How to change/remove default library folder?

[Pong [Linux]]

The default library folder (on Linux) is in the user's directory. I already added an additional library folder on our big extrenal partition. But everytime a game needs to be installed, the default install folder is the users library - which is very bad. Unfortunately, you can't delet the default (first) library folder. But how can you change the default library folder?

Reason: with family sharing turned on, games are visible on the other accounts but on the first click, they must be installed. To avoid installation in the users directory (by default) I like to change this. Either by changing the default or by removing the first/default users directory. Is this possible?

[TheTimmaeh]

I have the same problem but on Windows. I'm running Steam on my SSD (main folder), but installed most of the games on my HDD (2nd folder), because it's not necessary to run them on SSD. Now everytime I install a new game I get asked where to install it but I'm using Steam for so many years now, I just always skip this part. The game gets installed on my main folder because it's the default folder. Then I notice my failure and then have to reinstall the game in 2nd folder.

I want to use both folders, but I just want to change their order in the dropdown in the installation window. Sadly Steam doesn't offer this feature.

Is there a possibility to change a file/registry entry to change the order?

[Black Mark]

Even having Steam remember the last folder installed to and have that selected by default would help.

[TheTimmaeh]

+1

[Pong [Linux]]

+1. I guess this will cost 5 minutes of prgramming ...

[Grummelrocker]

+1
No solution for this?

[superpete]

+1 that it should be possible to configure this, especially since in big picture mode you can't even select a different library

On linux though it's easy to change this, just move the whole .steam folder to the partition of choice, then (in your home folder) create a symbolic link "ln -s /my/mounted/drive/.steam .steam".
Doing a "ls -la" should show sth. like ".steam -> /my/mounted/drive/.steam" afterwards.
Steam doesn't see the difference... (in a similar way it's also possible to just keep the installed games on a big external partition and the meta files on a SSD for example)

On Windows though it sucks and pisses me of every time, when I have to exit big picture mode once again, just to be able to select the correct library (I never use the default one)

[Black Mark]

Originally posted by superpete:

On linux though it's easy to change this, just move the whole .steam folder to the partition of choice, then (in your home folder) create a symbolic link "ln -s /my/mounted/drive/.steam .steam".
Doing a "ls -la" should show sth. like ".steam -> /my/mounted/drive/.steam" afterwards.
Steam doesn't see the difference... (in a similar way it's also possible to just keep the installed games on a big external partition and the meta files on a SSD for example)

On Windows though it sucks and pisses me of every time, when I have to exit big picture mode once again, just to be able to select the correct library (I never use the default one)

Windows has symbolic links too (mklink /d is useful here, though you need to open an admin shell to use it, and the order of operands is the reverse of ln -s).

I used that technique before, but now that I want some Steam "apps" (non-games such as DisplayFusion, which runs at Windows start) on my SSD and the rest (games) on my multi-terabyte HDD, it's not so convenient.

After selecting my secondary library location from that damn drop-down box hundreds of times, I'm getting used to it... (But, firstly, it's not an easy control to train into muscle memory, and secondly, the Steam client isn't a well-behaved Windows application, so things like the usual keyboard navigation doesn't work, grrr!).

[ADTC]

Came here looking for this! Very annoying that it defaults to the install folder, even if I have other library folders set up. If I can't choose a default library folder, at the very least, remember the last used library folder!

[ReBoot]

Move Steam to where you want the default folder to be. Its not that hard.

[Black Mark]

ReBoot, I don't want Steam on my HDD, I want it on my SSD, and my games to be installed on the HDD by default. It's not that hard to program this. ;-)

[TheTimmaeh]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

Move Steam to where you want the default folder to be. Its not that hard.

Please, if you don't know what this topic is about, don't post your useless comment here. Its not that hard.

[ReBoot]

Originally posted by MV:

ReBoot, I don't want Steam on my HDD, I want it on my SSD, and my games to be installed on the HDD by default. It's not that hard to program this. ;-)

Since the Steam startup time is dominated by logging in, you can just aswell move it to the HDD.

[[[e-mail]] (~) #]

I know this topic is a little bit old but just to clarify the mind of everyone is still trying to do this: Click on Steam in the top bar -> Settings -> Downloads -> Manage Library Folders -> Add a new library (if you haven't a second one already) -> Right click the favourite one -> Make as default.

Simple right? But still not quite as immediate as a "Make as default" button at the end of every library line...
BTW, hope to have helped. See ya;
BJP.

[KraM.]

Originally posted by TheTimmaeh:

I have the same problem but on Windows. I'm running Steam on my SSD (main folder), but installed most of the games on my HDD (2nd folder), because it's not necessary to run them on SSD. Now everytime I install a new game I get asked where to install it but I'm using Steam for so many years now, I just always skip this part. The game gets installed on my main folder because it's the default folder. Then I notice my failure and then have to reinstall the game in 2nd folder.

I want to use both folders, but I just want to change their order in the dropdown in the installation window. Sadly Steam doesn't offer this feature.

Is there a possibility to change a file/registry entry to change the order?

[[[e-mail]] (~) #]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

Since the Steam startup time is dominated by logging in, you can just aswell move it to the HDD.

Pzzt: Steam on an SSD and games on HDD lets you fire up steam and chat with your friends in less than a second and having virtual unlimited "slow" storage for games. Also having steam on SSD, for istance the same drive as boot, maybe even NVMe or PCIe SSDs, can launch your game faster as steam usually caches a little bit of game files if they are installed in a different library as steam installation.
I personally have an NVMe drive for OS and programs, a Sata3 SSD for large programs and Steam, a 2TB Drive just for films, tv series, anime and Steam games, and a 3TB drive as personal data. Quite a large, expensive and not for everyone setup that instead can leave me with games loaded differently than data than OS files that Steam files to get the most of the performance and the space of every component I have right now.
As always: hope to have helped. See ya;
BJP.