Steam’s Settings > Storage page shows your library locations and the games installed in each one. From there, you can add a library on another drive, move installed games, and repair a library folder. If Steam stops recognizing a game, check that its files remain in place and add the existing library location before downloading again.
Check which drives hold your Steam games
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Open the Steam client and select Steam > Settings > Storage.
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Review the listed library locations and installed games. The default installation drive is shown there, too. Steam’s instructions describe this view and the options available in it in its Moving a Steam Installation and Games support guide. Labels and screen layout may vary by client version or operating system.
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Add a library or install a new game on another drive
To make another location available, go to Settings > Storage and use the plus button to add a library path on the drive you want to use. When installing a new game, choose one of your configured library locations.
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Adding a library does not free space on your existing drive; it only makes another location available for installation. Check the space available on the destination drive before installing or moving games.
Move games already installed
Steam provides two documented ways to move an installed game between configured library locations. Choose the route that best fits whether you are moving one game or several.
| Route | Steps | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage page | Open Settings > Storage, select the source drive, select one or more games, then choose Move and select the destination library. | Moving several games from the same drive, or managing storage from the drive view. |
| Game properties | In your Library, right-click the game and open Properties > Installed Files > Move Install Folder, then choose the destination library. | Moving a single game from its own settings. |
The destination must already be configured as a Steam library. Steam says its move feature transfers the installation without requiring a fresh download; see Moving a Steam Installation and Games.
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Fix a game Steam lists as uninstalled
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Check that the game’s files still exist in the expected Steam library folder. If the files were deleted or moved elsewhere, Steam may not be able to use them.
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If the game is in an alternate library, open Settings > Storage and use the plus button to add that existing library folder.
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Check whether the game appears in Steam again. Steam’s Installed games are appearing as uninstalled guide recommends reinstalling affected games only if adding the library does not restore recognition.
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Repair a library or verify game files
Use these troubleshooting tools when a library has write or update problems, or when game files may be corrupted—not as routine steps for a normal move.
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Repair a library folder: Open Settings > Storage, select the affected library, and choose Repair Folder.
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Verify one game’s files: In the Library, right-click the game and choose Properties > Installed Files > Verify Integrity of Game Files.
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Steam lists these options in its Update & Installation Issues troubleshooting guide.
Manage updates separately from storage
Download scheduling and library location are separate settings. To adjust update behavior or schedule automatic updates, use Steam’s Downloads settings; instructions are in Managing Steam Downloads & Updates. Changing when updates download does not reclaim disk space. To make space, review installed games and move or uninstall the ones you no longer need on that drive.
Protect game files and saves before uninstalling Steam
Steam warns that uninstalling Steam can remove installed game content. If you intend to keep those installations, move the steamapps folder somewhere outside the Steam directory before uninstalling. Follow Steam’s Uninstall Steam instructions.
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Keeping steamapps does not guarantee that every save is preserved. Non-Cloud saves for third-party games may be stored separately, including in a Documents folder, and save locations vary by game. Before removing Steam or game data, check each game’s save location and back up important saves.
When an external drive causes trouble
Steam cautions that external drives may cause performance problems or disconnect unexpectedly. Its support guidance does not specify a particular drive model, type, or capacity; it recommends using an internal drive if an external drive is causing issues. Steam also says, “It is not recommended that you install Steam to an external hard drive, due to potential performance issues,” in its Moving a Steam Installation and Games article.
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