as Steam reassociates the shortcuts with the new file locations this will work.

This, I'm not sure of as I haven't tested this yet. I haven't purchased any new games since this feature was added a few months ago. I would hope the steam developers would be smart enough to check all alternate directories to launch games from. It wouldn't take much to see if the file exists and update any relevent regisrty entries and other game config information.

 

[mustbemike123]

Ok, I didn't see this answer anywhere online and I had the exact same dilemma as you. Assuming you have already established another library for Steam, i.e. D:/Steam/SteamApps/common/(Game Folder) basically mirroring the install files which are presumably at C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam blah blah.

Ok, take the game folder you want to move and cut it from the original directory, and paste it in the new one. Once it's finished moving, in the Steam window, select the game and click Delete Local Content. It will then try and delete what was previously there, i.e. nothing since you just moved it, and then it will give you the option to install once more.

Now click install, and then select the new install path, i.e. D:/Steam, and click next. Steam will then notice that all of those files are already there and it will just look through them and in about two minutes it'll decide it's all there and you're good to go, no special software or console commands or anything.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

http://lifehacker.com/5626931/steam-mover-relocates-applications-to-free-up-space-on-your-primary-drive

 

[Hawkeye22]

The steam mover app was basically a hack until steam added the option to install to another drive. It just creats a link (like a shortcut) that points to the new folder.

I like mustbemike123's idea better.

 

[hedgehoglicker]

Hi Mike, Created a profile just to say thanks. This was as quick and easy as you said. I moved all of Arma 2 /dayz to an ssd in less than 5 mins. I am very wary of using things created by other people. This solution gives you all the control. Thanks again

 

[Liam Joyce]

Ok, I didn't see this answer anywhere online and I had the exact same dilemma as you. Assuming you have already established another library for Steam, i.e. D:/Steam/SteamApps/common/(Game Folder) basically mirroring the install files which are presumably at C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam blah blah.

Ok, take the game folder you want to move and cut it from the original directory, and paste it in the new one. Once it's finished moving, in the Steam window, select the game and click Delete Local Content. It will then try and delete what was previously there, i.e. nothing since you just moved it, and then it will give you the option to install once more.

Now click install, and then select the new install path, i.e. D:/Steam, and click next. Steam will then notice that all of those files are already there and it will just look through them and in about two minutes it'll decide it's all there and you're good to go, no special software or console commands or anything.

this worked for me thank you for saving me all that download time, the only thing i had to do differently was i had to go through C:/programfiles(x86)/steam/steamapps/common/dayz because it doesnt appear to let you choose a path on c drive and that is the default, but it worked just fine

 

[thefaustdilemma]

Ok, I didn't see this answer anywhere online and I had the exact same dilemma as you. Assuming you have already established another library for Steam, i.e. D:/Steam/SteamApps/common/(Game Folder) basically mirroring the install files which are presumably at C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam blah blah.

Ok, take the game folder you want to move and cut it from the original directory, and paste it in the new one. Once it's finished moving, in the Steam window, select the game and click Delete Local Content. It will then try and delete what was previously there, i.e. nothing since you just moved it, and then it will give you the option to install once more.

Now click install, and then select the new install path, i.e. D:/Steam, and click next. Steam will then notice that all of those files are already there and it will just look through them and in about two minutes it'll decide it's all there and you're good to go, no special software or console commands or anything.

To mustbemike: You are beautiful!