All Discussions > Steam Forums > Steam Discussions > Topic Details
Cosmo May 25, 2023 @ 2:51am
Install game on USB FLASH?
Can I install a game from the "STEAM" service on a flash memory and run this game if the flash memory is inserted into the computer.
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Showing 1-10 of 10 comments
Overseer May 25, 2023 @ 3:00am 
That is an awful idea and you should not do that but technically possible if you keep the drive letters the same and create a game library on that drive.
#1
Cathulhu May 25, 2023 @ 3:02am 
Technically yes, but pratically, bad choice.
#2
Cosmo May 25, 2023 @ 3:06am 
But the speed must be high USB 3.1, 3.2. And people sometimes install the game on another virtual drive "C" "D"?
#3
Cathulhu May 25, 2023 @ 3:08am 
What the heck is a virtual drive?

I have several drive letters assigned to multiple partitions on SSDs and a HDD. None of them is virtual.
#4
Cosmo May 25, 2023 @ 3:14am 
Originally posted by Cathulhu:
What the heck is a virtual drive?

I have several drive letters assigned to multiple partitions on SSDs and a HDD. None of them is virtual.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/disk-management/manage-virtual-hard-disks
#5
Cathulhu May 25, 2023 @ 3:19am 
And what does that have to do with installing games? Those images have to be somewhere and by heading overhead you even lose total capacity.
#6
Cosmo May 25, 2023 @ 3:20am 
Originally posted by Cathulhu:
And what does that have to do with installing games? Those images have to be somewhere and by heading overhead you even lose total capacity.
Do not text me anymore.
#7
Cathulhu May 25, 2023 @ 3:21am 
This is a public user forum. You are in no position to make such demands and if you do make silly claims, expect to be corrected.
#8
matt May 25, 2023 @ 4:35am 
It is definitely possible, but the performance of the game will very well depend on the flash drive. You need one with good read and write speed, there's these "gaming flash drives" that some people sell. If you get a regular one with the most average, basic read and write speed, your game will not only load, and maybe even run slow, it'll also install very slow. Steam game installation is a download-file-compressed-then-decompress repeated basis, and from that alone you can tell why you'd want a faster drive.
#9
Phénomènes Mystiques May 25, 2023 @ 5:49am 
If the game is small and 2D, flash drives can be used simply by creating a symbolic link as this is just an easier way to keep it installed. I would not put a large game or even a 3D type game on them. I have put 2Dark on one for symbolic link testing and it ran fine, but the game is very small.

No need to create a Steam library on the flash drive using symbolic links, also if you do it could break the library on the flash drive, so it is best to just use symbolic links.

Think of games like the OG Pac-man, these are games that could go on flash drives and run fine. Games like Stardew Valley? Sure!

Also, with symbolic links, you will NOT need to verify the game files everytime you use the flash drive because the system will think the files are on another drive (hence why we use symbolic links). This is also helpful when using external drives.

To make easier symbolic links, simply use/install the file extension and make them within two clicks of the mouse.
#10
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All Discussions > Steam Forums > Steam Discussions > Topic Details
Date Posted: May 25, 2023 @ 2:51am
Posts: 10
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