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Locating Your Steam Games: 3 Simple Methods to Find Their Storage Location

Understanding where your Steam games are stored can be a bit confusing, especially if you’re new to the platform. This guide provides clear, step-by-step instructions on how to locate your game files across different operating systems, how to change their storage location, and how to move existing games to a new drive. Whether you’re aiming to free up space or organize your library better, mastering the location of your Steam data is essential for efficient management and a smoother gaming experience.

Knowing the exact folders where your games are saved can help you back up your progress, troubleshoot issues, or transfer files without hassle. Additionally, if you’re interested in optimizing your storage setup or moving large files easily, tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant can make the process straightforward and safe. For those considering starting their own game development journey, exploring resources on how to get a game development role can be beneficial.

Let’s explore the different ways to find, manage, and relocate your Steam games effectively.

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Where Are Steam Games Stored?

Steam installs your games in specific locations based on your operating system, which can sometimes be confusing to find. Knowing these default directories makes it easier to locate or move your game files when necessary.

Windows

On Windows, Steam typically stores game files in the “steamappscommon” folder inside the main Steam directory. For most users, this default path is:

Within this folder, each game has its own directory containing all the necessary files for that game to run.

macOS

Apple’s macOS installs Steam games in a dedicated directory under the user Library folder:

This location is hidden by default, so you may need to enable hidden files or access it via the Finder’s “Go to Folder” feature.

Linux

Linux users will find their game files in the hidden `.steam` directory within their home folder:

Accessing this folder typically requires using a file manager that shows hidden files or via terminal commands.

Being familiar with these paths allows you to locate your game data quickly, whether for backups, modifications, or troubleshooting.

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How to Find Steam Save Files?

Knowing where your games are stored is one thing, but finding their save files is equally important for backing up progress or transferring data. Here are three reliable methods to locate your Steam save files.

Method 1: Find Steam Games via File Explorer or Finder

If you haven’t customized the default installation directory, accessing your game files is straightforward:

1. Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (macOS).

2. Navigate to the default folder:

3. Browse through the individual game folders to locate specific files or save data.

This method provides quick access without needing to open Steam itself.

Method 2: Locate Games Through the Steam Library

If you’ve set a custom installation path, you can find your games via Steam’s own interface:

1. Launch Steam and go to Settings.

2. Select Downloads from the left menu, then click Steam Library Folders.

3. Here, you’ll see all storage locations for your game files. You can click “Browse” or “Open Folder” to view the contents directly.

This approach ensures you’re viewing all your game locations, especially if you’ve multiple libraries across drives.

Method 3: Use Steam’s Local Files Tab

Another way to access game files directly from Steam:

1. Open Steam and go to Library.

2. Right-click on the specific game and select Properties.

3. Navigate to the Local Files tab and click Browse Local Files.

This opens the folder containing that game’s files, including saves if they are stored locally.

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How to Change Steam Game Storage Location

Managing your storage is easier when you know how to change where Steam installs your games. Here’s how to set a new default location:

1. Open Steam, click Steam in the top-left menu, then choose Settings.

2. Go to Downloads and click on Steam Library Folders.

3. Click the Plus (+) icon to add a new folder or drive.

4. Select your preferred location, then click Make Default to set it as the primary storage path.

This flexibility allows you to utilize multiple drives, ensuring your primary drive remains free for essential system files.

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How to Move Existing Steam Games to a New Drive in Windows

If your current drive is running low on space, moving your entire Steam library to a different location can save you headaches. Follow these steps:

1. Exit Steam completely to prevent data corruption.

2. Navigate to your current Steam folder (commonly `C:Program Files (x86)Steam`).

3. Keep backups of your SteamApps and Userdata folders, then delete all other files.

4. Cut the entire Steam folder and paste it into your desired location, such as `D:GamesSteam`.

5. Launch Steam again. It will detect the new location and update accordingly.

6. All future downloads will be directed to this new folder, freeing space on your primary drive.

Alternatively, for easier management, tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant offer features like the APP Mover, allowing you to relocate applications—including Steam games—without reinstallation. This method is especially useful for large titles or when managing multiple drives.

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Conclusion

Locating your Steam games and their save files is essential for effective management, backups, and troubleshooting. Whether you prefer navigating through File Explorer, Steam’s library management, or directly accessing local files, each method offers a straightforward way to find your data. Changing your storage locations can optimize your system’s performance and storage capacity, especially when combined with tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant’s application mover feature. By mastering these techniques, you ensure a more organized and efficient gaming setup, with easy access to your game files whenever needed. For aspiring developers or those interested in expanding their gaming infrastructure, exploring how to establish a business in game development can be a valuable step forward.

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Hedy · Staff Editor

Hedy specializes in partition management solutions and shares her expert insights to help users optimize their PC and gaming setups.

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