Install current Bethesda PC games through Steam. If your copy still exists only in the retired Bethesda.net Launcher library, complete Bethesda’s migration to Steam first; the old launcher cannot be downloaded. In Steam, add the drive you want under Steam > Settings > Storage, then select that library when you install the game. Use an SSD for Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and treat save transfers as a separate, game-specific task.
This distinction matters because installing the game files and recovering older progress are different jobs. Steam controls the new installation location, while Bethesda’s game-by-game save instructions control whether an older save can be copied safely. Confirm ownership, choose the library, and back up saves before changing anything.
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First identify which Bethesda PC library you have
The correct installation path depends on where the license is held now. A game already listed in your Steam Library can be installed immediately. A title that was purchased through Bethesda.net may need account and library migration before Steam can download it.
| What you see | What to do | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| The game is in your Steam Library | Choose a Steam storage location and install it from Steam. | The Steam account must be the account that owns the game. |
| The game was owned in the Bethesda.net Launcher | Use Bethesda’s migration instructions to make the title available on Steam, then download it through Steam. | Bethesda documents Steam as the PC destination; the reviewed support material does not establish a current deadline or guarantee that every historical account remains eligible. |
| You want the old Bethesda.net Launcher itself | Do not look for a new installer. Bethesda says the launcher is not available to download and has not been in use since May 11, 2022. | New installations of former launcher titles use Steam instead. |
Bethesda’s official status statement is explicit: the Bethesda Launcher is not available to download. That page is why instructions telling a new player to install the launcher are obsolete.
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If you are unsure which account owns a game, check the Steam Library while signed into the account used for the migration, rather than relying on an old shortcut or a folder left on a hard drive. A leftover installation does not prove that Steam recognizes the entitlement, and a missing shortcut does not mean the license is gone.
If your game is still in a Bethesda.net Launcher library
Use Steam as the migration destination
Bethesda’s migration guidance says a title owned through the former Bethesda.net Launcher becomes available on Steam after migration, and that you must download and install it through Steam to play. Start with the account and library instructions in Bethesda’s “Playing games after the Steam migration” support article. Sign in to the Bethesda account that owns the title and the Steam account you intend to use, then follow the eligibility and transfer prompts Bethesda presents for that account.
Do not assume that a launcher migration moves the game to a console account or to another PC storefront. Bethesda states that PC account information cannot be transferred to console and that migration to another PC service is not supported; its separate explanations are available for another PC service and PlayStation or Xbox.
What migration does not do
- It does not leave you with a supported Bethesda.net Launcher installation route.
- It does not turn every save into a universal cross-platform save; save handling is determined by the individual game.
- It does not provide a documented, permanent promise that every old account can be migrated at any future date. If the migration option is absent, use Bethesda Support for the account-specific explanation rather than guessing.
After the title appears in Steam
Close any obsolete launcher shortcut and work from the Steam Library. Select the migrated game, choose Steam’s install command, and pick a storage library using the procedure below. The download is a normal Steam installation; there is no supported requirement to copy the old game folder manually.
Keep the Bethesda account information available for first launch if the title asks you to sign in or link services. That sign-in is separate from choosing a Steam library. A successful migration makes the title available to the linked Steam account; it does not mean every file or save from the old installation has already been moved.
Prepare the drive you want Steam to use
Steam installs to its primary drive by default. If that is the drive you want, you can proceed directly to the game’s install dialog. If you want another internal or external drive that Steam can use, add it as a Steam storage location first.
Add another Steam library drive
- Open Steam.
- Choose Steam in the top menu.
- Open Settings.
- Select Storage.
- Open the drive selector and choose Add Drive.
- Choose the drive you want to use and select Add.
- Confirm that the drive now appears in the Storage view.
These labels and steps come from Bethesda’s Steam-drive instructions. Adding the drive makes it available for future Steam game installations; it does not by itself install, move, or migrate a Bethesda game.
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Primary drive versus an added drive
| Consideration | Primary Steam drive | Added Steam drive |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Available by default in Steam. | Must be added under Settings > Storage before it can be selected. |
| Install choice | Steam normally proposes it first. | Choose it in the game’s install-location selector. |
| Capacity planning | Uses space shared with the operating system and other applications. | Lets you reserve a separate drive for large game installs, provided it has enough free space. |
| Drive-type guidance | Acceptable unless a particular game has a stated requirement. | For Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Bethesda specifically says to select an SSD. |
| What Bethesda specifies | No universal model, interface, speed, or capacity is specified. | No universal model, interface, speed, or capacity is specified. |
Do not turn the two-game SSD instruction into a blanket rule for every Bethesda release. The official guidance names those titles and does not publish a particular SSD model, capacity, interface, or speed.
