To move selected Steam games to a Windows Dev Drive, add a Steam Library folder on that drive, then use Steam’s Storage page to move the games. This is Steam’s documented method for relocating installed games. However, Microsoft describes Dev Drive as a ReFS volume for development workloads and says, “We do not recommend installing applications on a Dev Drive.” Steam’s procedure therefore tells you how to perform the move; it is not Microsoft’s recommendation to use a Dev Drive for games, and the available documentation does not guarantee that every game or related component will work from ReFS.
What you are actually moving
Steam treats the client installation and the installed game libraries as separate things. Moving a library relocates selected game files while leaving the Steam client where it is. Moving the client itself is a different, more involved operation with separate backup guidance.
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| Choice | What changes | Official route | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move selected game installs | The chosen games move from one Steam Library location to another. | Add the destination library in Settings > Storage, select games, and choose Move. | This is the procedure covered in this guide. |
| Move the Steam client | The Steam program files and client location change, potentially affecting shortcuts and configuration. | Use Steam’s separate Moving a Steam Installation and Games instructions. | Back up the steamapps folder first, and account for saves that are not synchronized with Steam Cloud. |
These two operations can be combined, but they do not have to be. If your only goal is to free space on the current game drive or test a few titles on ReFS, move the selected libraries and leave the Steam program itself alone. Changing the client location adds another variable and is unnecessary for a normal game-library move.
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Can I install Steam games on a Dev Drive?
Steam allows an alternate library path on another drive, so its Storage workflow can target an existing Dev Drive. That answers the mechanical question, not the support question. Microsoft’s Dev Drive documentation, last updated August 27, 2024, defines Dev Drive as a ReFS volume optimized for development scenarios such as source repositories and project files, package caches, and build output or intermediate files. It explicitly says that applications are not recommended there.
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There is no Steam-specific compatibility guarantee for installing every game, launcher, anti-cheat component, mod tool, or auxiliary file on ReFS. The reviewed official material also provides no gaming benchmark comparing a Dev Drive with a conventional NTFS library. Do not assume that moving a game will make it faster, or that every title will behave exactly as it did on its original volume.
That makes this a support and purpose decision rather than a speed tweak. A Dev Drive may be convenient if you already have one with unused capacity and are willing to test your games. A conventional Steam library is the more conservative choice if you want to follow Microsoft’s intended use for the volume or avoid experimenting with software that expects a traditional game-storage setup.
Before you move anything
Confirm that the destination is a usable Dev Drive
- The Dev Drive must already exist and be mounted in Windows with a drive letter that Steam can access.
- Microsoft’s setup guidance lists 50 GB as the minimum size for creating a Dev Drive. That is a creation requirement, not a recommendation for how much space your games need.
- A volume on a removable or hot-pluggable disk, including an external USB drive, cannot itself be designated as a Dev Drive.
- Check free space for the games you intend to move. Steam will not complete a transfer that cannot fit on the destination.
The 50 GB minimum is easy to misread. It does not mean that a 50 GB Dev Drive can safely hold a 50 GB game: Windows, Steam updates, temporary transfer data, and future patches also need room. Check the size of the selected installs in Steam and leave practical headroom for updates rather than filling the volume to its limit.
If you still need to create the volume, Microsoft describes creating a Dev Drive from unallocated space, resizing an existing volume, or creating one in a virtual hard disk. Formatting an existing storage volume as a Dev Drive destroys its current contents, so do not select a volume containing files you need. Creating the volume is a separate Windows operation; Steam only needs the finished, mounted location when you add the library.
Protect saves and configuration
Moving a library is not the same as backing up game data. Steam Cloud may synchronize saves for some games, but not every title uses it. Steam notes that some third-party saves and profiles can be in C:Users[Windows user name]DocumentsMy Games; each developer chooses the actual location. Before making a major storage change, close running games and copy important save folders to another safe location.
Do not assume that a save is inside the game’s Steam library folder. A successful file transfer can leave user data untouched on the system drive, while a failed or missing Steam Cloud sync can still cost progress. For an especially important title, consult that game’s own support information for its save path and confirm that a recent copy opens before you remove the old installation.
Steam specifically recommends backing up the steamapps folder before moving the Steam installation. That advice applies to the client-move procedure, not as a prerequisite for every ordinary library move, but keeping a backup is sensible if the library is large or difficult to redownload.
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How do I move my Steam games to another drive?
Use Steam’s Storage manager rather than dragging folders in File Explorer. The manager updates the library path and records the game’s new location for the client.
- Open Steam’s settings. Start Steam, open the Steam menu, and select Settings.
- Open Storage. In the settings sidebar, select Storage. This page lists the drives and Steam Library locations currently known to the client.
- Add a library on the Dev Drive. Select the plus button for adding a library location. Choose the Dev Drive and create or select a Steam Library folder there. Steam’s support instructions state that an alternate location can be created on any drive.
- Select the source drive. In Storage, choose the drive that currently contains the games. If the list is filtered to another location, switch to the source library before selecting titles.
