How to Install Steam Games Outside of Program Files
Installing Steam games outside of the traditional “Program Files” directory can be beneficial for several reasons. It can help manage disk space more efficiently, prevent potential conflicts with other programs, and provide a cleaner installation path. In this article, we will guide you through the process of installing Steam games outside of the Program Files directory on Windows.
Step 1: Create a New Folder for Steam Games
Before installing your Steam games outside of the Program Files directory, you need to create a new folder where you want to store your games. You can name this folder anything you like, but it’s recommended to use a descriptive name that makes it easy to identify the contents. For example, you can name it “Steam Games” or “My Games.”
Step 2: Open Steam Settings
To change the installation directory for your Steam games, you need to open the Steam settings. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Launch Steam and click on the “Steam” menu in the upper left corner.
2. Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
Step 3: Change the Steam Library Folder
In the Steam settings, you will find the option to change the Steam library folder. To do this, follow these steps:
1. In the settings window, click on the “Interface” tab.
2. Look for the “Steam Library Folders” section and click on “Add Library Folder.”
3. Choose the folder you created in Step 1 and click “Select Folder.”
4. The new folder will now appear in the list of Steam library folders.
Step 4: Install a Game Outside of Program Files
Now that you have set up a new Steam library folder, you can install a game outside of the Program Files directory. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Launch Steam and navigate to the game you want to install.
2. Click on the “Install” button next to the game.
3. Steam will prompt you to choose the installation location. Select the new library folder you created earlier.
4. Click “Install” to begin the installation process.
Step 5: Verify the Installation
After the installation is complete, navigate to the new library folder to verify that the game has been installed successfully. You can also launch the game from Steam to ensure that it is functioning correctly.
By following these steps, you can install Steam games outside of the Program Files directory on Windows. This method can help you manage your disk space more efficiently and keep your games organized. Happy gaming!
