Can I change the default location of Steam Mover without reinstalling it?


Campus Guides
2023-07-13T19:51:52+00:00

Can I change the default location of Steam Mover without reinstalling it?

Do you need to change the default location Steam Mover but you don't want to go through the reinstallation process? The popular gaming platform, Steam Mover, allows users to easily transfer games and applications between different storage drives. However, sometimes it may be necessary to modify the default Steam Mover location to better suit your needs. Fortunately, there is a solution without having to reinstall the program. In this article, we will provide you with a technical guide to change the default Steam Mover location easily and efficiently. Read on to find out how!

1. Introduction to Steam Mover and its default location

Steam Mover is a very useful tool for those users who want to move games or programs installed on their HDD to another location without having to uninstall and reinstall them. The default location of Steam Mover is the main program folder on the C drive, but it is possible to change it according to the user's needs.

The process of changing the default Steam Mover location is simple and can be done in just a few steps. First, you need to download the program from its official website and install it on your device. Once installed, you must open Steam Mover and select the original folder of the game or program you want to move in the "From" section and then choose the new location in the "To" section.

Importantly, Steam Mover does not move the game or program files themselves, but instead creates symbolic links pointing to the new location. This means that the files will still be in the original location, but the program or game will read them from their new location. To make the move, you must click on the "Move" button and Steam Mover will create the necessary links.

2. Why change the default Steam Mover location?

Changing the default Steam Mover location may be necessary for several reasons. One of them is if your main hard drive is running out of space and you want to move your Steam games to another drive with more capacity. Another reason could be if you have multiple hard drives in your system and prefer to keep your games stored on a different drive than the one configured by default.

By changing the default Steam Mover location, you can optimize your system's performance by freeing up space on your primary hard drive or spreading the storage load across multiple drives. Also, if you have a faster drive or with better performance, you can take advantage of its advantages by placing the games on it.

Fortunately, changing the default Steam Mover location is not difficult. You just need to follow the following steps:

  1. Open Steam Mover on your computer.
  2. Select the original Steam folder, which is usually located in the "C:Program Files (x86)Steam" path.
  3. Select the new location where you want to move the Steam folder. It can be another location on your hard drive or even an external drive.
  4. Press the “Move” button to start the moving process.
  5. Wait for Steam Mover to finish moving the files. This may take some time depending on the size of the games and the speed of your hard drives.

By following these steps, you can easily change the default Steam Mover location and enjoy the improved performance and storage capacity of your system.

3. Steps to change default location of Steam Mover without reinstalling it

One of the biggest advantages of Steam Mover is the ability to change the default location of Steam games without having to reinstall them. However, if you need to change the default Steam Mover location on your system, here are the steps to do so:

Step 1: First, make sure you have administrator privileges on your system. This is required to make changes to Steam Mover settings.

Step 2: Open Steam Mover and click the “Change Destination” button. A pop-up window will open allowing you to select the new location where you want to move the games.

Step 3: Navigate to the desired location and click “OK.” Make sure the new location has enough disk space for Steam games. Once you've selected the new location, Steam Mover will show you a list of games installed on your system. Select the games you want to move and click "Move." Steam Mover will be responsible for moving the game files to the new location without having to reinstall them.

4. Preparing the system before changing Steam Move location

Before changing the location of Steam Mover, it is important to perform proper preparation on the system to avoid problems or data loss. Here we present the necessary steps:

1. Make a Backup: Before making any changes to the Steam Mover location, be sure to back up your your files and Steam folders. This will give you a measure of security in case an error occurs during the process.

2. Close Steam Move and Steam: It is crucial to close both Steam Mover and Steam before you start changing the Steam Mover location. This will ensure that there are no conflicts or synchronization issues during the switching process.

3. Uninstall Steam Mover: Before continuing, you need to uninstall Steam Mover from your system. Go to the list of installed programs on your computer, search for Steam Mover, and select the uninstall option. This will allow you to start the location change process without complications.

5. Change Steam Mover Location in Program Settings

For , follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Steam Mover on your computer.

  • If you don't already have Steam Mover installed, you can download and install it from the site Steam Mover official.
  • Once you have opened the program, you will see a window with several options.

Step 2: Click the "Options" button at the top of the window.

  • This will open a dropdown menu with different settings.

Step 3: Select the “Change Steam Apps installation folder” option from the drop-down menu.

  • Clicking this option will open a dialog box allowing you to select the new location for your Steam game installation folder.
  • Select the desired folder and click "OK" to confirm the location change.

