Use Steam’s built-in storage controls to move installed games to an external drive: add the drive as a Steam library location, then move games from Storage or from each game’s Properties. Once the alternate library is set up, Steam says the move does not require downloading the games again.
Before you move your games
Connect the external drive and make sure your computer can access it. You are moving game installations, not the Steam client itself: for games, use Steam’s library controls rather than moving or deleting game files manually.
Steam cautions that installing Steam itself on an external hard drive is not recommended because it can cause performance issues. That warning is not a comparison of drive types or a guarantee that an external SSD will avoid the issue. See Steam Support’s Moving a Steam Installation and Games.
Add the external drive as a Steam library
- Connect and mount the drive, then open Steam.
- Open Steam > Settings > Storage.
- Use the + control to add a library location on the external drive, then select or create the folder Steam should use.
Steam’s moving guide describes adding another library location in Storage. The Storage screen also shows your current library locations and which drive contains each game.
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Move games to the external drive
Move several games from Storage
- In Steam > Settings > Storage, select the drive or library that currently contains the games.
- Select the games you want to move.
- Choose Move, then select the external-drive library as the destination.
Move one game from its Library page
- In Steam’s Library, right-click the game and choose Properties.
- Open Installed Files and choose Move Install Folder.
- Select the external-drive library and confirm the move.
Steam documents this per-game route in Managing Steam Downloads & Updates. With an alternate library configured, Steam says the existing installation can be moved without a new game download.
What to expect when you use the drive
Keep the external drive connected when you want Steam to access and launch games installed on it. The cited Steam guidance does not specify how every disconnect, drive-letter change, or relaunch scenario behaves, so reconnect the drive and confirm Steam sees the library if a game appears unavailable.
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Steam’s external-drive warning concerns possible performance issues; the cited guidance does not establish a minimum capacity, preferred filesystem or connection standard, or measured speed difference between drive types. Check that the drive has enough available space for the installations you plan to move and is compatible with your computer.
Fix a library or game Steam no longer recognizes
- An existing library is missing: Open Steam > Settings > Storage and add the existing library location again.
- A game’s files may be damaged or incomplete: Open the game’s Properties > Installed Files and choose Verify integrity of game files.
- Steam cannot write to a library folder: Use Repair Folder in Storage for the affected library.
Steam lists repair and verification options in Update & Installation Issues; its guidance on games that appear uninstalled is available at Los juegos instalados aparecen como no instalados.
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Moving the Steam client is a different process
If you intend to move Steam itself rather than its games, follow Steam’s separate client-move instructions. Steam highly recommends backing up the steamapps folder before moving its installation. Local saves and profiles for third-party games may be stored elsewhere; Steam says many are in C:Users[Windows user name]DocumentsMy Games, but developers choose where save files are stored. Check each game’s save location: moving a Steam library does not establish that every local save will move with it.
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