Gaming enthusiasts often prefer SSDs over HDDs due to their faster read and write speeds. However, SSDs can be expensive, and not every gamer can afford them. If you have a small SSD and want to free up space, or want to transfer Steam to a cheap and larger hard drive, then you’re in the right place!
In this guide, we’ll help you move your Steam library from your SSD to your HDD without losing any of your games or data. Whether you’re running out of space on your SSD or want to transfer your Steam games to a better hard drive for faster loading times, we’ve got you covered. So, let’s explore some easy and straightforward ways to move your Steam games to a different hard drive!
How to Move Steam from SSD to HDD?
If you want to move your Steam installation from your SSD to your HDD, there are a few steps you’ll need to follow. Here is a brief explanation of those steps:
– First, you need to locate your current Steam installation folder on your SSD. This is usually located in your Program Files folder.
– Copy the entire Steam folder to your HDD. You can create a new folder on your HDD specifically for Steam if you’d like.
– Once the copying process is complete, you should go ahead and uninstall Steam from your SSD. You can do this by going to the Control Panel and selecting ‘Uninstall a Program’.
– Once Steam is uninstalled, you can go ahead and reinstall it on your HDD. During this process, you will need to tell Steam where your game files are stored on your HDD.
– Once Steam is installed on your HDD and you’ve pointed it to the correct game files, you should be good to go! You can continue playing your Steam games just like you did before, but with your game files stored on your HDD instead of your SSD.
Note that the above steps apply if you want to move your entire Steam installation from your SSD to your HDD. If you’d like to move individual games to your HDD while keeping Steam on your SSD, you can do so by using Steam’s built-in backup and restore feature.
FAQ
1. What is the process to move Steam from SSD to HDD?
Answer: The process involves moving your game files from the Steam folder on your SSD to the Steam folder on your HDD and updating the Steam client’s settings to recognize the new location of these files.
2. Can I move just some of my games from SSD to HDD?
Answer: Yes, you can select which games you’d like to move from Steam’s settings by right-clicking on each game in your library, selecting “Properties,” and then navigating to the “Local Files” tab and selecting “Move Install Folder.”
3. Will moving Steam to HDD affect my game performance?
Answer: No, moving Steam to an HDD does not affect your game performance. It may only slightly affect the time it takes to launch games or load saved games due to slower read and write speeds compared to an SSD.
4. What happens to my saved game progress when I move Steam to an HDD?
Answer: Your saved game progress will remain intact and will automatically be recognized by the game when you launch it from the new Steam folder location on your HDD.
5. Can I delete the old Steam folder on my SSD after moving all the game files to my HDD?
Answer: Yes, you can safely delete the old Steam folder on your SSD, but make sure to copy any other important files from that folder (such as game save files) to the new Steam folder on your HDD before doing so.
Conclusion
So there you have it – a step-by-step guide on how to move Steam from your SSD to your HDD. Hopefully, this guide has helped you in seamlessly transferring your Steam games and freeing up valuable space on your SSD. Remember, before following any of the steps mentioned above, make sure to back up your Steam folder and ensure that both your SSD and HDD have sufficient storage space to avoid any data loss or issues during the transfer process. With that said, happy gaming on your newly optimized system!
