You can move your Steam folder to an external hard drive to free up space on your primary drive or to improve game loading times. However, you can't move the entire Steam installation, including Spectrasonics software, to an external hard drive.
Here's how to move your Steam folder to an external hard drive:
- Close Steam.
- Locate your Steam folder:
- The default location is usually
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam. - You can find the exact location by opening Steam, going to Settings > Downloads, and clicking Steam Library Folders.
- The default location is usually
- Create a new Steam library folder on your external hard drive:
- Right-click your external hard drive and select New > Folder.
- Name the folder "Steam Library" or something similar.
- Move your Steam folder to the external hard drive:
- Cut and paste the contents of your Steam folder to the new "Steam Library" folder on your external hard drive.
- Add the new Steam library folder in Steam:
- Open Steam, go to Settings > Downloads, and click Steam Library Folders.
- Click Add Library Folder and select the new "Steam Library" folder on your external hard drive.
Important Note:
- This process only moves your game files to the external hard drive. The Steam application itself will remain on your primary drive.
- You can't move Spectrasonics software, such as Omnisphere or Trilian, to an external hard drive. These programs require a dedicated installation on your primary drive.
Additional Tips:
- It's recommended to use a fast external hard drive with a USB 3.0 or higher connection for optimal performance.
- Make sure you have enough free space on your external hard drive to accommodate all your games.