6. Checking the new Steam Move location

To check the new Steam Mover location, you must follow the following steps:

1. Open Steam Mover and verify that the program is still installed on your computer. If you do not have it installed, download and install it from the official Steam Mover page.

2. Open the program and in the "Steam Apps Common" section, locate the game or application that you want to move to a new location.

3. Right click on the game or application and select “Pick a new location”. Next, select the destination folder where you want the game to be moved.

4. Once the destination folder is selected, press the "Move" button. Steam Mover will begin moving all files and folders associated with the game to the new location. This process may take a few minutes depending on the size of the game and the speed of your hard drive.

5. Once the operation is complete, Steam Mover will show you a message indicating that the process has been completed successfully. Now you can check the new location of the game or application in the folder you selected earlier.

Remember that this method only works for Steam games and applications. If you want to move other files or programs, you may need to use other tools or methods. Additionally, it is always advisable to back up files before making any changes to their location.

7. Fixing Common Issues When Changing the Default Steam Mover Location

Users may encounter common problems when trying to change the default Steam Mover location. However, these problems can be solved by following some simple steps. Here are three recommended solutions:

1. Check the destination folder: Make sure the destination folder selected to move games is available and has enough free space. Also, make sure you have the appropriate permissions to access and write to that location.

2. Disable antivirus or security software: Your antivirus or security software may be blocking the process of moving files. Temporarily disable any such software before attempting to change the default Steam Mover location.

3. Run Steam Mover as administrator: Sometimes permissions issues can be avoided by running Steam Mover as administrator. Right-click on the Steam Mover executable file and select “Run as administrator” to ensure you have the necessary permissions to make changes.

If you continue to encounter problems after following these solutions, we recommend searching online for more detailed tutorials or seeking help on the Steam forums. Other users may have encountered the same problem and found specific workarounds.

8. What to do if Steam Mover location change is not working properly?

If you are experiencing problems changing the Steam Mover location, there are several solutions you can try to fix the problem. Below are the steps you can follow:

1. Check administrator permissions: Make sure you have the necessary permissions to make changes to the destination drive. Right-click Steam Mover and select “Run as administrator.” This can fix any issues related to missing permissions.

2. Check the path: Verify that the path you have selected for the new location of your games is correct. Make sure you don't make any typing errors or select an invalid location.

3. Free up space on the destination drive: If the destination drive where you want to move your games does not have enough space, you may encounter difficulties in performing the action. Make sure you have enough space available before trying to move files.

If after following these steps the Steam Mover location change is still not working correctly, you may want to try other alternatives. You can search online for tutorials or guides Step by Step that provide you with specific solutions for the problem you are facing. Always remember to perform backup of your files before making any major changes to your system.

9. Important Considerations When Changing the Default Steam Mover Location

When changing the default Steam Mover location, there are some important considerations you should keep in mind to avoid problems and ensure the process is done correctly. Below are some recommendations and steps to follow:

1. Before changing the location, make sure to backup all important Steam files and data. This will allow you to recover your games and settings in case something goes wrong during the transfer.

2. Make sure you have enough space on the new destination to store all your Steam data. Keep in mind that games can take up a lot of disk space, so it's important to take this factor into account when choosing a location.

3. Use a reliable tool like Steam Mover to make the location change. This application will allow you to move Steam files in a safe way and without altering the functionality of the software. Follow the program instructions step by step to ensure a successful transfer.

10. Advantages and disadvantages of changing Steam Mover location

When changing the Steam Mover location, there are several advantages and disadvantages that should be taken into account. Some of them are listed below:

Advantages:

  • Greater flexibility: Changing the Steam Mover location gives you the ability to store files on a different drive than the default one, providing greater flexibility in managing storage space.
  • Performance Optimization: Changing the location of Steam Mover to a faster or higher capacity drive can improve game performance and reduce loading times.
  • Data Backup: Steam Mover location allows for more efficient backups, which is useful in case of system crashes or if you want to format your main drive without losing your games.

Disadvantages:

  • Possible loss of settings: When changing the Steam Mover location, some specific game settings may be lost. This may include saved preferences, driver settings, or mod files.
  • Risk of Errors: If proper steps are not followed or the wrong location is selected, there is a risk of making mistakes that could lead to file loss or data corruption.
  • Time required: Changing the Steam Move location can take time, especially if you have many games installed. It is important to allow enough time and take into account the migration time required to avoid any interruption to the game.

