How to Move EA Games to Another Drive

Moving EA Games: The Basic Process

You can move EA games to a different drive by uninstalling them from their current location and reinstalling them on the new drive. The EA App (formerly Origin) lets you choose where to install games before you read them, or you can move an already-installed game by changing the install folder in your library settings. The fastest method depends on whether you want to keep the game files where they are and just tell the EA App about them, or whether you want to physically move the files first.

Moving games to a second drive is useful when your main drive is running low on space, or when you want to keep your operating system and programs on one fast drive while storing larger games on a slower but roomier second drive. The process takes a few minutes of setup but no special tools.

Key Takeaways

The EA App can install new games directly to a second drive if you set the install folder before downloading.
Already-installed games can be moved by changing the install location in the EA App settings, then letting it repair or re-read the files.
You can also manually move game folders to a new drive and then point the EA App to the new location using the "Repair" function.
Moving games to a slower drive may increase load times slightly, but frees up space on your main drive for the operating system and other programs.

Setting Up a New Install Location Before Downloading

If you have not yet downloaded a game, the easiest approach is to tell the EA App where to put it. Open the EA App, go to your Library, and find the game you want to install. Click the Install button. A window will appear asking where you want to install the game — this is where you select your second drive.

The EA App will show you how much space the game needs and how much space is available on each drive. Select the second drive from the dropdown menu and click Install. The game will read directly to that location, and you will not need to move anything later.

Moving an Already-Installed Game to Another Drive

If a game is already installed on your main drive and you want to move it, open the EA App and go to your Library. Find the game, click the three-dot menu next to it, and select "Repair". This opens a window showing the current install location. Click the folder icon or the path itself to change where the game is installed.

Select your second drive and the folder where you want the game to go. Click Repair. The EA App will now look for the game files in the new location. If the files are not there yet, it will re-read them to the new drive. This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on the game size and your internet speed.

If you want to move the files manually first to save bandwidth, you can copy the game folder from your main drive to the second drive using Windows File Explorer or Mac Finder, then use the Repair method above to point the EA App to the new location.

Manually Moving Game Files and Updating the EA App

For games that are very large or if your internet connection is slow, you can move the files yourself and then tell the EA App where they went. First, locate the game folder on your main drive. In Windows, this is usually in C:\Program Files\EA Games or C:\Program Files (x86)\EA Games. On Mac, it is typically in Applications/EA Games.

Copy the entire game folder to your second drive. This can take a while for large games — a 100 GB game might take 30 minutes or more depending on your drive speed. Once the copy is complete, you can delete the original folder from your main drive to free up space.

Now open the EA App, find the game in your Library, click the three-dot menu, and select Repair. Change the install location to the folder you just copied to the second drive. The EA App will verify that the files are there and update its records. You should then be able to launch the game from its new location.

Choosing Between Internal and External Drives

You can move EA games to an internal second drive (like a second hard drive or SSD inside your computer) or to an external drive (connected via USB). Internal drives are faster and more reliable for gaming. External drives work but may have slower load times, especially if they are connected via USB 2.0 instead of USB 3.0 or newer.

If you use an external drive, make sure it stays connected whenever you want to play the game. If you unplug it or it loses power, the EA App will not be able to find the game files. Internal drives do not have this problem — once the game is moved, it behaves the same as if it were on your main drive.

What Happens to Game Settings and Save Files

Moving a game to a different drive does not affect your save files or settings. The EA App stores these separately from the game files themselves, usually in a cloud folder or in a settings folder on your main drive. When you move a game and launch it from the new location, it will load your existing saves and settings exactly as before.

If you are moving a game that stores saves locally rather than in the cloud, check the game's settings menu to see where saves are stored. Some games save to a Documents folder or a game-specific folder outside the main game directory. If that is the case, you may need to move those files separately or reconfigure the save location after moving the game.

Troubleshooting a Move That Did Not Work

If the EA App cannot find a game after you move it, the most common cause is that the folder structure is wrong. The EA App looks for specific files in specific places within the game folder. If you moved only part of the folder or renamed something, it will not find what it needs.

The fix is to use the Repair function again and let the EA App re-read the game to the new location. This takes longer but ensures all files are in the right place. Alternatively, delete the game from the EA App entirely, move the folder back to the original location, and try the process again more carefully.

If the game launches but runs very slowly after moving it, check whether you moved it to an external drive or a much slower internal drive. Games on slow drives can have longer load times and occasional stuttering. Moving the game back to your main drive or to a faster secondary drive usually solves this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will moving a game to another drive make it run slower?

Only if you move it to a much slower drive. Moving a game from one SSD to another SSD will have no noticeable effect. Moving from an SSD to an older hard drive or external USB drive may add a few seconds to load times. The game itself will run at the same frame rate once it is fully loaded.

Can I move games between my PC and a Mac?

No. EA game files are compiled differently for Windows and Mac, so a game folder from a PC will not work on a Mac or vice versa. You would need to read and install the game separately on each system.

What if I unplug an external drive while a game is running?

The game will likely crash or freeze. Always make sure an external drive stays connected while you are playing a game stored on it. If you need to move the drive, close the game first and wait for the EA App to fully close.

Do I need to uninstall a game before moving it?

No. You can move a game without uninstalling it. Using the Repair function or manually moving the folder and then using Repair is faster than uninstalling and reinstalling from scratch, especially for large games.

Can I move games to a network drive or cloud storage?

Network drives and cloud storage are too slow for gaming and are not supported by the EA App. Games need to be on a local drive — either inside your computer or connected directly via USB. Trying to run a game from a network location will result in constant stuttering and crashes.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.