- Select the games. Use the checkboxes or game-selection controls to mark the installed games you want to relocate. You can move one title or several in the same operation, provided the destination has enough free space.
- Choose Move. With the games selected, click Move, choose the Dev Drive library as the destination when prompted, and confirm.
- Let Steam finish. Keep Steam open and allow the transfer to complete before launching a moved game or shutting down Windows. The time depends on the amount of data and the drives involved; the official procedure does not promise a particular speed.
Steam’s Storage page is also where you can see whether the new library was added successfully and how much space it uses. Add the destination before selecting games; otherwise the Dev Drive will not be available in the move destination list. If you are moving several large titles, doing them in smaller groups makes it easier to identify which installation needs attention if a later launch fails.
Do not make manual folder copies the primary workflow. A copied folder may not be registered as an installed game, can leave duplicate files behind, and can require additional library discovery steps. Steam’s Storage move action is the supported path for selected game installs.
Check the result after the transfer
Confirm the library and game status
Return to Settings > Storage and confirm that the Dev Drive library is listed with the expected space usage. The moved games should remain installed in your Library rather than showing an Install button. Open one or two titles before moving the rest if you want to validate the destination incrementally.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsCheck the original drive only after Steam reports that the move is complete. If you still need to recover space, remove the old copy through Steam or another deliberate cleanup step; do not delete folders while a transfer is in progress. Keeping the original data temporarily gives you a fallback if the destination path is later disconnected or a game needs to be moved back.
Verify files if a game reports an error
If a moved title fails to start, reports missing files, or begins a repair download, use Steam’s file-verification command for that game. In the Library, open the game’s Properties, go to its installed-files section, and choose the option to verify the integrity of the game files. Steam includes file verification in its recovery guidance for installation moves. Verification can redownload damaged or missing files; it does not prove that every external launcher or tool supports the new volume.
Troubleshooting common problems
The Dev Drive does not appear as a destination
- Open File Explorer and verify that the volume is mounted and has a drive letter.
- Return to Steam’s Settings > Storage page and use the add-library control again; Steam only offers locations it can access.
- Make sure you selected a folder on the Dev Drive, not an unavailable removable or disconnected volume.
- Restart Steam after correcting the mount or drive-letter issue, then check Storage again.
If Windows assigned a different drive letter after a restart, Steam may no longer match the saved library path. Restore the expected mount and drive letter, then reopen Storage. Avoid creating a second library and downloading duplicate files until you have checked whether the original path can be restored.
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Steam says there is not enough space
Free space must cover the files Steam is transferring, and Windows may need additional working space during updates or verification. Remove or move other data, select fewer games, or choose a larger conventional library location. The 50 GB Dev Drive minimum does not mean a 50 GB volume can hold a 50 GB game safely.
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Do not immediately redownload the title. Check Settings > Storage for the library path and confirm that the game files are still present. Steam provides separate guidance for games that appear uninstalled, including Storage Manager and external-drive checks, at Installed games are appearing as uninstalled. If Steam recognizes the library after you add the correct path, it may rediscover the existing files.
The game opens, but a launcher, anti-cheat system, mod, or tool fails
The official sources do not establish that every related component is compatible with a ReFS Dev Drive. Check the affected game’s own support instructions and reinstall only the component that reports the error. Avoid treating one successful launch as proof that every title or utility will work from the same volume.
The transfer was interrupted
Reopen Steam and inspect the game in Storage and the Library. If it is listed as installed, run file verification. If it is listed as uninstalled, confirm the destination library path and use Steam’s installed-games recovery guidance before choosing a new download. Keep the original files until the moved copy has been tested, when disk space allows.
Moving the Steam client instead of only the games
If your goal is to put Steam itself on the Dev Drive, do not substitute the game-library steps above. Steam documents a separate client-move process in Moving a Steam Installation and Games. That procedure is where Steam recommends backing up steamapps before changing the installation.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Client relocation can affect shortcuts, start-up behavior, installed-library detection, and files outside the game directories. Keep the existing installation intact until the new client starts, sees the libraries, and launches representative games. Saves may remain in user folders rather than inside steamapps, so copy important saves separately even when the game files have been backed up.
There is no need to move the client merely because the games are moving. Treat the client change as a separate project: document the current library paths, make the recommended backup, perform Steam’s client procedure, and confirm that the new installation sees the existing libraries before cleaning up the old location.
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Dev Drive setup facts that affect this decision
| Dev Drive fact | Practical meaning for a Steam library |
|---|---|
| Uses ReFS | The file system is designed around development workloads; the cited documentation does not establish a Steam gaming performance benefit. |
| Intended for repositories, project files, package caches, and build output or intermediate files | Game installation is outside the primary use case described by Microsoft. |
| Microsoft does not recommend installing applications there | Using it for Steam games is a user choice, not a Microsoft-endorsed configuration. |
| 50 GB minimum when creating a Dev Drive | This is a volume-creation minimum, not a capacity target for a game collection. |
| Removable or hot-pluggable disks cannot be designated as Dev Drives | An external USB volume cannot serve as the Dev Drive itself under Microsoft’s setup rules. |
| Formatting an existing volume as Dev Drive destroys its contents | Back up data before creating or reformatting a volume. |
These facts also explain why a Dev Drive should not automatically become the default home for an entire game collection. Development files can be the priority for the volume, and a large game install can consume space needed for repositories, package caches, or build output. Decide which games, if any, justify using that capacity before moving everything at once.
