Use Steam to see how much space its installed games use on each Steam library drive; use Windows to check all the free space left on a drive. Those figures answer different questions, so check the drive where the game is actually installed.
Which storage figure do you need?
| What you want to know | Where to check |
|---|---|
| Free space remaining on a drive | File Explorer > This PC |
| Steam games and library usage by drive | Steam > Settings > Storage |
| What is filling Windows storage overall | Settings > System > Storage |
| Size of one game or library folder | Steam Storage, or the folder’s Properties in File Explorer |
A game’s installed size is not necessarily its download size or the amount of free space an update needs. Downloads may be unpacked, and installation or patching can require temporary working space. The exact requirement depends on the game and update.
Check Steam game storage by drive
- Open the Steam desktop app.
- Select Steam in the upper-left corner, then choose Settings.
- Select Storage in the sidebar.
- Choose a listed drive or library location. Review the drive’s capacity, available space, Steam usage, and installed-game list.
- Sort the game list by Size on Disk or the closest size-related column to find large titles. Select a game to use Steam’s available move or uninstall controls.
Steam can have libraries on more than one drive. Check each location and match its drive letter to the one shown in Windows before deciding where to install or free space. Steam’s library-management guidance covers selecting games and moving them between library locations.
If Storage is not in the Steam sidebar
Steam’s layout can change. Look under Steam > Settings > Downloads > Steam Library Folders, or use the storage/library-management option shown on a game’s installation or download screen. Update and restart Steam before concluding that the storage controls are unavailable.
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Check total free space in Windows 11
- Open File Explorer with Windows + E.
- Select This PC in the navigation pane.
- Under Devices and drives, find the drive containing the Steam library and read its free-space figure.
This figure includes space used by Windows, other applications, and personal files—not just Steam. Microsoft documents the File Explorer method for checking available drive space. If a game is on D:, checking only C: will not tell you whether D: has enough room.
See what is using Windows storage
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select System > Storage.
- Review the drive summary and categories. Select Show more categories if available.
- To inspect another drive, open Advanced storage settings > Storage used on other drives, where available.
Windows can group usage into categories such as Installed apps, Temporary files, and System & reserved. Microsoft explains these views in its Windows Storage settings guide. For cleanup options, review Cleanup recommendations or configure Storage Sense; check what Windows proposes before removing files.
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Find the size of one game or a library folder
For a Steam-managed game
Open Steam’s Storage page, choose the game’s drive, and locate the title in the installed-game list. If the game’s Library page offers an installed-files view, you can check it there as well. The value shown for installed files is different from a store-page download figure.
For a folder-level size
- In Steam’s storage manager, identify the library location.
- Open that location in File Explorer. Common examples include
C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonandD:SteamLibrarysteamappscommon, but your library may be elsewhere. - Right-click the game folder or library folder and select Properties to view its size.
A library folder’s total can include more than installed game files—for example, workshop content, shader caches, downloads, screenshots, mods, or leftover files. Use Steam’s game list when you need an actionable view of Steam-managed installations; use folder Properties when you want to inspect the files in that folder.
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Fix a “not enough disk space” message
- Check the target drive. In File Explorer > This PC, read available space for the drive Steam is using—not simply the Windows drive.
- Confirm the library. In Steam Storage, verify the selected library path and drive letter for the installation.
- Check current activity. Review Steam’s Downloads queue for another download, update, or unfinished installation taking space.
- Restart Steam and recheck. The client’s figures or library listing may need to refresh.
- Allow for installation work. A download or update can require temporary space while files are unpacked or patched; there is no single extra-space amount that applies to every game.
- Make room using Steam. Move a game to another library or uninstall one you no longer want through Steam’s storage controls.
- Look for non-Steam usage. Use Windows > Settings > System > Storage to review large categories and cleanup recommendations.
- Empty the Recycle Bin if appropriate. Deleted files can continue to occupy space until the bin is emptied. Microsoft includes this and other options in its drive-space guidance.
Clearing Steam’s download cache is not a universal fix: first establish the target path and available space, and consider permissions and temporary installation requirements if the error persists.
Why Steam and Windows may show different amounts
Compare the same drive and the same kind of measurement. Steam’s view is focused on Steam libraries and managed game content; Windows reports drive usage across the system. Windows may include page files, hibernation files, restore data, temporary files, and other applications. The screens can also refresh at different times, while updates or downloads temporarily change usage.
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Workshop content, shader caches, mods, crash dumps, and incomplete downloads can also make a folder total differ from the game-size figure you expected. To investigate, compare the drive letter, Steam library path, File Explorer’s free-space reading, the library folder’s Properties size, and Windows Storage categories.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Move Steam games to another drive or use an external drive
Use Steam’s Storage page to select a game and move it to a library on another drive when the client offers that option. This keeps the move associated with Steam’s library rather than relying on a manual folder move.
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Avoid manually deleting or moving random files inside steamapps, especially game manifests or installed-game files. Use Steam to move or uninstall games so its library records remain consistent.
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