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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →On Windows, Epic Games lists C:Program FilesEpic Games[Game Name] as the default folder for installed games. That is only the default: a game can be somewhere else if you selected another drive or directory. Moving an existing game is different from changing the default for future installs, and both are separate from moving the Epic Games Launcher application itself.
Game folder, default install folder and Launcher folder are different
Use the folder that matches what you are trying to do:
| What you mean | What it contains | How it is changed |
|---|---|---|
| Existing game folder | The files for one installed game | Use Epic’s backup, uninstall, staged reinstall and verification procedure |
| Default install directory | The location Epic will suggest for new game installs | Change it in Download Manager > Download Settings > General > Default Install Directory > Change |
| Epic Games Launcher directory | The Launcher application and its supporting files | On Windows, uninstall and reinstall the Launcher; on macOS, move the app from Applications |
Epic’s documented default Windows game path is C:Program FilesEpic Games[Game Name]. If you chose a different location during installation, look in that drive or folder instead. Epic’s move instructions are the reference for relocating an installed game.
How to move an installed Epic game to another folder or drive
This process preserves the existing files for verification rather than treating the destination as a completely new download. Keep the backup until the Launcher verifies the installation and the game starts successfully.
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- Locate the current installation. Check the default path above or the custom directory you selected when installing the game. The folder you need is the one containing that game’s files.
- Make a complete backup. Copy the entire game folder to a safe temporary location with enough free space. Do not delete the original or the backup yet.
- Uninstall the game from the Launcher. Open Epic Games Launcher, select Library, open the game’s three-dot menu and choose Uninstall.
- Start a new installation. Select the same game in Library, choose Install, and select the destination directory or drive where you want the game stored.
- Let the new install begin briefly. Wait until roughly 2–3% has downloaded. Open the game’s three-dot menu and cancel the installation.
- Copy the backup into the new directory. Copy the backed-up game folder into the location the Launcher just created. If Windows asks whether to replace duplicate files, choose the option to replace them, as Epic specifies.
- Resume the installation. Return to the game in Library and resume. Epic says the Launcher will verify the copied files; after verification, the game should be available to launch.
Verification is not a promise that every installation will require zero additional downloading. Missing, changed or corrupted files may still be downloaded. Leave the backup untouched until verification completes and you have launched the game successfully.
Change the default location for future game installs
Changing the default directory does not move games that are already installed. It only changes the location preselected for later installations.
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- Open Epic Games Launcher.
- Open Download Manager.
- Select Download Settings.
- Under General, find Default Install Directory and select Change.
- Choose the folder or drive to use for future games.
These labels and the setting are described in Epic’s support article, How do I change the default installation path for my games on the Epic Games Launcher?
Do not move the Launcher when you only want to move a game
The Launcher application has its own installation directory. Moving a game folder does not require moving that application, and changing the default game directory does not change where the Launcher is installed.
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Windows
Epic’s Windows procedure for changing the Launcher directory is to uninstall and reinstall the Launcher. Epic warns that uninstalling the Launcher removes games installed on the computer, so back up anything you need before using that procedure. Follow the current instructions in How do I change the installation directory of the Epic Games Launcher?. Do not use this process as a substitute for the game-move steps above.
macOS
Epic documents a separate method for macOS: after the Launcher is installed in Applications, move it elsewhere by Command-dragging the app. That concerns the Launcher application, not the location of an individual game. Epic’s support information on custom Launcher paths is available at Can I change the Epic Games Launcher installation path?.
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Common problems and safe recovery
The Launcher starts downloading the whole game again
Confirm that you canceled the staged installation after about 2–3%, copied the complete backed-up folder into the exact new directory, and resumed that same installation. If the folder is nested one level too deep, the Launcher may not find the expected files. Do not remove the backup while troubleshooting.
The destination drive does not have enough space
The procedure temporarily needs space for the backup and the destination copy. Free space on the source, temporary backup location and target drive before starting, or use another temporary location.
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You changed the default directory but the old game did not move
That is expected. The default-install setting affects future installs only. Move an existing game with the seven-step procedure instead.
You are considering an external drive
An external SSD can provide another installation location when internal storage is limited. Epic’s instructions do not specify a drive type, brand or speed, and changing storage location alone should not be presented as a guaranteed performance improvement. Keep the drive connected and available whenever you launch a game stored there.
What to check before deleting the backup
- The Launcher has finished its verification rather than still downloading or checking files.
- The game launches from Library without an installation prompt.
- Your saves, configuration and add-ons appear as expected; some titles store these outside the main game folder.
- You have enough free space for any files the Launcher still needs to download.
Only after these checks pass should you remove the temporary backup and, if applicable, the old source folder.
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