11. Alternatives to Steam Mover to manage the location of Steam games

If you are looking for alternatives to Steam Mover to manage the location of your Steam games, you have several options available that will allow you to move installation files easily and quickly. Here are some popular alternatives:

  • Steam Library Manager: This tool allows you to create and manage Steam game libraries in different locations on your hard drive. With this app, you can easily move games from one library to another by simply selecting the game and the destination library.
  • Game Save Manager: Although not specifically designed to manage the location of Steam games, this utility allows you to back up your saves and restore them to different game installations. You can use this tool to backup your games before moving games manually.
  • SymMover: This program works similarly to Steam Mover, allowing you to move game installation files and folders to different locations on your hard drive. You can configure source and destination paths, and SymMover will move the files without affecting their operation.

These are just some alternatives available to manage the location of Steam games. Each one has its own characteristics and functionalities, so we recommend you try them and choose the one that best suits your needs. Always remember to back up your files before making any changes, especially when it comes to games and saves.

12. Tips to optimize performance when changing Steam Move location

When changing your Steam Mover location, it's important to take a few extra steps to optimize the performance of your games. Here are some tips to help you in this process:

1. Use a fast and large enough storage drive: When moving your games, be sure to choose a location that has enough space to store them and adequate read and write speed to avoid slowdowns during gameplay. Additionally, it is advisable to use a solid state drive (SSD) instead of a hard drive traditional, since SSDs have a much faster transfer speed.

2. Avoid moving games across a local network: If you have multiple networked devices, it's tempting to move your games to another machine. However, transferring over a local network may be slower than transferring directly from a local drive. Therefore, it is preferable to make the location change directly on the same machine where the game is located.

13. Is it possible to revert the Steam Mover default location change?

If you have changed the default Steam Mover location and now need to revert it, don't worry, it is possible to do so. Here we will provide you with detailed steps to fix this issue.

1. Open Steam Mover on your computer.
2. Click the “Settings” tab at the top of the window.
3. In the “Options” section within the “Settings” tab, you will see an option called “Default Steam Apps Path”.
4. Click on the “Restore Default” button next to the option mentioned above.
5. Make sure to back up your files and folders to the current Steam Mover location before proceeding, as they may be deleted during the process.

Once you've followed these steps, the default Steam Mover location will be reset to the original settings. Make sure to restart the app to apply the changes. If you still encounter problems or have additional questions, you can check out the online tutorial available on the Steam Mover support page or search the Steam community for more tips and solutions.

Keep in mind that if you used Steam Mover to move installed games, you may need to make some additional adjustments to your Steam settings to ensure the games run correctly from the new location. This may include checking the Steam library path, performing an integrity check on the game files, and, if necessary, reinstalling affected games.

14. Conclusion: How to Change Default Steam Mover Location Efficiently

To change the default Steam Move location efficiently, follow the steps below:

  • First, make sure you have enough space on your destination hard drive to move Steam files. If you don't have enough space, consider freeing up space by deleting unnecessary files.
  • Next, open the Steam Mover app on your computer and click “Select folders.” Select the Steam installation directory you want to move.
  • Then, click “Select new location” and choose the destination location where you want to move the Steam files.
  • Once the destination location is selected, click “Move” to start the process of moving Steam files to the new location.
  • Wait patiently for Steam Mover to move the files. The speed of the process will depend on the size of the files and the speed of your hard drive.
  • Once the moving process is complete, Steam Mover will create a junction or symbolic link in the original location to redirect access to the files in the new location.

Remember that when changing the default Steam location using Steam Mover, you must ensure that there are no programs or applications that depend on the original location of the files. If there are programs that depend on the original location, you may experience problems when trying to access those files. Be sure to update any shortcuts or program settings that reference the original location of the Steam files.

In short, the process to change the default Steam location using Steam Mover is relatively simple. However, it is important to exercise caution and back up your files before making any changes to their location. Make sure to carefully follow the steps mentioned above to avoid possible problems or data loss. You are now ready to change the default Steam location from efficient way and enjoy better management of your game files.

In short, changing the default location of Steam Mover without having to reinstall it is not an easy task but it is not impossible either. Although Steam Mover does not offer a native option to change the installation path, it is possible to achieve it through some technical steps. From needing to modify configuration files to creating symbolic links, the process requires basic computer science knowledge and can be challenging for those unfamiliar with these concepts.

However, once the process is understood, changing the default Steam Mover location can provide significant benefits, such as optimizing storage space on specific drives or freeing up space on the primary drive. It is important to remember that this procedure involves some risk and caution should be used when handling files and settings.

In conclusion, if you are willing to invest time and effort in modifying the default Steam Mover location, you can achieve it by carefully following the technical steps. Always remember to make backup copies and proceed with caution to avoid possible problems. With this knowledge, you can customize the storage space allocated to Steam Mover based on your individual needs.

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