Steam, the popular digital distribution platform, has revolutionized the way we play and manage our games. With its vast library of titles and features like cloud saves and social networking, Steam has become an essential tool for gamers worldwide. However, as our game libraries grow, managing our Steam games can become a daunting task, especially when it comes to moving games between folders or drives. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of manual Steam game management and provide a comprehensive guide on how to move a Steam game.
Why Manually Move a Steam Game?
Before we dive into the process, it’s essential to understand why you might need to manually move a Steam game in the first place. Here are a few scenarios where manual movement comes in handy:
- Space management:** If you have a large game library and limited storage space, moving games to an external hard drive or a different folder can help free up space on your primary drive.
- Organizational purposes:** You might want to organize your games by genre, category, or platform, making it easier to find and launch your games.
- PC upgrading or replacement:** When upgrading or replacing your PC, you might need to move your Steam games to a new system or drive to ensure seamless gameplay without re-downloading the game.
What You’ll Need to Get Started
Before we begin, make sure you have the following:
- A Steam account with the game you want to move installed.
- Administrative privileges on your computer.
- A basic understanding of file systems and folder structures.
- Patience and attention to detail (manual game movement can be a tedious process).
Step 1: Locate the Steam Game Folder
The first step in manually moving a Steam game is to locate the game’s folder on your system. Here’s how:
Default Steam Folder Location
By default, Steam installs games in the following location:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common
This folder contains all your Steam games, each in their respective subfolders.
Find the Game Folder
To find the specific game folder you want to move, follow these steps:
- Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
- Navigate to the default Steam folder location or the custom location you specified during Steam installation.
- Look for the “common” folder, and then search for the game’s folder by its title or app ID (you can find the app ID in the Steam store page or the game’s properties).
- Open the game folder to verify it contains the game’s executable, data, and configuration files.
Step 2: Prepare the Game for Movement
Before moving the game, you’ll need to prepare it by pausing any ongoing downloads, closing the game, and verifying the game’s files.
Pause Ongoing Downloads
To avoid any issues during the move, pause any ongoing downloads for the game:
- Open Steam and navigate to the “Downloads” section.
- Find the game you want to move and click “Pause” next to its download progress.
Close the Game and Steam
Close the game and Steam to ensure no files are in use during the move:
- Close the game if it’s running.
- Exit Steam completely by clicking “Steam” in the top-left corner and selecting “Exit” or by right-clicking the Steam icon in the system tray and selecting “Exit”.
Verify Game Files
Verify the game’s files to ensure they’re complete and not corrupted:
- Open Steam and navigate to the “Library” section.
- Right-click the game you want to move and select “Properties.”
- In the “Properties” window, click the “Local Files” tab.
- Click “Verify Integrity of Game Files” to start the verification process.
- Wait for Steam to complete the verification; if any issues are found, Steam will automatically fix them.
Step 3: Move the Game Folder
Now that the game is prepared, it’s time to move the game folder to its new location.
Choose a New Location
Select a new location for the game folder, ensuring it has enough space to accommodate the game’s files. You can move the game folder to an external hard drive, a different folder on the same drive, or even a network drive.
Move the Game Folder
Using File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac), move the game folder to its new location:
- Locate the game folder in its current location.
- Right-click the game folder and select “Cut” or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+X (Windows) or Command+X (Mac).
- Navigate to the new location and right-click inside the folder, then select “Paste” or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac).
Step 4: Update Steam’s Game Path
After moving the game folder, you need to update Steam’s game path to reflect the new location.
Update the Game Path in Steam
To update the game path in Steam:
- Open Steam and navigate to the “Library” section.
- Right-click the game you moved and select “Properties.”
- In the “Properties” window, click the “Local Files” tab.
- Click the “Browse” button next to the “game installation folder” field.
- Navigate to the new location of the game folder and select the folder.
- Click “OK” to save the changes.
Step 5: Verify the Game’s Integrity (Again)
After updating the game path, verify the game’s files again to ensure everything is in order:
- Open Steam and navigate to the “Library” section.
