Changing the default install folder

[Baron Squirrel]

How do i change the default install folder for my games? Steam won't let me make a new directory in my C: drive as the default install directory is in the same drive but in the program files x86 folder, which requires admin privileges and messes with my mods.

Basically, i want to change the default install directory from "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam" to something like "C:\Steam Games" but steam won't let me

[tintingaroo]

To create additional Libraries on the same drive you want to do things manually.

1. Create the folder for the Library e.g. C:\Steam Games

2. Inside that, create the folder: steamapps

3. Fully close Steam

4. Open in a text editor [Steam Installation]\steamapps\libraryfolders.vdf

5. Before the last }, paste in: "x"{"path" "C:\\Steam Games"}
(On Windows, any backslashes in the path are doubled)

6. Replace x with the index of last library in vdf file +1.

So in this libraryfolders.vdf example, index of last Library in the file is 0 (the bold text), so x= 1. I'll have inserted the underlined section.

"libraryfolders"
{
	"0"
	{
		"path"		"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam"
		"label"		""
		"contentid"		"6089302862307036814"
		"totalsize"		"0"
		"update_clean_bytes_tally"		"7966641951"
		"time_last_update_corruption"		"0"
		"apps"
		{
			"367520"		"7967396904"
			"553420"		"1699759620"
			"699670"		"358008707"
		}
	}
	"1" {"path" "C:\\Steam Games"}
}

7. Save and close the file. Then you can start Steam and make that Library the default.

[ReBoot]

Set appropriate access privileges manually.

[Baron Squirrel]

Thanks, sorry for the late reply btw

[forabora]

Hi guys. I'm sorry to tell you that NONE OF THIS METOD WORKS.

I've edited libraryfolders.vdf in BOTH LOCATIONS:
...\steam\config
...\steam\steamapps

like this:


"libraryfolders"
{
"0"
{
"path" "C:\\3Uzytki\\Steam"
"label" ""
"contentid" "some numbers"
"totalsize" "0"
"update_clean_bytes_tally" "some other nmbers"
"time_last_update_corruption" "0"
"apps"
{
"some numbers" "some other numbers"
}
}
"1" {"path" "C:\\4Gry\\SteamGames"}
}


Then run steam. Didn't find ANY NEW FOLDER in steam > settings > downloads
Even thou steam corrected the vdf file for me like this:


"libraryfolders"
{
"0"
{
"path" "C:\\3Uzytki\\Steam"
"label" ""
"contentid" "some numbers"
"totalsize" "0"
"update_clean_bytes_tally" "some numbers"
"time_last_update_corruption" "0"
"apps"
{
"some numbers" "some numbers"
}
}
"1"
{
"path" "C:\\4Gry\\SteamGames"
"label" ""
"contentid" "some numbers"
"totalsize" "0"
"update_clean_bytes_tally" "0"
"time_last_update_corruption" "0"
"apps"
{
}
}
}

So it looks like it understud the editing but didn't show any new folder in the app.
Any help from you?


Personal note:
This trend of divesting users of any usefull option and leaving only oppressive promo screens and adds found in steam, windows, and any other contemporary apps pisses me of like hell. I want to say FU.CK YOU devs. I'm not a moroon or your puppet. Fu.ck off. Thank you.

[tintingaroo]

Please try again with just the steps in the post marked as the answer (can skip the last part of step 7 - setting the library as default). Are things working now?

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

If Steam is overwriting files you've edited with its own "repairs", maybe you need to start Steam with the -noverifyfiles parameter?

[Luck]

This is much easier to do by using this tool. https://github.com/LostDragonist/steam-library-setup-tool/releases . Have fun.