How to transfer a Steam game to another drive: step-by-step practical guide

With the constant increase in the size of video games and the multiplication of downloadable content, effectively managing your storage space has become a major challenge for PC gamers in 2025. When your primary drive begins to fill up, especially the SSD hosting your operating system and your most used applications, you are often faced with a dilemma: how to transfer a Steam game to another drive without spending hours reinstalling everything or enduring long download times? This practical guide meets the expectations of these players by detailing the methods to move your Steam games to a secondary hard drive or SSD, while optimizing your disk space and gaming experience.

The good news is that Steam has integrated robust features into its interface to simplify this transfer, making the process accessible even to the less experienced. Moreover, by adopting a wise distribution strategy between SSD and HDD, you can not only free up valuable space on your primary drive but also improve the overall performance of your game library. Whether you want to move a single game or organize optimal management of several titles, the different methods we will detail are designed to adapt to your needs.

To clarify the procedure and avoid the most common mistakes, this guide also includes practical advice accompanied by concrete examples, such as the ideal solution when your 500 GB SSD categorically refuses to download the latest AAA hit due to insufficient space. You will learn how to manage your Steam files efficiently, configure your default installation directory, and use built-in tools to verify the integrity of your games after transfer. In short, everything you need to know to master game transfers stress-free and safely.

The undeniable benefits of moving a Steam game to another drive to optimize your disk space

Moving Steam games to another drive is not just a technical headache; it is above all a strategic solution to increase your system’s performance while gaining in ease of use. In a context where video game titles are becoming more complex and their sizes often explode beyond 100 GB, saturation of the primary drive, often an SSD, can quickly become a bottleneck. One of the key elements is therefore efficient management of this space to avoid choking your operating system and preserving its performance.

For example, moving a resource-intensive game, such as a recent Call of Duty or a large-scale open-world RPG, to a dedicated SSD can drastically reduce loading times. Transitioning from a traditional 7200 rpm mechanical hard drive to a very fast NVMe SSD literally changes the user experience. For competitive gamers or fans of solo games with gigantic open worlds, the difference is spectacular: waiting times sometimes move from several minutes to just a few seconds.

At the same time, games you play less frequently can perfectly reside on a secondary hard drive to save space on the main SSD. This classification according to usage frequency brings a logical organization to your Steam library and simplifies system maintenance.

Here is a list of the main advantages of transferring your games to other drives:

• Critical space freeing on the system drive, thus reducing fragmentation and improving your PC’s overall responsiveness.
• Improved loading times thanks to using SSDs for games currently played.
• Simplified library management by distributing games according to their age and frequency of use.
• Reduced risk of data loss in case of failure of a single drive, thanks to distributed installations.
• Preservation of the main SSD drive’s health by limiting intensive writes related to installations and updates.

This organization becomes a true storage strategy. In 2025, with increased pressure on hardware to keep up with evolving games, this management is no longer just a technical necessity but part of a performance optimization and equipment durability logic.

Using the official Steam method to transfer a game: simple and secure procedure

Over the years, Steam has considerably improved its internal tools to make game transfers more intuitive, thus avoiding the traditional heavy and tedious reinstallation. In 2025, the official method remains the most recommended as it is reliable, fast, and does not require complex handling.

To move a Steam game to another drive, follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Open Steam and click on Library to display your games.
2. Right-click on the game you want to transfer, then select Properties.
3. In the Properties tab, click on Local Files (or Installed Files in English).
4. Select Move Install Folder.
5. Choose the new drive or destination folder from the list provided.
6. Confirm and wait while Steam moves the files.

This method uses the Steam library manager, ensuring that all links and data remain intact. In practice, this means that unlike manual solutions requiring copy-pasting followed by a reinstallation, you lose no data and avoid any risk of corrupted files.

Be aware, however, of an important limitation: Steam currently does not allow moving multiple games simultaneously using this interface. Each title must be moved one by one. This can be inconvenient if you want to optimize space for multiple games at once, but it is the price to pay for the safety and reliability of the process.

This procedure has been designed to make the task accessible even to novice users, without requiring access to the external file system or Windows registry. In terms of Steam game backups, it remains the safest method.

Configure and change the default installation folder for your future Steam games

Once you have successfully moved your existing games, it becomes wise to configure the default installation location to avoid having to repeat this kind of transfer systematically in the future. Steam also facilitates this management through options in its settings.

To change the destination drive for future installations, proceed as follows:

1. Access the Settings in the Steam menu.
2. Select the Storage section.
3. Locate the list of your Steam library folders. Click on + Add Library Folder if the desired location is not already present.
4. Choose the drive or folder where you want to install your next games.
5. Once added, click on the three dots next to the folder and select Set as Default.

