Where Steam stores your games and how to move them

Steam downloads games to a folder on your computer called a Steam library. By default, this folder lives in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam on Windows or ~/Library/Application Support/Steam on Mac. You can tell Steam to use a different folder — on another hard drive, an external drive, or a second internal drive — and move games between folders without re-downloading them.

The reason to do this: your main drive might be small or full, or you might want games on a faster drive for better performance. Steam lets you create multiple library folders and choose which one to use when you download a new game.

Key Takeaways

  • Steam can store games on any internal or external drive, and you can have multiple library folders at once.
  • To add a new library folder, go to Settings > Storage, click the plus icon, and choose an empty folder on another drive.
  • Moving an existing game to a different folder takes a few clicks in the Storage menu and does not require re-downloading.
  • External drives work but must stay connected whenever you play games stored on them.
  • Steam will not let you use a folder that already contains other files or programs.

Adding a second library folder on Windows

Open Steam and go to Settings (bottom left, under your username). Click Storage in the left menu. At the top, you will see your current library folder listed. Click the plus icon next to it.

A window will open asking you to choose a folder. Navigate to the drive where you want to store games — this could be D:\, E:\, or any other internal drive. Create a new empty folder there (right-click, select New > Folder, and name it something like "SteamGames"). Select that folder and click Select. Steam will add it to your library list.

The next time you download a game, Steam will ask which library folder to use. You can also move existing games between folders from the Storage menu without downloading them again.

Adding a second library folder on Mac

Open Steam and go to Steam (top menu) > Settings. Click Storage. You will see your current library folder. Click the plus icon to add another.

A file browser will open. Navigate to the drive where you want to store games. Create a new empty folder (right-click, select New Folder, and name it). Select it and click Open. Steam will add it to your list.

When you download a new game, Steam will prompt you to choose which library folder to use. To move a game you already own, find it in the Storage menu, click the three dots next to it, and select Move.

Moving games between folders

Go to Settings > Storage. You will see a list of all your games and which folder each one is in. Find the game you want to move, click the three dots next to it, and select Move. A dropdown will show your available library folders. Choose the destination and click Move. Steam will handle the rest — no re-download needed.

The move can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour depending on the game's size and your drive speed. You cannot play the game while it is moving. Once it finishes, the game will be ready to launch from its new location.

Using external drives for game storage

You can add an external USB drive or Thunderbolt drive as a Steam library folder. Create an empty folder on the external drive, then follow the same steps as adding any other library folder — go to Settings > Storage, click the plus icon, and select the folder on your external drive.

The catch: the external drive must be connected and powered on whenever you want to play games stored on it. If you unplug it, Steam will show those games as unavailable. For games you play often, an internal second drive is more reliable. External drives work well for games you play occasionally or want to move between computers.

What happens if a folder is not empty

Steam will refuse to use a folder that already contains files or other programs. The folder must be completely empty. If you want to use a drive that has other files on it, create a new empty subfolder first — for example, D:\Games\Steam — and point Steam to that subfolder instead.

If Steam shows an error when you try to add a folder, check that the folder is truly empty and that you have permission to write files to that drive. On Windows, right-click the folder, select Properties, and make sure your user account has full control. On Mac, select the folder, press Command+I, and check that you are listed as the owner.

Choosing which folder for new downloads

Once you have multiple library folders set up, Steam will ask you where to download each new game. When you click Install on a game's store page, a window will appear asking which library folder to use. Pick the one you want and click Next. The download will go there automatically.

If you do not see the prompt, or if Steam always downloads to the same folder, check your Storage settings to make sure all your library folders are listed and active. You can also set a default folder by going to Settings > Storage and clicking the three dots next to a folder name — though Steam will still ask you to confirm each download.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move a game while I am playing it?

No. You must close the game completely before moving it. If you try to move a game that is running, Steam will show an error. Wait for the game to close, then try again.

What if I delete a game folder by accident?

Steam will show the game as unavailable in your library. You can reinstall it by clicking Install on its store page and choosing a library folder. Steam will re-download it from scratch.

Do I need to own the drive I am using for games?

No, but you need write permission. On a shared computer, make sure your user account has permission to create and modify files on that drive. On a network drive, the same rule applies — Steam needs to be able to read and write files there.

Will moving games to a different drive make them run faster?

Possibly. Games on a faster drive (like an SSD) may load slightly quicker than on a slower drive (like an older hard drive). The difference is usually a few seconds. If your main drive is full and slowing down your whole system, moving games to another drive can help overall performance.

Can I use a USB stick for Steam games?

Technically yes, but it is not recommended. USB sticks are slow and not designed for constant read-write access. Games will load very slowly, and the stick may wear out faster. An external hard drive or SSD is a much better choice.