Downloading Steam games to a flash drive?

[Melon]

I have a small travel laptop (Lenovo, windows 10) with Steam on it. I would like to download some games, specifically things like Portal, Portal 2, Gunpoint, etc. I just don't have enough space for any of them. Would it be possible to download the games directly to a flash drive(the highest I have is 32gb, which is more storage space than the laptop), and just play them from there? (I have a larger laptop that I also use Steam on, but it's too bulky to really take anywhere. So if the flash drive doesn't work out it won't be worth it to try and upgrade the storage space on the small one, if that's even possible)

[nosferatu's blood bag]

Should be all you need here.

https://www.techwalla.com/articles/how-to-run-steam-from-a-thumb-drive

[sheriyamaguchi1976]

I TRIED TO INSTALL A STEAM GAME ON A 1TB FLASH DRIVE. DIDNT WORK. DOES DRIVE HAVE TO HAVE CERTAIN FORMAT? (Ft32, EXFAT, etc.)

[{SoF}JokerStandsAlone]

I had the same issue I kinda gave up if anyone can explain why no matter what I do it will not show up as a steam file to be able to click the game and download it to said flash drive folder yes I've tried to go to settings and locate the file bluh bluh bluh but no matter where I looked I couldn't find it all we need to know is how do you get your flash drive to shown up as a possible download file for the said game to download too nothing I found helped me out I use a crome book 4 please if anyone can try this and find a solution I would be happy

[Elucidator]

When using a flash drive, make sure you put it in before launching Steam; otherwise it will not automatically detect a library on the device.

Create a library on the device
then choose the download location when installing a game (see the settings window of that game).

The steam client is going through an overhaul; it may become easier on the modern beta version in the future to handle external drives. (or MicroSD or any storage device that is unplugable)

[Supafly]

You'd have to have Steam create a library on the external drive. Then you can download the game to that drive. Need to ensure that drive is connected before you load Steam. If you load Steam when it's not connected Steam will not see the drive and that could cause issues seeing the drive/game/s next time you do connect it

[yeager1721]

DeadeyeJoker348 you need to go into your computer files plug your flash drive in the find the file the format the drive after that reload the steam app go to steam games go to install a game it will ask you to pick a drive you need to click add drive the add the new drive then install to it

[Supafly]

Originally posted by yeager1721:

DeadeyeJoker348 you need to go into your computer files plug your flash drive in the find the file the format the drive after that reload the steam app go to steam games go to install a game it will ask you to pick a drive you need to click add drive the add the new drive then install to it

Last reply over a year ago should tell you problem is solved or they just gave up. Either way you digging up this dead thread, aka necroing it, will get it locked by a mod shortly...

[Katie]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.