AOMEI Partition Assistant
No Storage Space! How to Transfer Games to Another Drive Without Data Loss?
How to transfer games to another drive? 3 effective ways are here as reference. You can effortlessly move games with reserving all the data.
By Irene / Updated on November 20, 2023
Scenario: Can I transfer a game to another hard drive?
Hi, I'm in a big pickle. So one of the first games I installed on my PC was Ori and the Blind Forest, and after two months of playing the game I've put in quite some dedication to it, but the problem isn't the game, it's that without realizing it, I installed it on my C drive! It will continuously take up my drive space and the PC begins to slow down! I want to move the game onto my PC's E drive, but I'm afraid of losing my progress in the game. Can I transfer a game to another hard drive? Do I just "Cut & Paste" it on my local HDD or will that screw something up? Please help!!!
- Question from Tom’s Hardware
Similar situations, where people unintentionally install several large games on their C drive, and the shortage of storage space leads to the frustration of games getting stuck or the entire system freezing during computer gaming, can occur in everyday life. Therefore, it is necessary to move games to another drive.
1. Games running slow on a PC can also be caused by issues related to the CPU, graphics card, overheating, DirectX version, and so on. It is also advisable to check them if your encounter gaming performance issues.
2. If you are wondering how much storage space is truly necessary for a gaming PC, you can read it for reference.
However, a simple Cut & Paste method may not be suitable due to the presence of registry connections to the game's original installation path, which could potentially lead to complications. Our guide is here to assist you in learning how to move a game from one drive to another without data loss while maintaining its functionality.
How to transfer games to another drive in 3 ways?
Moving games to another drive has a lot of benefits. It not only frees up space but also enhances game loading speed and overall smoothness. Besides, this process efficiently safeguards your personal files from potential modifications or deletions within game data, ensuring the preservation of your files without interference from gaming activities. Now, follow the 3 methods to easily move games to another drive without any reinstallation and data loss.
Method 1. Move games to another drive with Registry
The Windows registry holds vital data that both programs and the operating system rely on to oversee your computer's functions. Should you wish to move a game from one drive to another, it usually necessitates adjustments to the registry.
Step 1. Create a new folder named "Program Files (86)" on the C drive or another drive.
Step 2. Copy the "Program Files" and "Program Files (x86)" directories into the new folder.
Step 3. Search for "CMD" in the search bar, then right-click it and choose "Run as administrator".
Step 4. Type in the following commands and press "Enter":
• For "C:\Program Files (x86)" use: Robocopy C:\Program Files (x86) X:\Program Files (x86) /mir
Tip: Replace "X" with the drive letter of your new folder.
Step 5. Press "Win + R", then type "Regedit.exe".
Step 6. Locate the folder path and replace "C" with the letter of the new drive.
• Windows 7/8/8.1 users: Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion.
Warning: Kindly be cautious when editing the registry, as misapplication can lead to system crashes.
Method 2. Transfer games to another drive from Settings
If you've made an online purchase of a game through the Microsoft Store, relocating the game to a different drive is a straightforward process. You can follow the steps to move games to another drive.
Step 1. Start by pressing the Win + I keys to visit Windows Settings. Then, go to "Systems" and proceed to "Apps & Features".
Step 2. Within the list of installed applications, locate the target games you want to move, and select the "Move" option.
Step 3. Afterward, pick your preferred destination drive, and click "Move" again.
It's worth noting that if you obtained the game from third-party platforms like Steam, Origin, or Epic Games, this method may not be applicable, as the "Move" button could be greyed out in such cases.
Method 3. Run AOMEI Partition Assistant to transfer games without data loss
How to transfer games to another drive while ensuring the preservation of all my data and avoiding any reinstallation or reconfiguration? AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is worth trying. It is a multifunctional computer management tool.
Without any limitations, you can use it to move installed programs between drives without data loss, even games downloaded from platforms like Steam and Origin. Unlike previous methods that only move one game at a time, this powerful tool can transfer multiple apps, making the process more efficient and saving you precious time.
- Note:
- If you want to expand your drive space, you can also explore functions such as Allocate Free Space, Merge Partitions, and PC Cleaner.
- If you are a Windows Server user, kindly please choose the Server Edition for compatibility.
Step 1. Run the downloaded software. In the top pane, choose "Free up" and select "App Mover" from the drop-down list.
Step 2. In the window that appears, select the disk and partition where the program you want to move is currently located, and click "Next".
Step 3. Now, tick the application you want to transfer. You can select one or more programs. Then, choose a new target path. Please make sure to choose a drive with enough space to store the transferred files.
Step 4. Read the prompts, decide if you want to proceed with the program transfer, and then click "OK".
Step 5. Once the transferring process is finished, click "Finish" to return to the main interface.
▌If you ever need to restore the moved programs to their original location, you can follow these steps:
Step 1. In the main interface, choose the "App Mover" again like the above Step 1 shows.
Step 2. Click "Manage/Restore Apps", and you'll see a list of applications you've moved before. Choose one or more apps you want to restore.
Step 3. A pop-up message will appear, asking you to confirm the closure of any running applications during the restoration process. Click "OK" to start.
Step 4. Now, you can find that you have successfully restored the moved applications to their original location.
Verdict
The 3 shared methods focus on how to transfer games to another drive. If you choose AOMEI Partition Assistant, you can save a lot of time and energy. Except for using it to move installed programs and extend drive space, you can try its Clone Disk feature to make an entire backup, or run Disk Speed Test to monitor your computer health.
