[MacOS] Steam games using double the space on SSD

[SUPERCOBRA]

ISSUE
Steam games using double the amount of space on system SSD.
https://imgur.com/a/QzSkIcY
Here's a screenshot showing folders of five random games. As you can see, it shows the correct size in bytes (bottom line), but it takes double the space in megabytes or gigabytes. Not a big deal when we talk about small games, but I simply cannot install large games due to lack of space, as they need 160GB instead of 80GB.

OS
MacOS Monterey

STEPS
* Download any game from Library
* Check the folder size via Get Info context menu in Finder

OTHER PEOPLE REPORTING
1. https://www.reddit.com/r/macgaming/comments/tj8e1l/steam_games_using_double_space_on_ssd/
2. https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/439227/steam-app-data-files-using-twice-the-expected-disk-space-on-mac-os-monterey

[SeBa]

I have the same problem with 10.14.6 Mojave.

[zziipp545]

I have the same problem with Monterey 12.3.

[isosamep]

The same problem occurs for me on Monterey 12.3.1 and using the non-beta version of Steam (1647446817).

This is really annoying on a laptop with a small SSD like mine.

[tintingaroo]

Update: Bug is addressed in the Steam client beta:

macOS
Fixed cases where install preallocation would create larger files than necessary

https://steamcommunity.com/groups/SteamClientBeta/announcements/detail/4447876449777177202

To participate in the Steam client beta:
Steam > Preferences > Account > Change... button > select Steam Beta Update > OK

---

From this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/macgaming/comments/tj8e1l/steam_games_using_double_space_on_ssd/i3bzhlp/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3, they say they could avoid the issue with an alternate drive - I assume they are talking about an external drive (and checking things out with a FAT32 thumbstick things were fine - no extra disk usage) but wonder if it also applies to partitions...

This doesn't address the major aspect of the issue but until it's fixed I found moving a game between Steam Libraries to be a method of recouping disk space usage. After the move, game size and disk usage are in accord. For those with a single drive we manually create another Library location.

Part 1

To create the additional Library on the same drive:
Create a folder for the Library somewhere, call it e.g. NextLibrary. Inside it create another folder and name it steamapps (on Windows this folder isn't checked for/created by Steam on game installation but it is created if moving a game - I assume the same case on Mac: you need to manually create it to avoid an installation error).

Fully close Steam

Open in a text editor [Steam Installation]/config/libraryfolders.vdf

Paste this in before the last } in the file: "xxx" {"path" "yyy"}

xxx = Index of last library in vdf file +1
yyy = directory of the created NextLibrary folder

So in this libraryfolders.vdf example, I'd have inserted the underlined section:

"libraryfolders"
{
	"0"
	{
		"path"		"/Users/tintingaroo/Library/Application Support/Steam"
		"label"		""
		"contentid"		"6089302862307036814"
		"totalsize"		"0"
		"update_clean_bytes_tally"		"7966641951"
		"time_last_update_corruption"		"0"
		"apps"
		{
			"367520"		"7967396904"
			"553420"		"1699759620"
			"699670"		"358008707"
			"718010"		"2428562516"
			"1647160"		"96984801"
		}
	}
	"1" {"path" "/Users/tintingaroo/Library/Application Support/NextLibrary"}
}

Save and close the file then start Steam.

Part 2

You can move games either via it's Properties menu or via the Storage Manager

Individual game:
Right-click it in Steam Library > Properties > Local Files > Move install folder... > Select the drive* > Move

Via Storage Mangager:
Steam > Preferences > Downloads > Steam Library Folders > Place a tick beside the games > Move > Select the drive* > Move

* If you don't have other drives connected with a Library set up on it, there'll just be a single option. Steam is designed for 1 Library per drive and it names libraries here after the drive they are on. So both original Library and NextLibrary will be referred to as e.g. "Local Drive (C:)" but it's OK - since you're moving games from one to another, it will always be referring to the other library (i.e. the one you're not moving things from) - if you get what I mean :D

Moving game from Library -> "Local Drive (C:)"= NextLibrary
Moving game from NextLibrary -> "Local Drive (C:)"= Library

The Storage Manager also displays the path so it's easy to identify the Library you're moving/uninstalling games from, plus original Library always takes first tab.
For moves via the Properties menu could just check where it's installed with Browse Local Files.
But as it's just 2-libraries-1-drive it's minor stuff, but start adding more & more...

For new games, I suggest installing to NextLibrary and then use Steam to move them to the original Library, but can have things the other way round.
When the issue is fixed you could put things back to Steam's 1 Library per drive design. Use the Storage Manager > select NextLibrary tab > move/uninstall all things from NextLibrary > select [...] symbol > Remove Drive.