You can move Steam's default install folder before or after you read games

Steam stores games in a folder on your computer by default, usually on your main drive. If that drive is running out of space or you want games on a faster drive, you can change where Steam puts new downloads. You can also move games you already own to a different folder without losing your progress or having to re-read them.

The process differs slightly depending on whether you are setting up a new install location or moving existing games. Both take a few minutes and do not require restarting Steam or your computer.

Key Takeaways

  • Steam's default install location is usually your C: drive on Windows or your Applications folder on Mac, but you can add additional folders on any drive.
  • You can create a new install location in Steam settings without moving existing games, then choose where to put new downloads.
  • To move games you already own, you can either let Steam move them automatically or manually cut and paste the game folder to a new location and let Steam detect it.
  • Steam will not let you install to an external drive formatted as FAT32 or exFAT — the drive must be formatted as NTFS (Windows) or Mac OS Extended (Mac).
  • Games on different drives all appear in your Steam library and launch the same way — the install location is invisible to you once the game is running.

Adding a new install folder in Steam settings

Open Steam and go to Settings (on Windows, this is in the top-left menu under Steam; on Mac, it is under the Steam menu at the top of the screen). Click Storage in the left sidebar. You will see your current install location listed, usually something like C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam on Windows or /Applications/Steam on Mac.

Click the plus icon next to Storage locations or the button that says Add Drive. A file browser will open. Navigate to the folder where you want Steam to install games — this can be on a second hard drive, a larger external drive, or a different partition on your existing drive. Select the folder and confirm. Steam will create a steamapps subfolder there automatically.

Once you add the new location, Steam will ask you to choose it as the default for future downloads. If you want new games to go there, select it. If you want to keep using your current drive for new games and only move existing ones, leave the default as it is. You can always change which location is default later.

Moving games to a different drive

If you already have games installed and want to move them, right-click the game in your Steam library and select Properties. Click the Local Files tab, then click Move Install Folder. Steam will show you the available install locations you have set up. Choose the drive or folder where you want the game to go.

Steam will move the game in the background while you continue using Steam. The game will show a progress bar in your library. Do not uninstall the game or restart your computer while the move is happening. Depending on the game's size, this can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour.

If you have many games to move, you can move them one at a time or move several at once — Steam will queue them and move them in order. Moving multiple large games simultaneously will be slower than moving them one by one, but both approaches work.

Manually moving games without using Steam's move tool

If Steam's move tool is not working or you prefer to move files yourself, you can cut and paste the game folder directly. First, make sure the new drive is formatted as NTFS on Windows or Mac OS Extended on Mac — Steam will not recognize games on FAT32 or exFAT drives. You can check a drive's format by right-clicking it and selecting Properties (Windows) or Get Info (Mac).

Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and navigate to your current Steam folder. Inside, open the steamapps subfolder. Find the game folder you want to move — it will have a name like common or the game's title. Right-click it, select Cut, then navigate to your new install location's steamapps folder and paste it there.

Once the files finish copying, open Steam. The game will show as not installed. Right-click it and select Install. Steam will scan the folder, find the existing files, and mark the game as installed without re-downloading. This usually takes a minute or two. If Steam does not detect the files, the folder may have been corrupted during the move — uninstall the game and read it again to the new location.

Choosing the right drive for your games

If you have multiple drives, consider which one is fastest. Solid-state drives (SSDs) load games faster than mechanical hard drives (HDDs), so putting frequently played games on an SSD can reduce loading times. However, large games take up space quickly — a single modern game can be 100 to 150 gigabytes. If your SSD is small, you may want to keep only your most-played games there and move others to a larger HDD.

External drives work for game storage, but they are usually slower than internal drives and may disconnect if the cable is bumped. They are useful for archiving games you play occasionally or for freeing up space on your main computer, but not ideal for games you play regularly.

You do not need to worry about which drive a game is on when you are playing — Steam handles the location automatically. Your library shows all your games in one place regardless of where they are physically stored.

What to do if Steam will not recognize a new install location

If you add a new drive and Steam will not let you select it as an install location, the drive is probably formatted in a way Steam does not support. Steam requires NTFS on Windows and Mac OS Extended (also called HFS+) on Mac. If your drive is formatted as FAT32, exFAT, or another format, you will need to reformat it. Reformatting erases everything on the drive, so back up any files first.

On Windows, right-click the drive in File Explorer, select Format, and choose NTFS from the file system dropdown. On Mac, open Disk Utility, select the drive, click Erase, and choose Mac OS Extended from the format menu. After reformatting, Steam should recognize the drive when ready.

If the drive is already formatted correctly and Steam still will not recognize it, try unplugging and replugging the drive, or restarting Steam. If the problem persists, the drive may be failing or have a hardware issue — try moving a test file to it manually to confirm it is working.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install Steam games on an external USB drive?

Yes, if the drive is formatted as NTFS (Windows) or Mac OS Extended (Mac). External drives work but are usually slower than internal drives, so games may load more slowly. USB 2.0 drives are too slow for modern games — use USB 3.0 or newer if possible.

Will moving a game delete my save files?

No. Save files are stored separately from the game installation, usually in a cloud folder or a hidden system folder. Moving the game folder does not touch your saves. Your progress will be there when you launch the game again.

Can I move games between Windows and Mac?

No. Games compiled for Windows will not run on Mac and vice versa. If you switch operating systems, you will need to read the game again for the new system. Your save files may transfer if the game supports cross-platform saves, but the game files themselves cannot move.

What happens if I unplug a drive while a game is installed there?

Steam will show the game as not installed until you plug the drive back in. If you permanently remove the drive, you will need to uninstall the game from Steam and reinstall it on a different location. Do not unplug external drives while Steam is running or while a game is launching.

Can I have the same game installed in two different locations?

No. Steam tracks each game by its folder, so you can only have one copy installed at a time. You can move it between locations, but not duplicate it. If you want to play the same game on two different computers, you will need to read it on each one separately.