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How To Easily Change Steam PC Default Install Location (Picture Guide)

Learn how to change your Steam PC default installation location using this step-by-step guide.

Wally

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Steam logo to the left with two yellow arrows from it pointing to two drives on the right against a light blue background
Steam logo to the left with two yellow arrows from it pointing to two drives on the right against a light blue background

Today, I’ll be showing you how to change your default installation folder on Steam PC (Windows).

In order to change your Steam PC default installation folder, navigate to Steam Settings and select the Downloads option. Next, click on Steam Library Folders and then right click on the drive you want to make your new default install directory. Right click the drive name and choose Make Default Folder option.

Choosing your default installation directory on Steam is easy once you know how it’s done.

Continue reading if you want a detailed, step-by-step picture guide of the process.

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Why Change Your Steam Default Install Location?

You’ll want to change your default install location for Steam applications and games if you want full control to where your content will be stored.

This is handy if you have:

  • limited storage space
  • a separate drive for your operating system
  • multiple drives
  • multiple drive partitions
  • or even external drives

Steam allows you to change what drive/folder will be the default location in which games and applications are downloaded.

Learning how to change the default installation location is what we’ll be covering in this handy guide.

How To Change Steam PC Default Install Location

Changing your Steam default installation location for your downloadable content is a short process that only takes a minute or two to complete.

NOTE: You must have multiple drives and or folders already added/mounted/connected to your PC for this process to work.

STEP 1 – Navigate To Steam

List of games and pictures with a yellow arrow pointing at the word Steam (with a red outline around it)

Open Steam and login with your account.

Left click Steam at the top left of the screen.

A list of options should appear.

STEP 2 – Select Settings

A list of games and game pictures with a drop down settings menu open and a yellow arrow pointing to hte word Settings (with a red box around it)

Select Settings from the list of options and left click.

A separate Settings window should appear on screen.

STEP 3 – Navigate To Downloads

A list of Steam options, Settings menu with a yellwo arrow pointing at the word Downloads (with a red box around it)

Left click Downloads from the list of Settings on the left.

The Downloads options should appear.

STEP 4 – Click Steam Library Folders

A list of options with a yellow arrow pointing at the Steam Library Folders button (with a red box around it)

Left click the Steam Library Folders button in the Settings window.

A separate Steam Library Folders window should appear on screen.

STEP 5 – Right Click Folder

A list of options with a yellow arrow pointing at the folder drive location (with a red box around it)

Right click the folder (drive) you want to make your new default installation location from the list of folders (drives) available.

A list of options should appear.

NOTE: You can check which drive is your current default install location by looking at the column called Default.

STEP 6 – Select Make Default Folder

A list of options with a yellow arrow pointing at the Make Default Folder option (with a red box around it)

Select Make Default Folder option and left click.

The new folder (drive) will now be your default installation folder.

STEP 7 – Finish

A list of options with a yellow arrow pointing at the default folder location word Yes with a red box around it)

You have successfully learned how to change your default installation location on Steam PC (Windows).

Repeat this process to change your default drive whenever you like.

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Now you know how to change your default installation location on Steam PC.

Bookmark this site to stay up to date with even more Steam PC guides, information, and more.

Check out even more PC articles on Bucket List Games.

(Screenshots taken by me. Images sourced from product pages, websites, or social media and are credited appropriately. Logos, images, etc. belong to their respective owners. All information current at time of publication.)

SOURCE: Valve

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Wally GX

Writer, creator Bucket List Games

My name is Wally, and I’ve enjoyed Nintendo and PC gaming for over 25 years. You’ll find many articles on these two topics on this site. Read as many articles as you like. Enjoy!

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