How to Choose Install Location on Steam Deck

Last Updated on April 25, 2023

It is important to change the location of all your Steam Deck downloads, but the entire process is not that straightforward. We have developed this guide for your convenience, so you can easily change the default installation location for your Steam Deck. 

The common misconception is that you can’t alter your Steam Deck’s download location. You can do this, but the process is a bit hectic. We will help you with that, so continue reading.

What’s the Download Location of your Steam Deck?

Whenever you are looking to install a new game on your steam deck, there will be a default folder setting for the system’s installation process.

Now, if you are low on space in your main drive (C drive) or are looking to install your games on another drive, you will need to create another library for your Steam Deck on your hard drive.

1

Creating a New Library on your Steam Deck

Thanks to the Steam client, you can complete this task. Here are the steps that you need to follow:

Step

1

Finding Downloads on Steam

You must open your Steam.

• Go to the top bar, clock on Steam, and then choose Settings. The screen will show the Settings window.
• You need to go to the Downloads.

Step

2

Adding Library Folder

Next, go to the Content Libraries and click Steam Library Folders. The screen will display a list of all libraries within another window.

Subsequently, you must choose to Add Library Folder.

Step

3

Assign to your library on Steam Deck

From there, you must go to the folder that you need to assign to your library on Steam Deck.

Once you are done with that, highlight the folder and choose Select. As a result, your new library will make an appearance on the list.

Now, this is your second library, and the next time you try to install a game, the system will ask you to decide from one of the two libraries.

Here, one library is the default, and the other is the one you created just now.

The best thing is that there are no limits to how many libraries you can create. But there is a limitation, as you can’t create more than one library on a drive.

So, theoretically, you can have as many libraries as you want, but it entirely depends on the number of your drives.

Moving Existing Games to the New Library

Once you have created your new library, you can install new games. Not only that, but you can also move your existing games to your newly created library.

Here are the steps that you need to execute if you want to do that:

Step

1

Finding the game that you’ll move to the new library.

Using your Steam client, you must right-click the game you’re looking to move into the new library.

Step

2

Select Properties

From the pop-up menu resulting from the right-click, you need to choose Properties.

Click on Properties, and a new window will pop up.

Step

3

Moving the game

Now, you will have to choose the tab labeled Local Files.

• The next step is to select the Move Install Folder.
• A new dialogue box will open, and you must select the destination library.

Now, you will only have to select Move Folder and wait for the setup to finish mowing the game.

Final Word

As you can see, you can alter the default installation location for your Steam Deck. You can use that new library to install new games or even move your current games to it.

The process might take a few steps, but you can achieve it and change the default location according to your requirements.