Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTo make room for a large PC game, first check which drive is full. Then move an installed game to another drive, uninstall one you do not need right now, or use Windows Storage Sense to remove eligible temporary files. Use the game launcher’s controls rather than deleting folders at random, and check save-file handling before removing a game.
Find out which drive needs space
In Windows, open Settings > System > Storage to see how the system drive’s space is being used. To inspect another drive, open Storage settings’ advanced options for storage on other drives. In Steam, go to Steam > Settings > Storage to see library drives and the games installed in each library.
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This helps distinguish a full C: drive from a full game-library drive. If your games are on another drive, cleaning C: may not create room for a game installed there; check the destination drive before choosing what to remove. Game size varies with updates, language packs, optional content, and other files, so the amount you can reclaim depends on your installation.
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| Option | Best when | What it does | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move a game | You want to keep it installed and have another usable drive. | Relocates the installation to another library. | The destination needs enough free space; moving does not reduce the game’s size. |
| Uninstall a game | You do not need it installed right now. | Removes its installed files from that drive. | You may need to download it again later. Save files may be stored separately. |
| Use Windows cleanup | The system drive contains eligible temporary files or Recycle Bin contents. | Removes selected Windows-managed files. | It does not uninstall games, and you should review what is selected. |
| Add another drive | You regularly run out of room and need more library capacity. | Provides another possible location for game installations. | Check capacity, connection and port compatibility, and where the library will live. |
Move a Steam game to another drive
If you want to keep playing the game without downloading its full installation again, move it through Steam. Steam describes its library folder as containing installed games on disk. Its instructions cover creating a library on another drive and moving installed games: Steam Support: Moving a Steam Installation and Games.
#1 Best Overall
- Customize your drive’s RGB lighting with the downloadable WD_BLACK Dashboard (Windows only) to show off your style and make every play personal.
- Kick loading into overdrive with a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 interface and speeds up to 2,000MB/s. (Based on read speed. 1 MB/s = 1 million bytes per second. Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon host device, usage conditions, drive capacity, and other factors.)
- Compatible with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. {Compatible with PlayStation 4 Pro or PS4 with system software version 4.50 or higher, PlayStation 5 (Play and store PS4 games; archive PS5 games), Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S (Play and store Xbox One games; archive Xbox Series X|S games).}
- Keep more of the latest and largest titles installed and ready to launch with capacities of up to 2TB. (1TB = 1 trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.)
- Built with WD_BLACK toughness thanks to a shock-resistant structure, this durable drive can survive a drop of up to two-meters.
- Connect or select the drive you want to use, and make sure it has enough free space for the game.
- In Steam, open Settings > Storage. Add or select a library location on the destination drive.
- Select the game in Storage and choose the move control, then choose the destination library.
- When Steam finishes, launch the game to confirm it works. If files appear damaged or missing, use Steam’s file-verification procedure; it checks and may repair the installation, but does not free space. See Steam Support: Update & Installation Issues.
A move changes where the installation lives; it does not make the game take up less space overall. If your PC has no convenient internal capacity, an external SSD may be an option, provided its connection works with your computer and it has sufficient capacity. No particular model, interface, or speed is established here.
Uninstall a game you do not need installed
Use the game launcher’s uninstall control, or Windows’ app removal controls when appropriate, and then check the affected drive’s available space. Launcher-level removal helps keep the launcher’s records consistent. Steam warns that uninstalling Steam removes installed game content; its instructions for preserving the steamapps folder apply to removing the Steam client, not uninstalling one game. Follow Steam’s guidance if you intend to remove the client: Steam Support: Uninstall Steam.
Rank #2
- MADE FOR THE MAKERS: Create; Explore; Store; The T7 Portable SSD delivers fast speeds and durable features to back up any endeavor; Build your video editing empire, file your photographs or back up your blogs all in an instant
- SHARE IDEAS IN A FLASH: Don’t waste a second waiting and spend more time doing; The T7 is embedded with PCIe NVMe technology that brings fast read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s¹, making it almost twice as fast as the T5
- ALWAYS MAKE THE SAVE: Compact design with massive capacity; With capacities up to 4TB, save exactly what you need to your drive – from large working files to game data and everything in between
- ADAPTS TO EVERY NEED: Whether using a PC or mobile phone, count on the T7 for extensive compatibility²; It’s a true team player when it comes to heavy-duty application usage or file-saving
- HI RESOLUTION VIDEO RECORDING: Record Ultra High Resolution (4K 60fs) videos directly onto the T7 Portable SSD with your favorite camera or mobile devices; Supports iPhone 15 Pro Res 4K at 60fps video and more³
Use Windows cleanup for non-game files
Storage Sense can remove selected temporary files and Recycle Bin items. Open Settings > System > Storage, review the Storage Sense options and file selections, and only enable automatic cleanup if its schedule and selections suit you. Microsoft says Storage Sense operates on the system drive. Its defaults do not clean Downloads or OneDrive, but settings can be changed, so inspect them rather than assuming those folders are always excluded. For details, see Microsoft Support: Manage drive space with Storage Sense and Microsoft Support: Free up drive space in Windows.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
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 →Storage Sense is for eligible Windows-managed files, not a substitute for moving or uninstalling a game. Do not assume it cleans non-system drives; use Windows’ storage controls to inspect those drives.
Rank #3
- MADE FOR THE MAKERS: Create; Explore; Store; The T7 Portable SSD delivers fast speeds and durable features to back up any endeavor; Build your video editing empire, file your photographs or back up your blogs all in an instant
- SHARE IDEAS IN A FLASH: Don’t waste a second waiting and spend more time doing; The T7 is embedded with PCIe NVMe technology that brings fast read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s¹, making it almost twice as fast as the T5
- ALWAYS MAKE THE SAVE: Compact design with massive capacity; With capacities up to 4TB, save exactly what you need to your drive – from large working files to game data and everything in between
- ADAPTS TO EVERY NEED: Whether using a PC or mobile phone, count on the T7 for extensive compatibility²; It’s a true team player when it comes to heavy-duty application usage or file-saving
- HI RESOLUTION VIDEO RECORDING: Record Ultra High Resolution (4K 60fs) videos directly onto the T7 Portable SSD with your favorite camera or mobile devices; Supports iPhone 15 Pro Res 4K at 60fps video and more³
Protect your saves and avoid folder mistakes
A save file is not necessarily part of the game installation. Steam notes that third-party games without Steam Cloud saves may keep saves in DocumentsMy Games, while some developers use a different location. Before removing a launcher or manually changing game folders, check the game publisher’s instructions and back up important local saves. Steam’s guidance on moving installations also discusses possible save locations: Steam Support: Moving a Steam Installation and Games.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Get NVMe solid state performance with up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance mean this tough drive can take a beating(3) (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
- Use the handy carabiner loop to secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind.
- Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.(3)
- Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5). Non-Operating Temperature -20°C to 85°C
Rank #4
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
- Do not delete random folders from a game library as your first cleanup step; the launcher may still treat the game as installed.
- If a move leaves the game unable to launch, verify its installed files in Steam before attempting unrelated cleanup.
- If you are uninstalling only one game, use that game’s uninstall control rather than moving or deleting the entire
steamappsfolder.
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