Moving steam library to a new computer?

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Valtiel May 2, 2018 @ 4:19pm

I know this probably gets asked frequently, so apologies in advance. I did a google and steam search, and got some very conflicting information which is why I'm asking.

Is it possible to move my entire steam library to my new PC? Does it matter if it's going from a Win 7 to Win 10 machine?

If so, what's the best way to move everything over (save files included)? I have an external drive I'm going to put everything on, just not sure what folders I need to include. When I reinstall the steam client on the new PC, will it automatically find my library?

Thanks!

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Showing 1-8 of 8 comments

NeXuS23 May 2, 2018 @ 4:39pm

Yes it's possible.

You only need to copy all "SteamLibrary" folders along with the "c:\Program Files (x86)\Steam" to the new Computer.

To finish the transfer you also should copy "c:\Users\<Username>\Documents\.." to the other computer, because some games save their savegames there in various folders.

Then you install Steam over it and login, if the "SteamLibrary" folders are located on the same driveletters as before steam will find them else you add them under Settings->Downloads->SteamLibraries.

Now Steam will find all installed games and display them as installed.

If you actually start a game, the game will usualy only reinstall the common files and download updates, but won't need redownloading the whole game.

Also Win7/Win10 should not matter for steam, but it's of course possible that it matters for some games, but you can always try reinstall them.

Forcen May 2, 2018 @ 4:43pm

Don't move the entire Steam folder, just move the Steamapps and userdata folders inside the Steam folder or the Steam library folders.
Reinstall Steam on the new PC, recreate any additional steamlibrary folders, exit Steam and then move the folders back.
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129

Last edited by Forcen; May 2, 2018 @ 4:43pm

scsa20 May 2, 2018 @ 7:41pm

Eh I don't even bother with creating the libraries first. I just install steam then mapped the library or libraries to where my libraries lives (I have 4 different locations from which only 3 are used (the default I don't use but there anyways)) and it picks it right up and I'm going again.

You do, however, want to make sure you move your save files since not all save files are stored in the game directory nor supports steam save sync. Like what NeXuS23, copying C:\Users\UserName\Documents is one such location, other locations includes C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local and C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming (depending on the game). Hell I even found save files in C:\ProgramData before. So if you want to make sure you have your saves make sure you check out those locations for it and put them back on the new computer or on a formatted computer.

Valtiel May 5, 2018 @ 10:43am

So, backup these two folders:

Program Files (x86)/Steam/SteamApps folder
Program Files (x86)/Steam/userdata folder

Reinstall steam on new computer.
Load up steam so it starts searching for the library files, then exit out.

Then copy those saved folder into the fresh Steam install on the new PC.

Reboot steam and I'm good to go?

As for save games, there are only a few I want and I will have to find those and put them in the user data folders on the new computer using the same file structure.

Thanks all!

Last edited by Valtiel; May 5, 2018 @ 10:44am

Forcen May 5, 2018 @ 10:48am

Sounds good, don't delete the backup until you made sure the thing worked.
Might need to verify the games also. there is an 8 step guide here: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129

About saves, if they are in the userdata folder then you should be good.
You can also make a backup of all saves using this: http://www.gamesave-manager.com/
Or use this site to find where they are: http://savelocations.wikia.com/ http://pcgamingwiki.com/