Dev Drive or a conventional Steam library?
The choice is primarily about purpose and support posture, not a proven frame-rate or loading-time advantage.
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| Question | Use the existing Dev Drive when… | Prefer a conventional library location when… |
|---|---|---|
| What is the volume for? | You already have the Dev Drive and accept using a development-focused volume for selected games. | You want the storage volume reserved for repositories, caches, and build artifacts as Microsoft describes. |
| What does official guidance say? | Steam documents moving libraries between paths, including alternate locations on another drive. | You want to avoid Microsoft’s explicit application-installation warning for Dev Drive. |
| What is known about performance? | You are making a storage-management choice and are not relying on an unverified gaming benchmark. | You want a familiar game-library setup without assuming ReFS-specific behavior. |
| How much compatibility risk is acceptable? | You can test each important game and recover with verification or a move back if needed. | You need the least experimentation for launchers, anti-cheat, mods, or other third-party components. |
A safe order of operations
- Confirm the Dev Drive is mounted, has sufficient free space, and is not the removable drive you intended to use as a Dev Drive.
- Back up valuable saves and, if you are changing the Steam client, back up
steamapps. - Add the Dev Drive as a Steam Library location through Settings > Storage.
- Move one noncritical game first and wait for Steam to finish.
- Launch it, check its updater or launcher, and verify files if anything is missing.
- Move additional games only after the first test behaves normally.
- Keep the original library data until you are satisfied that the moved installations work and your backups are available.
This staged approach is especially useful when a collection contains games with separate launchers, anti-cheat software, mods, or unusual save locations. It does not eliminate compatibility uncertainty, but it limits the number of installations you need to recover if one title objects to the new volume.
Frequently asked questions
Will moving a game also move its saves?
Not necessarily. Saves may be synchronized through Steam Cloud, stored in DocumentsMy Games, or kept elsewhere chosen by the developer. Back up important saves separately before moving the library.
Do I need to move Steam itself?
No. Steam’s Storage move is for selected game installations. Move the client only if you specifically want the Steam program files relocated, and follow Steam’s separate client-move instructions.
Is ReFS faster for gaming?
The cited Microsoft and Steam documentation does not provide a gaming benchmark or promise faster loading, downloads, or frame rates. Treat the Dev Drive as a storage-location choice, not a guaranteed performance upgrade.
Can an external USB drive be my Dev Drive?
Microsoft says a removable or hot-pluggable disk, such as an external USB drive, cannot itself be designated as a Dev Drive. The volume must meet Windows’ Dev Drive requirements before Steam can use it as a destination.
What if Steam shows the game as uninstalled after the move?
Check the library path in Settings > Storage and confirm that the files still exist. Add the correct library path if necessary, then use Steam’s installed-games recovery guidance before downloading the game again.
Should I move every game at once?
You can select multiple games when the destination has enough space, but testing one noncritical title first is safer. It lets you check launching, updates, and related tools before committing the rest of the collection.
Bottom line
Steam’s supported answer to “How do I move my Steam games to another drive?” is straightforward: add a library path, select the source drive and games in Storage, and click Move. A Windows Dev Drive can be used as that destination when Steam can access it, but Microsoft designed Dev Drive for development workloads and explicitly advises against installing applications there. Use the move feature, protect saves, test important games, and treat ReFS compatibility as something to verify title by title rather than as a guaranteed Steam configuration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install Steam games on a Windows Dev Drive?
Steam can add a library path on an existing Dev Drive, but Microsoft says Dev Drive is intended for development workloads and does not recommend installing applications there. Use it only if you accept that qualification and test your games.
How do I move selected Steam games to the Dev Drive?
Open Steam Settings, choose Storage, add a library folder on the Dev Drive, select the source drive and games, click Move, and wait for Steam to finish.
Does moving the library move the Steam client?
No. The Storage command moves selected game installs. Steam documents a separate procedure for moving the client itself.
Are game saves included in the move?
Not reliably. Steam Cloud coverage varies, and some saves are stored in Documents\My Games or another developer-selected location. Back up important saves separately.
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Verify the game files from its Steam Properties page. If a launcher, anti-cheat system, mod, or other component still fails, consult that title’s support guidance because ReFS compatibility is not guaranteed.
The Bottom Line
Use Steam’s Settings > Storage move workflow for selected games, but remember that Microsoft does not recommend installing applications on a Dev Drive. Back up saves, test one game first, and verify each important title rather than assuming universal ReFS compatibility.
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