How to copy over FFXIV ARR to another computer

[AbnormallyGrim]

Hello, is there anyone who can guide me on how to transfer the entire base game and its patches to another computer?

Both computers are running Windows 10
I have the latest FFXIV ARR installed, however steam won't let me back up the game, as in it never comes up as an option

What I already tried:
Copying the game folders (//steamapps/common/FINAL FANTASY XIV Online) into the exact same directory onto the second computer

Copied the Documents folder(/Documents/My Games/FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn) into the same directory onto the second computer

Signing out and in of Steam, as well as restarting the computer

What happens:
When the game gets launched through Steam, it just tries to download everything again

[Edward Snowden]

Why is it not an option for you to download everything again ?

[HandmadeMonster]

Have you tried verifying the integrity of the game files by right-clicking on the game in your steam library and going to Local Files?

Also, I don't believe the game itself is downloaded through steam. You download the launcher through steam, then download the game files through the launcher.

[Edward Snowden]

yes and you cant just copy the files and expect it to work. Programms arent just downloaded they are installed thats different some files are linked to your computer directly

[AbnormallyGrim]

引用自 HandmadeMonster：

Have you tried verifying the integrity of the game files by right-clicking on the game in your steam library and going to Local Files?

Also, I don't believe the game itself is downloaded through steam. You download the launcher through steam, then download the game files through the launcher.

The option to Back up the files, as well as the option to verify the files are greyed out

[dadyrghluv69]

Meaning it cannot be done, if you were to copy the game to another computer it will not work. You have to redownload it directly to the system in which you want to play it on

[Aidenel]

even if you could copy paste it to a new computer, steam would have to verify the files, meaning it would downgrade the game to an old version anyway. (that or just remove the files all together to match what you download from the library)
Edit: as far as I know there isn't a way to bypass it, Warframe suffers from the exact same problem.

[Fallaner, the Writer Eternal]

引用自 Lenn'Reegar vas Alarei：

even if you could copy paste it to a new computer, steam would have to verify the files, meaning it would downgrade the game to an old version anyway. (that or just remove the files all together to match what you download from the library)
Edit: as far as I know there isn't a way to bypass it, Warframe suffers from the exact same problem.

Yes. Steam does this, and to my knowledge, there's NO way around it, aside from having a version of the game not running through steam until your steam version is back to normal.

Specifically, i'm pretty sure Steam downgrades you to before ANY expansion was added, thus meaning you have to reinstall most of the patches + Xpacs. It takes a while.

[AbnormallyGrim]

引用自 dadyrghluv69：

Meaning it cannot be done, if you were to copy the game to another computer it will not work. You have to redownload it directly to the system in which you want to play it on

It can be done, I just did it.

For anyone wondering how to get around this problem, I'll list the steps below:
I've only done this with the starter edition, not the DLC, but it should work with the DLC as well. Just make sure that you have at least one fully up to date FFXIV Online

1) You have to download the launcher through Steam, 8GB which I haven't found a way around as of yet unfortunately

2) After you've downloaded the installer, run the installer and register your Square Enix Account with your game. This will create a folder in your C:\Users\username\Documents\My Games\FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn with your service account.

3) The game will start updating, but cancel the update. Go to Offline Mode in steam

4) On the computer that still needs installation, go to: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common and then delete the entire FINAL FANTASY XIV Online folder that the download created.

5) On the PC that already has the game installed, Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common and then copy the entire FINAL FANTASY XIV Online folder.

6) Paste the copied folder into C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common on the computer that is pending installation.

The next step requires you to change an appmanifest script, so be sure that you know what you're doing and that you follow these steps carefully:

8) Download Notepadd++ (my preferred choice) it's only a few mb

9) On the computer pending installation, go to: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps and look for the appmanifest titled: "appmanifest_39210.acf", right click on it and say "Edit with Notepadd++"

10) Look for an entry titled: "LastOwner" and copy over the numerical code next to it into a .txt file or whatever works for you, just make absolutely sure that you have the code, because the next step is to delete the "appmanifest_39210.acf" file.

11) On On the PC that already has the game installed, go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps and look for the appmanifest titled: "appmanifest_39210.acf", copy this over to the other computer into the exact same directory (C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps)

12) With your newly copied appmanifest, right click on it again and edit it with notepad++, change the "LastOwner" to the code that you have previously copied.

13) You can go back to online mode in steam now, and restart the launcher. It should work now, and launch the game directly without having to download a 25GB update.

[dadyrghluv69]

That's an awful lot of work to make that happen and most do not have that much computer savvy. Why dont u just redownload it to the new computer, you had to do it with the base game anyways which I know you cannot get around

[wizisi2k]

actually I think here's the easiest method. Open the FFXIV folder and copy the game folder inside to a thumbdrive (current game size is 34.5 GB so you need a 64 GB thumbdrive probably in NTFS format to do this). Then install the game on the new PC. Paste the folder from the thumbdrive over in the correct path and then start the launcher. It probably will start a launcher only update then check the files. You'll still have a download in Steam of 7 GB but just overwrite everything.