How to unpack a game from downloads?

[Doodlez]

I have been scouring the internet on how to either unpack or force steam to unpack a game from the downloads folder. No matter what I do it just keeps re-downloading the game and never actually moving it to my steamapps folder. I've restarted, reinstalled, cleared caches. Done virtually everything that I have read to this point and I'm not sure what else to do.

I'm currently in literal Africa so my download speeds are atrocious and I'm trying to avoid redownloading the game again since it takes 4+ days to download.

The game in question is Hogwarts Legacy which to my understanding is having similar issues overall, but not quite the same issue that I'm having.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[HikariLight]

If you downloaded the game from the Steam client, it will unpack the game directly into its own folder.
If the games are being downloaded into your downloads folder you messed something up as they are not supposed to go there.

[Iceira]

Seen From past steam poster from same place they use the function steam backup Solutions, then restore it at own place, but somehow in other post steam or game trigger a update, and that a offline issue.

I think, i or other suggest a external Solution with steam lib so you technicaly can move all steam lib and add its content with multi disk again and same time update it at other location. ( where internet is fine )

This also is part of disk steam storage mangement and the ways it work now. ( things has change, steam still require things be there then doing startup check.( do note steam dont recommend such ways, and yet many have done it for years. ) and i told this before steam brake old pc core rules, there has always been remote media and so do Microsoft, its simple just how fast they are, this is just seen as dont try run things from a floppy disk, and we all get that part, and now there is usb 3 and 3+ depend on pc, then this is a joke and steam and MS is lost in outer space and lost the war.

this just dont explan ofc all the other issue with it, defect cable and transportaion damage that can happend, ( this is why things get flagged as usb change drop and wht steam dont like that solution. )

gl with it.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Steps to playing games from steam:
1. Install Steam client, and login to your Steam account.

2. Visit your Steam library via Steam client, and select the game you want to download.

3. ???

4. Profit! You just click play button via Steam client to start playing your game, unpacking was done in step 3.

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

Steam has it's own download folder that games get downloaded to. And then steam unpacks the game from that folder.

[Doodlez]

Okay maybe I didn't explain well enough. I have the entire game downloaded. 70gb. However, it's in the "downloading" sub-folder of my steam folder. I did not intentionally install it there, but for some reason it appears to be stuck there. I know once you've downloaded it, the steam client has to unpack/install it or whatever. I have countless hours played on various steam games. I've had steam for over 10 years and have never encountered this particular issue.

Again, I have the install folder set to the exact same drive/folder as all of my other steam games. I have enough disk space. I have done literally nothing different for this game vs. the other 100 games I own on steam. However, I am stuck constantly having to repeat the install and I do not understand why or what to do about it.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Originally posted by Doodlez:

Okay maybe I didn't explain well enough. I have the entire game downloaded. 70gb. However, it's in the "downloading" sub-folder of my steam folder. I did not intentionally install it there, but for some reason it appears to be stuck there. I know once you've downloaded it, the steam client has to unpack/install it or whatever. I have countless hours played on various steam games. I've had steam for over 10 years and have never encountered this particular issue.

Again, I have the install folder set to the exact same drive/folder as all of my other steam games. I have enough disk space. I have done literally nothing different for this game vs. the other 100 games I own on steam. However, I am stuck constantly having to repeat the install and I do not understand why or what to do about it.

What's the game name in question?

Did you wait for it to be finished installing, or pause it?

Are you using any 3rd party app that mess with file, and permission, or doing dumb bad scans that halts other apps from working correctly, or stopping them from writing, or reading permissions?

Are you using any custom mods for your Steam client?

Are you using a method to download older version of the game using console command?

[Doodlez]

The game is Hogwarts Legacy. I have waited twice for the game to finish installing. There are no 3rd party apps/scans. No mods for the steam client.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Do this, head to where Steam installed, delete everything except for "Steam.exe" file, and "Steamapp" folder, once done, go ahead and clear what in the "Downloading" folder that in the "Steamapp" folder, now run "Steam.exe, and see if issue resolved this give you fresh clean client download, and if issue still happens, then this may suggest either issue with drive you're trying to install it on, or you're using some app that mess with file, and permissions.

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

Do this, head to where Steam installed, delete everything except for "Steam.exe" file, and "Steamapp" folder, once done, go ahead and clear what in the "Downloading" folder that in the "Steamapp" folder, now run "Steam.exe, and see if issue resolved this give you fresh clean client download, and if issue still happens, then this may suggest either issue with drive you're trying to install it on, or you're using some app that mess with file, and permissions.

Make sure you keep your userdata folder inside the steam folder.

[Doodlez]

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

Do this, head to where Steam installed, delete everything except for "Steam.exe" file, and "Steamapp" folder, once done, go ahead and clear what in the "Downloading" folder that in the "Steamapp" folder, now run "Steam.exe, and see if issue resolved this give you fresh clean client download, and if issue still happens, then this may suggest either issue with drive you're trying to install it on, or you're using some app that mess with file, and permissions.

Tried this, all that happened was that it started the entire download again. I retained the userdata folder per snakefist's recommendation.