To keep a separate copy of a compatible game, use Steam’s Backup and Restore feature. To move an installed game between library folders on the same PC, use Settings > Storage > Move. To install on another nearby PC, consider Local Network Game Transfers if both Steam clients meet the requirements. These methods preserve game installation files—not necessarily saves, settings, Workshop content, or other custom files.
Choose the method that fits the job
| Method | Best for | What it carries | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Backup and Restore | Keeping a separate copy to restore later | Compatible game files packaged by Steam | Not every game is compatible, and saves or custom content may be excluded. Steam recommends testing the backup. Steam Support: Using the Steam Backup Feature |
| Settings > Storage > Move | Moving an installed game to another Steam library on the same PC | Steam-managed installed game files | Moves the live installation; it does not create a separate archival copy. Steam Support: Moving a Steam Installation and Games |
| Move the Steam installation | Relocating Steam and its library | Steam’s simple Windows procedure retains steamapps, userdata, and steam.exe |
Back up first; some saves may be stored elsewhere. The documented folder procedure is Windows-oriented. Steam Support: Moving a Steam Installation and Games |
| Local Network Game Transfers | Installing or updating on another nearby Steam PC | Eligible game installation and update files | Requires a qualifying LAN connection and clients; transfers exclude saves and several kinds of user data and may fall back to internet downloads. Steam Support: Steam Local Network Game Transfers |
| Steam Cloud | Synchronizing supported game data | Only the data a particular game supports and syncs | Not all games support Cloud saves or sync the same data; conflicts can occur. Steam Support: Steam Cloud |
Make a separate backup with Steam Backup and Restore
Create the backup
- Open your Steam Library.
- Right-click the game and choose Properties.
- Open Installed Files and choose Backup game files.
- Choose a destination folder and select Create Backup.
- When Steam finishes, select Open folder to access the backup files. Copy them to the storage location you want to keep as a separate backup.
Steam says the feature supports games that completely download, install, and patch through Steam. Many games that use third-party installers or downloaders—including many MMO-style and third-party free-to-play titles—are not compatible. Steam recommends testing the backup media after creation; interference from another application or an interrupted process can prevent a backup from being created successfully. Steam Support: Using the Steam Backup Feature
Restore the backup
- Install Steam if needed and sign in to the account that owns the game.
- In Steam, choose Steam > Restore Game Backup.
- Browse to the backup files and follow Steam’s prompts to install the game.
Steam warns that a Steam installation path containing special characters may prevent a restore from completing. In that situation, Steam says it may be necessary to reinstall Steam to a path without special characters. Steam Support: Using the Steam Backup Feature
What the backup does not guarantee
A game backup is not automatically a save backup. Steam says backups of Valve-created games do not include saved games, custom multiplayer maps, or configuration files. For third-party games, the developer chooses where save data lives; copy any saves or custom files separately from their game-specific locations. Steam Support: Using the Steam Backup Feature
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- Customize your drive’s RGB lighting with the downloadable WD_BLACK Dashboard (Windows only) to show off your style and make every play personal.
- Kick loading into overdrive with a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 interface and speeds up to 2,000MB/s. (Based on read speed. 1 MB/s = 1 million bytes per second. Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon host device, usage conditions, drive capacity, and other factors.)
- Compatible with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. {Compatible with PlayStation 4 Pro or PS4 with system software version 4.50 or higher, PlayStation 5 (Play and store PS4 games; archive PS5 games), Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S (Play and store Xbox One games; archive Xbox Series X|S games).}
- Keep more of the latest and largest titles installed and ready to launch with capacities of up to 2TB. (1TB = 1 trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.)
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Move a game to another Steam library on the same PC
Use Steam’s managed move workflow when the game remains installed and you want it on another library path:
- Open Steam > Settings > Storage.
- Create a library folder on the destination drive if one is not already listed.
- Select the drive containing the game, select the game, and choose Move.
- Select the destination library and confirm the move.
This is a relocation, not an independent backup: keep another copy if you need protection against drive failure or a move that goes wrong. Steam recommends backing up steamapps before moving an installation. Steam Support: Moving a Steam Installation and Games
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- Kick loading into overdrive with a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 interface and speeds up to 2,000MB/s. (Based on read speed. 1 MB/s = 1 million bytes per second. Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon host device, usage conditions, drive capacity, and other factors.)
- Compatible with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. {Compatible with PlayStation 4 Pro or PS4 with system software version 4.50 or higher, PlayStation 5 (Play and store PS4 games; archive PS5 games), Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S (Play and store Xbox One games; archive Xbox Series X|S games).}
- Keep more of the latest and largest titles installed and ready to launch with capacities of up to 2TB. (1TB = 1 trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.)