- Right-click the game and select “Properties.”
- In the “Properties” window, click the “Local Files” tab.
- Click “Verify Integrity of Game Files” to start the verification process.
- Wait for Steam to complete the verification; if any issues are found, Steam will automatically fix them.
Conclusion
Manually moving a Steam game might seem daunting, but by following these steps, you can successfully transfer your games to a new location without losing any progress or compromising your gaming experience. Remember to be patient, as the process can take some time, especially for larger games.
By taking control of your Steam game management, you can optimize your gaming setup, free up space, and ensure that your games are always organized and easily accessible. Happy gaming!
Q: Why would I want to manually move a Steam game?
Moving a Steam game manually can be beneficial in several situations. For example, if you have a large game library and want to free up space on your main hard drive, you can move games to an external hard drive or a different internal drive. This can help improve your computer’s performance and reduce clutter. Additionally, if you have a slower hard drive and a faster solid-state drive, you can move your most played games to the faster drive to improve loading times.
By manually moving a Steam game, you have more control over where your games are stored and can optimize your storage setup to fit your needs. This can be especially useful if you have a large game collection or limited storage space on your main drive. By moving games to different locations, you can ensure that your most important files and programs have access to the fastest storage available.
Q: Will moving a Steam game affect my game saves?
Moving a Steam game will not affect your game saves, as long as you follow the correct steps outlined in the guide. Steam stores your game saves in a separate folder, which is not affected when you move the game files. This means that you can safely move your games without worrying about losing your progress.
However, it’s always a good idea to back up your game saves regularly, regardless of whether you’re moving games or not. This will ensure that your hard work and progress are safe in case something goes wrong or you need to reinstall the game.
Q: Can I move a Steam game to an external hard drive?
Yes, you can move a Steam game to an external hard drive. In fact, this is one of the most common reasons people move Steam games manually. External hard drives offer a convenient way to expand your storage capacity and keep your games organized.
When moving a game to an external hard drive, make sure the drive is connected to your computer and recognized by Steam. You’ll also want to ensure that the drive has enough free space to hold the game files and any future updates.
Q: Will moving a Steam game affect my Steam achievements?
Moving a Steam game will not affect your Steam achievements. Steam achievements are tied to your Steam account, not the location of the game files on your computer. This means that you can move your games around as much as you want, and your achievements will remain intact.
If you’re concerned about losing your achievements, you can always check your Steam profile to ensure that they’re still there. Your achievements are stored on Steam’s servers, so even if you uninstall a game or move it to a different location, your achievements will still be safe.
Q: Can I move a Steam game to a different computer?
While you can move a Steam game to a different computer, it’s not as straightforward as moving it to a different drive on the same computer. When you move a game to a different computer, you’ll need to reinstall Steam and log in to your Steam account on the new computer.
Once you’ve set up Steam on the new computer, you can move the game files to the new computer and reinstall the game through Steam. This will allow you to play the game on the new computer, but you’ll need to ensure that you have the correct permissions and access to the game files.
Q: Will moving a Steam game affect my game mods?
Moving a Steam game can affect your game mods, depending on how they’re installed. If you’ve installed mods through the Steam Workshop, they should be preserved when you move the game. However, if you’ve installed mods manually, you’ll need to move the mod files along with the game files to ensure that they continue to work properly.
It’s a good idea to keep track of your mod installations and make sure you move all the necessary files to the new location. If you’re unsure about how to move your mods, you can try reinstalling them through the Steam Workshop or seeking guidance from the mod creators.
Q: Is it safe to move a Steam game?
Moving a Steam game is generally safe, as long as you follow the correct steps and ensure that you’re moving all the necessary files. However, as with any file transfer, there’s always a risk of something going wrong, such as file corruption or data loss.
To minimize the risk, make sure you’re moving the entire game folder and all its contents to the new location. You should also verify the integrity of the game files after moving them to ensure that everything is functioning correctly. If you’re unsure about any part of the process, it’s always a good idea to seek guidance from Steam’s support resources or online forums.