Install games on external ssd

[s.sivori98]

Hi everyone, I wanted to ask if it is possible to install steam games on an external ssd? However, I imagine that for any updates, to download mods from the workshop and to play them, obviously the ssd on which the game is installed must be connected, right?

[eram]

yes must be installed and connected before you run steam. running steam then plugging in the external drive wont work.

[GunsForBucks]

I use a plug in USB 2 drive for my steam library.

No issues and it is fast enough. If you are doing competitive multiplayer then I would suggest loading them on the SSD otherwise unneeded.

The steam client allows you to select a library location to load games on, the main client will be on your main drive.

Only issue is if you unplug you need to make sure it is the same drive letter when you plug it back it or it gets stupid. But that can be changed easily by swapping spot or hardware settings.

[crunchyfrog]

Yup, for my entire time on Steam, some 14 years or so, I've used external drivesa and they've been absolutely fine.

As long as you remember a few settings and procedures. Namely always have them on and remove any power saving settings to stop them going into low power mode. Always shut your PC down fully and don't use sleep mode as this can trip up these drives getting back online.

And make sure you always disconnect drives when Steam isn't running. Otherwise it can get confused.

[GunsForBucks]

Never had to disconnect the drive myself. it's always plugged in except for disassembly and cleaning. I use the same drive for media storage as well.

Your experience may vary depending on your machine settings, but unplugging just made my drive letter assignments possibly change.

[SilverPigtail]

Yes, you can. Those hard drives works like internal drives. You shouldn't get any problems.