How to choose between available drives
- Start with free capacity. The selected library must have enough room for the game and any Steam content shown in its install window. Check the current listing instead of applying one catalog-wide number.
- Use the named drive requirement. If the title is Starfield or Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, select an SSD. For other games, follow that game’s own current requirements.
- Keep the library easy to recognize. When several drives are listed, verify the library path in Steam Storage before you click Install. Adding a drive does not automatically make it the default for all future games.
- Do not confuse a drive with a save location. Choosing a Steam library determines where new game files are downloaded; it does not select, copy, or merge an older save folder.
Install a Bethesda game in the chosen location
For a title already owned on Steam
- Open the Steam Library and select the Bethesda game.
- Start the game’s install process.
- In the install window, open the storage-location selector.
- Choose the Steam library on the primary drive or the added drive you configured earlier.
- Confirm the installation and let Steam download the files.
- When the download finishes, launch the game from Steam rather than from an old desktop shortcut that points to the retired launcher.
The exact amount of space required, download time, and available language or optional-content choices belong to the individual Steam listing. No single storage figure applies to the Bethesda catalog, so check the game’s current Steam install dialog before confirming.
For a migrated former-launcher title
- Verify that migration has completed and that the game is visible in the Steam Library tied to the migration.
- Follow the same install flow above.
- Choose the SSD library when installing Starfield or Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
- Keep the Bethesda account available if the game asks you to sign in or link services during first launch.
If the game is not visible after you followed Bethesda’s account instructions, stop before buying it again. Check that Steam is signed into the intended account and consult the migration article linked above; ownership and migration eligibility are account-specific.
Should you copy an old game folder instead?
No universal folder-copy procedure is established for Bethesda titles. The documented route is to make the title available on Steam and let Steam download and install it into the selected library. Save-file copying is a separate, game-specific operation. Treat an old folder as a possible source of saves only when Bethesda’s instructions for that exact game tell you what to copy.
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Starfield
Bethesda’s drive guidance specifically instructs players installing Starfield to choose an SSD. Add the SSD as a Steam storage location if it is not already listed, then select that library in the install dialog. The guidance does not name a required capacity, connector, speed rating, or manufacturer, so do not infer one from the support page.
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
The same support guidance specifically calls for an SSD for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Use the identical Steam process: add the SSD under Steam > Settings > Storage, verify that it appears, and choose it during installation.
Other Bethesda games
The reviewed Bethesda instructions do not establish an SSD requirement for every other title. Use the game’s own current system requirements for any additional storage guidance instead of applying the two named recommendations universally.
If your computer has no suitable SSD for one of the named games, the practical hardware step is to install or connect an appropriate SSD that the operating system and Steam can access, then add it as a Steam library. Bethesda does not specify a particular product, capacity, interface, or benchmark, so those choices must be matched to your PC and the game’s current requirements.
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Installing the game in a new Steam library does not automatically answer whether an old Bethesda installation’s saves will appear. Bethesda publishes game-by-game save-migration instructions because locations and copying steps differ across the catalog.
Back up before copying anything
- Exit the game and Steam so save files are not being written while you copy them.
- Find the entry for your exact game in Bethesda’s save-transfer article.
- Locate the stated default save folder. Treat it as a starting point, not a guarantee: Bethesda notes that the path can differ if the game was installed on another drive or the save location was changed.
- Copy the existing save folder or files to a separate backup location before attempting a transfer.
- Follow only that game’s documented copy instructions, then launch the Steam version and check the in-game load menu.
Prevent an accidental overwrite
Bethesda warns that copying a Bethesda save into an existing Steam game save can overwrite the Steam save. If the Steam version already contains progress, make a second backup of that Steam save before replacing or merging files. Do not assume that a copy operation is reversible unless you preserved both sets of files.
Why one save method cannot cover the whole catalog
Some titles require manual copying; others may use different folders or account-linked behavior. A successful game download therefore does not prove that saves transferred, and a save-folder path from one Bethesda game should never be reused as a universal path for another.
If you changed the installation drive
Do not assume that moving from the primary drive to an added drive leaves saves in the same place. Bethesda notes that default paths can differ when a game was installed to another drive or when its save location changed. Check the exact title’s entry, preserve the original files, and only then copy the files Bethesda identifies.
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The drive does not appear in the install selector
- Return to Steam > Settings > Storage and verify that the drive is listed there.
- If it is absent, repeat Add Drive and select the correct drive before reopening the game’s install dialog.
- Check the physical connection and that the operating system can access the drive. Steam cannot use a location that the computer itself cannot see.
- Confirm that you selected the Steam library on that drive, not merely the drive letter in another application.
Steam keeps proposing the wrong drive
- Use the location selector in the install window rather than accepting the default.
- Verify the chosen library in Steam’s Storage view before starting the download.