- Built with WD_BLACK toughness thanks to a shock-resistant structure, this durable drive can survive a drop of up to two-meters.
Move an entire Steam installation
Steam documents a simple Windows procedure that retains the game library and user data. Make a separate backup of steamapps first: Steam warns that without a games or steamapps backup, problems can require individual reinstalls. Steam Support: Moving a Steam Installation and Games
- Exit Steam and let it close normally.
- In the Steam installation folder, delete everything except
steamapps,userdata, andsteam.exe. - Move the Steam folder to its new location.
- Launch Steam from the new location and sign in.
- Verify the installed games if needed.
Steam also documents a more thorough reinstall path for errors. Its simple folder procedure is Windows-oriented; use Steam’s current instructions for the platform and move you are performing. Steam does not recommend installing Steam on an external hard drive because of potential performance issues. That warning concerns running the installation from the drive, not using external storage solely to hold backup files. Steam Support: Moving a Steam Installation and Games
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Use another PC on your local network
Steam Local Network Game Transfers can copy eligible installation and update files between Steam clients on the same LAN rather than downloading all content from Steam’s internet content servers. The receiving client checks for other PCs before a download or update. If a transfer is available and accepted, Steam sends as much as it can; if the connection is lost or the source has no more content, Steam gets the remainder from public content servers. Steam Support: Steam Local Network Game Transfers
Requirements and settings
- Both Steam clients must be online, on the same local network, and able to see each other directly.
- Transfer settings on both clients must allow the transfer. The default is Only my own devices; other choices are Off, Only my friends, and Any user.
- The sending client must be idle: no games running and no downloads in progress. Its game files must be up to date.
- The game must be released and playable by both users; preloads cannot be sent this way.
- A Steam Deck or a PC running Steam in desktop mode can host transfers. Steam says Big Picture mode and custom launchers cannot transfer their files out.
If you permit transfers from friends or any user, Steam says other users on the LAN can discover which games are installed. Steam documents TCP port 27040 and UDP ports 27031–27036 for discovery through local firewall software. Transfers exclude local saves and configuration files, Steam Workshop, Steam Cloud, and shader files. Steam Support: Steam Local Network Game Transfers
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- Expand your game library. Store up to 50 games (2TB (1)) ( Estimated game storage assumption is 36 GB per game. The number of games actually stored may vary depending on file size, formatting, programs, and other factors.)
- Compatible with: PlayStation 5 (Play and store PS4 games / Store PS5 games) and Xbox Series X|S (Play and store Xbox One games / Store Xbox Series X|S games) (Compatibility may vary depending on user‘s hardware configuration and operating system.)
- Sleek, compact form factor lets you take your games on the go.
Recover a game Steam marks as uninstalled
If the game files are still in the expected library folder, Steam may recognize them when you begin the install flow. If the files are in another library path, add that library in Storage Manager first. Steam’s guidance is to reinstall if it still cannot recognize the files. Steam Support: Installed games are appearing as uninstalled
- Open Steam > Settings > Storage and check whether the library containing the game is listed.
- If it is not listed, use the plus control in Storage Manager to add the existing library folder.
- In the Library, start installing the game and select the library that contains its files; Steam may discover the existing data rather than download it all again.
- After Steam recognizes or installs the game, open its Properties > Installed Files and choose Verify integrity of game files if files appear incomplete or damaged.
Verification checks installed files and can repair problems. Steam notes that some files may fail verification normally because they are local configuration files. Keep Steam closed while manually copying or moving folders, and let it shut down cleanly: Steam warns that forcibly closing it while it writes to a drive can corrupt library or installation information. Steam Support: Installed games are appearing as uninstalled Steam Support: Update & Installation Issues
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Back up saves separately and check Steam Cloud
Before moving or restoring a game, check whether it supports Steam Cloud and whether its latest save has synchronized. Cloud data is organized under account Steam IDs and game app IDs. Steam warns that when a file changes in two places without synchronization, it may not be able to choose which copy to keep; resolve any conflict deliberately rather than assuming the newest-looking installation has the right save. Steam Support: Steam Cloud
Steam lists these default local userdata locations for Cloud data:
- Windows:
C:Program Files (x86)Steamuserdata - macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/Steam/userdata - Linux:
~/.local/share/Steam/userdata
These paths do not establish that every game stores every save there. For games without Cloud saves, or where a save is not syncing, consult the game developer’s instructions for its save location and copy that data separately. Steam notes that for third-party games without Steam Cloud, many saves may be under the Windows user’s DocumentsMy Games folder, but developers choose their own locations. Steam Support: Steam Cloud Steam Support: Moving a Steam Installation and Games
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