How to move Valorant to a different drive

You can move Valorant from one drive to another without downloading the entire game again. The process takes about 10 to 15 minutes and involves closing the game, moving the folder, and telling the Riot Client where to find it. This works whether you are moving from a smaller drive to a larger one, from a hard drive to an SSD, or between any two drives on your computer.

The key is that Valorant stores all its game files in a single folder that you can cut and paste. Once you move that folder, you update the Riot Client's settings to point to the new location. The game will launch from there without needing to re-read anything.

Key Takeaways

  • Close Valorant and the Riot Client completely before moving any files, or the move will fail and you may have to reinstall.
  • Find your Valorant folder (usually in C:\Riot Games\VALORANT on Windows), cut it, and paste it into the new drive's location.
  • Open the Riot Client, go to Settings, find the Valorant game entry, and click the folder icon to browse to your new Valorant location.
  • The Riot Client will scan the folder to confirm all files are there, then you can launch the game from the new drive.

Close Valorant and the Riot Client completely

Before you move any files, make sure Valorant and the Riot Client are not running. If either one is open, Windows will lock the game files and prevent you from moving them. Close Valorant first, then close the Riot Client. Check your system tray (the small icons in the bottom right corner of your screen) to make sure the Riot Client is not running there either.

If you are unsure whether the Riot Client is still running, open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc, look for "RiotClientServices.exe" or "RiotClientUx.exe" in the list, and close it if you see it. Once both are fully closed, you are ready to move the folder.

Locate your current Valorant folder

On Windows, Valorant is usually installed in C:\Riot Games\VALORANT. Open File Explorer, type C:\Riot Games into the address bar at the top, and press Enter. You should see a folder named VALORANT. This folder contains all the game files you need to move.

If you do not see the Riot Games folder at C:\, it may be installed on a different drive. Open File Explorer and check your other drives (D:\, E:\, and so on) for a Riot Games folder. Once you find it, right-click on the VALORANT folder inside and select "Cut" from the menu. Do not copy it — cutting removes it from the old location and prepares it to be pasted in the new one.

Choose your destination and paste the folder

Open File Explorer and navigate to the drive where you want to move Valorant. For example, if you are moving to drive D:\, click on "This PC" in the left sidebar, then double-click the D:\ drive. You can paste the folder directly on the drive, or create a new folder first (for example, D:\Games) and paste it there. The location does not matter as long as you remember where it is.

Right-click in the empty space on your destination drive and select "Paste". Windows will begin moving the Valorant folder. Depending on your drives and the speed of your connection, this can take a few minutes. Do not close File Explorer or turn off your computer while the move is happening. Once the paste is complete, you should see the VALORANT folder in its new location.

Update the Riot Client to the new location

Open the Riot Client. Click the gear icon in the top right corner to open Settings. In the left sidebar, look for "About" or scroll down until you see a list of installed games. Find Valorant in that list. Next to Valorant, you should see a folder icon or a button that says "Browse". Click it.

A window will open asking you to select a folder. Navigate to the new location where you pasted the VALORANT folder and select it. Click "Select Folder" or "OK". The Riot Client will scan the folder to make sure all the game files are there. This scan takes a minute or two. Once it finishes, the Riot Client will show that Valorant is installed at the new location.

Verify the move and launch the game

After the Riot Client finishes scanning, close Settings and return to the main Riot Client window. You should see Valorant listed with a "Play" button. Click "Play" to launch the game from its new location. The game should start normally. If it does, the move was successful.

If the game does not launch or you see an error message, close the Riot Client and check that the VALORANT folder is still in the location you moved it to. If the folder is there, open the Riot Client again and repeat the step where you browse to the folder location. Sometimes the Riot Client needs a second attempt to recognize the new path.

What to do if the move fails

If you see an error during the move or the Riot Client cannot find the game files, the most reliable fix is to reinstall. Uninstall Valorant through the Riot Client (right-click on Valorant in the client and select "Uninstall"), then install it fresh on your destination drive. This takes longer than moving, but it ensures all files are correct.

If you want to try the move again, make sure the old VALORANT folder is completely deleted from the original location. Sometimes a partial or corrupted folder in the old location confuses the Riot Client. Delete it, then repeat the move process from the beginning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move Valorant while I am playing?

No. You must close Valorant and the Riot Client completely before moving the folder. If you try to move files while the game is running, Windows will lock them and the move will fail. Always close both programs first.

Will moving Valorant to an SSD make it load faster?

Yes, moving from a hard drive to an SSD will reduce load times because SSDs read data much faster. You may notice shorter wait times when launching the game and loading into matches. The difference is most noticeable if you are moving from an older or slower hard drive.

What if I do not know where my Valorant folder is?

Open the Riot Client, go to Settings, find Valorant, and click the folder icon next to it. The Riot Client will open File Explorer and show you exactly where the folder is located. You can then use that location to move the folder to your new drive.

Do I need to log in again after moving Valorant?

No. Your login information and game settings are stored separately from the game files. After you move Valorant and update the Riot Client, you can launch the game and play without logging in again.

Can I move Valorant to an external drive?

Technically yes, but it is not recommended. External drives are slower than internal drives, and the connection can be interrupted. This will cause lag and may cause the game to crash. Keep Valorant on an internal drive for the best performance.