How to move Steam games to another PC or hard drive easily

If you've run out of space on your hard drive or bought a new computer, you've probably wondered how to move your Steam games without having to download them again. Fortunately, Steam allows you to move games from one drive to another or even from one PC to another without having to reinstall them, saving you time and money. tiempo y bandwidth.

In this article we will explain in detail how to perform this process in several ways, either using Steam's native tools or by manually copying files. Read on for the exact steps and some tips. helpful tips to avoid problems in the process.

Create a new library folder in Steam

Before you can move your games, you'll need to create a new library folder in the location you want to move your files to. Steam only supports moving games between previously configured library folders.

• Open Steam and go to the menu Steam > Parameters.
• In the left column, select Downloads.
• Click on the Steam Library Folders.
• In the pop-up window, select Add library folder.
• Choose the hard drive where you want to save the games and create a new empty folder.

Once created, Steam will recognize this folder as a valid location to store games, allowing you to move existing titles or install new directly into it.

Moving games to another storage unit

If you just want to move certain games to another drive without re-downloading them, Steam offers an option to do so easily.

• In your Steam library, right-click on the game you want to move and select Properties.
• In the Local Archives, click on Move installation folder.
• Select the library folder you previously created on the new drive and confirm the operation.
• Steam will start transferring the files automatically. Depending on the size of the game, this process may take a few minutes.

This method is ideal for free up space into one drive without losing access to your games.

Transfer Steam Games to Another Computer

If you've purchased a new PC and want to avoid downloading your Steam library again, there are several ways to transfer your games.

Option 1: Using Steam Backup

Steam includes an option to make a security copy of the games, making it easy to transfer them to another computer.

• Open Steam on the original PC.
• Go to Steam > Backup and Restore Games.
• Choose Backup currently installed programs.
• Choose the games to back up and the location where you want to save the files (can be an external hard drive).
• On the new PC, install Steam and log in to your account.
• Go to Steam > Backup and Restore Games and select Restore an existing backup.
• Select the folder with the backup and follow the instructions.

This method is useful to avoid having to locate and copy manually the files.

Option 2: Manually copy Steam files

Another quick way to move games between PCs is to manually copy the installation folder.

• On the original PC, go to the Steam folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam).
• Locate the folder steamapps/common, where the game files are.
• Copy this folder to an external hard drive.
• On the new PC, install Steam and close the application.
• Paste the folder steamapps/common on the same route on the new equipment.
• Open Steam and it will automatically check for the existence of the games in their new location, allowing you to play them without having to download them again.

This method is faster than the backup option as it avoids compressing the files.

Moving Steam Games to an External Drive

If you prefer to keep some games in a external disc To use them on multiple computers, follow these steps:

• Connect the external drive to your computer.
• Create a new library folder inside the disk using the steps described above.
• Move the games to the new library folder using the option Move installation folder on Steam.
• When you connect the disk to another computer, add the library folder from Settings > Downloads > Steam Library Folders.

This way you can play without having to duplicate the installation on each PC.

Thanks to the options offered by Steam, moving your games to another drive or PC is a quick and easy process. By using the built-in backup tools or manually copying the files, you can save time by avoiding unnecessary downloads and ensuring that your games are always accessible in the most convenient location for you.