The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Move game installations and save files as two separate jobs. Sign in to each game store on the new device, reinstall or transfer game files using that launcher’s supported process, and check every game’s save-sync support independently. Before you wipe or retire the old device, keep a backup of local saves and verify your progress on the new one.
What moves with your account—and what does not
Your account library is a record of games you can access, not a copy of the files installed on your old PC. Sign in to the account that owns a game on the new device to download it again, or use a supported transfer method to avoid fetching all its installation files from the internet.
Save files are a separate matter. Cloud saves are title-specific, and a game installation transfer may omit local saves and configuration. Treat each game as its own check: confirm cloud support, preserve any local-only saves, and verify the result on the destination.
Before moving anything, inventory games and saves
- List the games and launchers you care about. Note each game’s store, install location or library, and any mods or custom settings you want to keep.
- Check cloud-save support title by title. Look at the launcher’s game features or store page. Do not infer that a game syncs saves just because it is in your account library.
- Close the game and let its launcher sync. If the launcher reports a synchronization problem, resolve it before relying on the cloud copy.
- Back up valuable local saves separately. Steam Support notes that third-party saves may be in
DocumentsMy Games, but developers choose where save data is stored. Consult the game’s support information if you cannot identify its save location; do not assume every title uses that folder. - Keep the old device intact until you verify the new one. A separate copy protects against accidental overwrites, missing saves, or a transfer that moved game files but not progress.
Choose how to transfer the game installations
| Method | Bandwidth and storage | Save coverage | Best fit and trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Download again from the store | Uses internet data to download the game; requires enough free space on the destination. | Does not by itself establish that saves transfer. Check cloud support or copy local saves separately. | Usually the simplest option when the connection and data allowance are suitable. |
| Move or locate a supported launcher library | Can reuse existing game files rather than downloading them all again; the destination needs space for the library. | Do not assume local saves or settings are included. | Useful when the files are already available on a drive or destination path the launcher can manage. |
| Steam Local Network Game Transfer | Transfers eligible Steam installation and update content over the local network instead of downloading that content from Steam’s servers. Both devices must have Steam available on the same network. | Steam says the transfer does not include local save games or configuration files. | Useful for moving Steam game content between PCs and Steam Deck when both clients are available locally. |
| Manual or external-drive copy | Can avoid downloading copied files, but requires an external drive or other storage with enough capacity for the files being carried. | Only covers saves if you deliberately locate and copy them too. | Can help when bandwidth is limited, but a copied folder alone may not restore launcher metadata, required components, settings, or saves. Have the launcher locate or verify the game files. |
Move games through the storefront that owns them
Steam
For a Steam library move, use Steam’s library-management process to select or create a destination library, then keep the source files until Steam recognizes or validates the destination. Follow the current Steam client interface and Steam’s library-folder guidance.
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If both devices are on the same local network, Steam’s Local Network Game Transfers can transfer game installation and update content between Steam PCs and Steam Deck. Steam explicitly says, “Only file content part of the original game is transferred, no local save games or configuration files are sent.” The sending PC also uses disk and CPU resources during a transfer.
Steam Cloud is not universal: Steam Support says many games do not use it. Check the game’s Steam page or the launcher’s cloud status, and handle local saves separately. Steam also warns that synchronization failures or conflicts can leave you with older progress; its Steam Cloud troubleshooting guidance explains the relevant checks.
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Epic Games Store
Epic says purchases are tied to your Epic account and can be downloaded on another PC after you sign in. Cloud saves are supported by many games, but not every game. In the Epic Games Launcher, open Library > Filters > Features > Cloud Saves to filter for supported titles, or check a game’s store-page feature tags. See Epic’s instructions for checking Cloud Saves support.
If a cloud conflict appears, preserve both copies if possible and compare their timestamps or contents before choosing. Do not overwrite a potentially newer local save without checking which version contains the progress you want.
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Other launchers
Do not assume Steam or Epic’s transfer steps apply to another store. Sign in to the account that owns the game, consult that launcher’s current library and cloud-save instructions, and keep the original files and saves until the new installation and progress are confirmed.
Move save files without losing progress
Cloud synchronization is convenient, but it is not a substitute for checking whether a specific game supports it. Steam’s guidance on Steam Cloud notes that many games do not use the feature and that synchronization issues can produce conflicts. Epic likewise describes Cloud Saves as a feature supported by many, not all, of its games.
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- Close the game before copying its save folder so the game is not changing files during the backup.
- Keep an independent copy of local saves, especially for games with valuable progress, mods, or custom configuration.
- If the save location is unclear, use the game’s support materials or ask its publisher rather than guessing at a folder.
- If the launcher offers a choice between local and cloud data, preserve both versions where possible and compare them before selecting one.
Windows’ general transfer feature is not a game-library migration tool. Microsoft says the described transfer excludes installed applications and currently marks that feature unavailable, directing users to Windows Backup and Restore instead. Use the launcher to reinstall, move, or verify games; do not expect a general Windows file transfer to recreate installed games. See Microsoft’s Windows PC transfer guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check the game on the new PC or handheld
- Install the relevant launcher and sign in to the account that owns the game.
- Download the game, move its library using the launcher’s supported process, or let the launcher locate and verify copied files.
- Restore any local saves and settings you backed up, following the game’s own guidance for their locations.
- Launch the game and confirm that the expected progress, settings, and any essential mods are present.
- Only after verification should you delete old files or reset the source device.
On Steam Deck, whether a game can be played offline and whether its saves synchronize are separate questions. Valve says installed games can be played offline unless they require an internet connection; that does not establish that a particular title syncs saves. Check the game’s own online and save requirements, especially before relying on it during travel.
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If using a microSD card with Steam Deck, do not assume it will work as a Windows game drive without preparation: Valve says Deck-formatted microSD cards use ext4 with casefolding. Confirm the intended device and filesystem before choosing a card as a cross-device transfer method. See the Steam Deck FAQ.
When an external drive is useful
An external drive is optional. It can carry selected game files or hold an independent save backup when you have limited bandwidth or want to preserve a copy before retiring the old PC. It does not guarantee that a launcher will recognize a copied game folder without locating or verifying it, and it does not include saves unless you copy them deliberately. A cloud-sync or local-network option may make buying extra storage unnecessary.
Quick Recap
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