From that moment on, all new games you download will automatically install on the drive you have chosen. This very convenient option allows you to optimize your disk space without having to intervene at each installation.

It should be noted that depending on the size of your games and the capacity of your drives, it is recommended to prioritize fast SSDs for titles you play regularly and reserve mechanical hard drives for archiving less frequently used games.

The right configuration and adaptation of installation locations are practices that allow you to evolve efficiently with a Steam library that grows over time.

Drive Type	Speed	Recommended Use	Typical Capacity
NVMe SSD	Very fast	Current games, competitive	500 GB – 2 TB
SATA SSD	Fast	Regular games, solo	1 TB – 4 TB
7200 rpm HDD	Standard	Archive storage, old games	2 TB – 8 TB

How to effectively manage multiple Steam games on different drives: tips for optimized storage

Managing multiple Steam games across several drives may seem complex at first, especially if you have a large library of hundreds of titles. Yet, with a bit of organization, it is possible to optimize your space and loading times without losing control.

My personal method relies on regularly evaluating my gaming habits. By sorting my games according to their usage frequency, I place those I actively play on an ultra-fast NVMe SSD, those I launch occasionally on a slower SATA SSD, and archived games on a more classic hard drive. This system has the advantage of being scalable and adaptable depending on new releases or changes in my preferences.

Here are some practical tips to manage multiple games effectively:

• Plan your installations: before installing a game, think about how often you will play it and choose the drive accordingly.
• Rebalance regularly: move a game if your usage changes, using the official Steam method to avoid mistakes.
• Create multiple library folders: this organization allows you to easily segment your collection and not overload a single drive.
• Use Steam tools to verify file integrity: before launching a transferred game, this check prevents bugs related to incomplete transfers.
• Avoid overloading a drive: always leave some free space to ensure your hardware’s performance and longevity.

By adopting these good practices, you will keep your Steam library smooth and your hardware protected, which increases enjoyment and game fluidity.

Moving your Steam games to another hard drive or SSD with manual operations: for advanced users

Some players preferring full control over their files opt for manual methods to move their Steam games. Although riskier, these can be useful in certain specific cases, especially when performing a massive transfer or bypassing some bugs related to the Steam interface.

The classic procedure involves:

1. Locate the game’s installation folder on your current drive (usually in Steamsteamappscommon).
2. Copy or move the game folder to the new location on the target drive.
3. Open Steam, right-click on the game in your library, then select Properties > Local Files and click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.

This last step is crucial: it allows Steam to detect that the files are present at their new location and fix any errors. However, this method can cause errors if poorly executed or if the move is not completed correctly. It is therefore recommended to keep a backup before handling files manually.

In 2025, this type of method is less common thanks to Steam’s tools, but some advanced users still adopt it, notably to quickly back up games on external media or to organize their library more flexibly.

Common mistakes and solutions to avoid data loss when transferring a Steam game

To ensure a smooth transfer, it is better to be aware of the most frequent pitfalls encountered by users. Incorrect handling or interrupted transfer can lead to data loss, corrupted installation, or launching errors.

Here are the most common problems and their associated solutions:

• Transfer interruption: Make sure Steam stays open and the computer does not shut down during the move. Do not disconnect the target drive.
• Wrong location: Check that the chosen folder is properly configured as a Steam library folder and the path is correct.
• Corrupted files: Use the Verify Integrity of Game Files function in Steam properties to repair errors.
• Full drive: Check the target drive’s capacity before starting the transfer to prevent failure midway.
• Permission issues: Run Steam as administrator if you encounter file access problems.

To address these issues, it is advisable to always perform a Steam game backup before any important transfer, either via third-party tools or by simply copying the files. This provides welcome peace of mind, especially for large and valuable libraries.

Best practices to optimize disk space and manage Steam files like a pro

While transferring a Steam game to another drive is a temporary solution, optimizing your disk space also involves regular and organized management of your files and installations. Adopting good habits helps save space and avoid slowdowns caused by saturation or excessive fragmentation.

Here are some tips to optimize your Steam library disk space:

• Uninstall games you no longer use: even if nostalgia may tempt you, keeping titles you never launched takes up unnecessary space.
• Use Steam tools to analyze used space: in Settings > Storage, you can precisely visualize the space occupied by each game and each library folder.
• Spread your library across several drives: by creating multiple library folders, you avoid saturating a single drive.
• Keep sufficient free space: A saturated drive compromises performance; aim for at least 15-20% free space.
• Plan your updates: games on SSD will update faster than on HDD, so organize your transfers accordingly.

Also, regularly remember to manage Steam files by exploring your folders and deleting unnecessary temporary or cache content. Steam also offers deletion of superfluous additional content and DLC that can unnecessarily bloat the library.

This discipline will allow you to maintain a flexible, manageable, performant, and well-organized library for your gaming sessions.