Where should I install Steam!

[Yoshiii335]

Hello,

I have a separate drive for games. Should I install Steam there or the main drive?

 

[shovenose]

Steam on main OS/programs drive. Just change the library to your games drive.

 

[P4-630]

I got Steam installed on my C drive and the games on multiple drives, benchmark software on C drive.

 

[dirtyferret]

Steam on main OS/programs drive. Just change the library to your games drive.

same, the clients themselves (GoG, steam, Blizzard, etc.,) sit on my main drive while the games are spread out on different drives.

 

[emothxughts]

Like the others said, you can install the Steam client or any other client and the games proper on different drives. However, if you are planning to run any kind of mods for your games, be sure not to install either client or games to the Program Files or Program Files (x86) folders, or you'll run into weird and annoying administrator permissions issues.

 

[Yoshiii335]

Like the others said, you can install the Steam client or any other client and the games proper on different drives. However, if you are planning to run any kind of mods for your games, be sure not to install either client or games to the Program Files or Program Files (x86) folders, or you'll run into weird and annoying administrator permissions issues.

Hello

What do you mean by don’t install in Programs?

 

[cvaldes]

Like the others said, you can install the Steam client or any other client and the games proper on different drives. However, if you are planning to run any kind of mods for your games, be sure not to install either client or games to the Program Files or Program Files (x86) folders, or you'll run into weird and annoying administrator permissions issues.

For this reason I install game-related applications as much as possible in C:\Games.

This includes launchers (Steam, Epic Game Store, GOG Galaxy, Ubisoft Connect, etc.) as well as other game-related tools like Fluffy5000 or Vortex mod managers, ScummVM, and a couple of gamepad utilities (8bitDo, PS5 DualSense firmware flasher).

The actual game libraries exist elsewhere on other drives, M:\Games\Steam, P:\Games\Ubisoft, etc. on my system.

 

[erocker]

I currently have Steam on a separate drive from my O/S. No issues, no difference. Windows will handle what needs to be handled.

 

[Aquinus]

In my tower I put games I commonly use that take time to load on my NVMe and put everything else on the RAID-5 array. Works pretty well.

 

[Frick]

I just put it on whatever drive I use for games, and that has not been C: for decades. Comes in handy when you need to reinstall Windows (which I did quite frequently back in the day because of constant up/down/sidegrading). Epic Games does not like that.

 

[Solaris17]

I put it on a separate drive. That way when I blow my OS away I just go to my game drive double click steam it prompts for admin then fixes itself.

 

[emothxughts]

Hello

What do you mean by don’t install in Programs?

C:/Program Files or C:/Program Files (x86), recommended not to install your games or clients in these folders due to admin permission issues.

 

[Lost_Troll]

I put it on a separate drive. That way when I blow my OS away I just go to my game drive double click steam it prompts for admin then fixes itself.

I did the same thing, and made a D:\Games directory and put Steam, Epic Games, Battel Net in there as well as any games that install. Make life so much easier when I wipe my boot drive.

 

[xu^]

have Steam and large games installed on my D: ssd drive, and the small games (under10gb) on E: hdd

 

[Morgoth]

install it on the fastes storage device you have

for me its on N:\ 1.8tb pci-e nytro warp drive LSI SSD

 

[Jacky_BEL]

you can make an empty folder on your C:\ drive and assign a drive to that folder.
That way you can have all your game files on a separate SSD , but it looks as if it is in a folder on your C:\ drive.
You can unmount it , install a new windows on your C:\ and later mount it again.

I believe you can even do it with an existing drive , but then you need to have your games , installers etc. point to the new location of your gamefiles.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
I never nuke an os so I install on C just like all other programs.
Games are downloaded on secondary drive.

 

[AsRock]

Steam on main OS/programs drive. Just change the library to your games drive.

HAHA, were ever he wants to install it, better still on a different drive with the games too then when OS reinstall time comes you don't need to install it again.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Sorry but you have to be doing something really wrong to "want to or have to" reinstall windows at a whim

Frankly I system image so it's not necessary "if" serious issues arrive so all I have to do is restore an image boom done.
Most people should image on what ever schedule they want or need to
Personally I do it weekly or monthly it really depends on changes I make.

 

[nguyenquan1]

you should install all games to the fastest drive that your system have, maybe HDD, nvme-SSD or iSCSI drive in NAS.

 

[INSTG8R]

Steam on main OS/programs drive. Just change the library to your games drive.

This and I have 2 different Library locations, one on my old 1TB(2x512 850 Evos) in RAID0 and my "fastest" Drive 2TB Corsair M600 Core

 

[xtreemchaos]

i run steam from my m.2 drive D: not c: runs good and saves a reinstall if i have to reinstall windows, next time i have to reinstall win11 im going to do epic the same way.

 

[Frick]

i run steam from my m.2 drive D: not c: runs good and saves a reinstall if i have to reinstall windows, next time i have to reinstall win11 im going to do epic the same way.

Problem with Epic is that you either has to redownload the games or follow this workaround, becaue the launcher has no way of detecting files. It is absolutely infuriating.

 

[Assimilator]

On a computer.

 

[P4-630]

On your steam deck.