- Remember that Steam’s primary drive is the default; adding another drive does not automatically change the default for every game.
A migrated game is missing from the Library
- Sign out of any unintended Steam account and sign back into the account used during migration.
- Check the Bethesda migration instructions for the original Bethesda account and title.
- Do not install the retired Bethesda.net Launcher or purchase a duplicate copy while the ownership check is unresolved.
- If the account still shows no entitlement, contact Bethesda Support with the account details requested by its support workflow; the available evidence does not establish a universal fix for every account.
The game launches but old saves are absent
- Exit the game before investigating files.
- Use the exact game entry in Bethesda’s save-transfer article, including its stated default path and any alternate-drive note.
- Restore the backup you made if the wrong save was copied or a Steam save was overwritten.
- Do not copy another game’s folder as a substitute; save behavior is not uniform.
You selected a non-SSD drive for one of the two named games
Cancel or pause the installation, add an SSD library in Steam Storage, and restart the install using that library. Bethesda’s SSD instruction is title-specific to Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle; for other games, consult their own requirements.
You still have an old desktop shortcut
Use the Steam Library as the source of truth for the current installation. An old shortcut may point to the retired launcher or to files on a drive you no longer use. Removing or ignoring that shortcut does not affect ownership; it simply prevents you from launching through an unsupported route.
A short pre-install checklist
- Confirm whether the game is already owned on Steam or still requires Bethesda-to-Steam migration.
- Use the Steam account associated with that ownership.
- Decide which drive has adequate free space and add it under Settings > Storage if necessary.
- Choose an SSD for Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
- Keep the game-specific save instructions open if you are bringing progress from an older installation.
- Back up both old and existing Steam saves before copying.
- Install and launch from Steam; do not rely on the retired launcher.
What to remember about Bethesda PC installs
Steam is the supported PC destination for former Bethesda.net Launcher titles, and Steam’s Storage settings control where the files are installed. The only universal drive procedure is to add a library and select it at install time; save transfers and account eligibility require the individual game and account instructions. Keeping those two decisions—game files and save files—separate prevents most migration mistakes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download the Bethesda.net Launcher today?
No. Bethesda states that the Bethesda Launcher is not available to download and that it has not been in use since May 11, 2022. Use Steam for supported PC installations of former launcher titles.
Where do migrated Bethesda games install?
They install through Steam. Steam uses the primary drive by default, or a library on another drive that you add under Steam > Settings > Storage and select during installation.
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Can I migrate a Bethesda PC game to another PC storefront?
Bethesda’s support guidance documents Steam as the PC migration destination and says migration to another PC service is not supported. It also distinguishes PC migration from transfer to PlayStation or Xbox.
Does adding a drive move games I already installed?
No. Adding a drive makes that location available for future Steam installations. It does not itself install, move, or migrate an existing Bethesda game.
Do all Bethesda games require an SSD?
No universal requirement is established. Bethesda specifically instructs players to use an SSD for Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Check each other title’s current requirements separately.
Will my old Bethesda saves appear automatically in Steam?
Not necessarily. Save handling varies by game. Use Bethesda’s exact game entry, note that default paths can change with another installation drive, and back up files before copying.
Can copying a save overwrite my Steam progress?
Yes. Bethesda warns that copying a Bethesda save into an existing Steam save can overwrite the Steam save. Preserve separate backups of both sets before attempting a transfer.
What should I do if migration completed but the title is missing?
Check that Steam is signed into the account used during migration, review Bethesda’s account-specific migration instructions, and contact Bethesda Support if the entitlement still does not appear. Do not buy a duplicate or try to reinstall the retired launcher while ownership is unresolved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download the Bethesda.net Launcher today?
No. Bethesda says the launcher is not available to download and has not been in use since May 11, 2022. Use Steam for supported PC installations of former launcher titles.
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Where do migrated Bethesda games install?
They install through Steam. Steam uses the primary drive by default, or a library on another drive that you add under Steam > Settings > Storage and select during installation.
Can I migrate a Bethesda PC game to another PC storefront?
Bethesda documents Steam as the PC migration destination and says migration to another PC service is not supported.
Do all Bethesda games require an SSD?
No. Bethesda specifically names Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Check each other title’s current requirements separately.
Will old Bethesda saves appear automatically in Steam?
Not necessarily. Save handling varies by game. Follow the exact game-specific instructions and back up files before copying.
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Yes. Bethesda warns that copying a Bethesda save into an existing Steam save can overwrite it, so preserve separate backups first.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Use Steam, not the retired Bethesda.net Launcher. Migrate a former launcher library to the intended Steam account, add your preferred drive under Steam > Settings > Storage, and select that library during installation. Bethesda specifically requires an SSD for Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Handle saves separately: follow the exact game’s transfer instructions and back up both old and Steam saves before copying.
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