How To Move Games From Hdd To Ssd

Moving games from HDD to SSD usually involves using the game platform’s built-in move function or, for some games, manually transferring the game files and updating the game launcher’s path.

Do you feel that your favorite games load at a snail’s pace? It is probably because they are stuck on your old hard drive. Moving them to a solid-state drive (SSD) can dramatically improve loading times and overall performance. This article explains how to move games from hdd to ssd, and it isn’t as tricky as it sounds.

Many game platforms like Steam, Epic Games, and others offer straightforward options for moving games. These platforms have settings allowing you to shift installed games from one drive to another. If your launcher doesn’t have this feature, we’ll also cover manual techniques.

How to Move Games from HDD to SSD: A Complete Guide

Okay, so you’ve got a shiny new Solid State Drive (SSD), and you’re itching to make your games load faster. That’s a smart move! Games run so much better from an SSD than a traditional Hard Disk Drive (HDD). It’s like switching from a bicycle to a race car – everything just feels quicker. But how do you actually move your games? Don’t worry, it’s not as tricky as it might sound. Let’s break down the process step-by-step.

Why Move Your Games to an SSD?

Before we jump into the how-to, let’s talk about why moving your games to an SSD is a great idea. HDDs are like old-school record players; they read data from a spinning disk. SSDs, on the other hand, are like giant flash drives; they access data super fast because there are no moving parts. This speed difference affects a lot when it comes to gaming:

Faster Loading Times: This is the biggest perk! Games on SSDs load up so much faster. You’ll spend less time staring at loading screens and more time actually playing. Think about getting into your favorite game in seconds, instead of waiting for minutes.
Smoother Gameplay: SSDs help with smoother gameplay, especially in open-world games. You’ll notice less stuttering and fewer pauses because the game can get the data it needs really quickly. Imagine running around a big city in a game without any annoying hitches.
Improved Overall Performance: Your whole computer can feel faster when your games are running from an SSD. Windows and other applications benefit from the speed of an SSD, too. It’s like giving your computer a super boost of energy!

Before You Begin: Preparation is Key

Moving your games isn’t hard, but a little preparation makes the process even smoother. Here are some things to consider before you start:

Check Your SSD’s Space

First things first, make sure your SSD has enough space for the games you want to move. Look at how big the games are on your HDD and compare that to your SSD’s storage space. You don’t want to start moving games and find out you don’t have room halfway through!

Check the game size. The easiest way to see how big a game is would be to find it in File Explorer, then right-click on it and click properties. It should tell you the storage space it occupies.
Look at your SSD storage. You can see how much space you have on the SSD drive by opening the file explorer and clicking ‘This PC’.

Back Up Your Game Files

Before making any big changes, it’s always a good idea to back up your game files. While the game transfer process is generally safe, you never know when something unexpected may happen. Having a backup ensures you can recover your progress if anything goes wrong. This is generally not needed, but it is a good thing to have.

Copy the game folder to another drive or another location on your drive.

Identify Your Game Installation Locations

Make sure you know where your games are actually installed. Most of the time, they are in a folder specific to the platform that you use to install the game. You can usually see the installation path inside the game platform’s settings.

Common locations on windows :
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common (for Steam)
- C:\Program Files\Epic Games (for Epic Games Store)
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games (for Origin)
- C:\Program Files\XboxGames (for Xbox)

Moving Games: Different Methods for Different Platforms

The exact steps for moving games depend on how you originally got them. Let’s look at some popular gaming platforms:

Moving Steam Games to an SSD

Steam has a built-in feature that makes moving games easy. This is probably the simplest method on the list. Here’s how to do it:

Open Steam Settings: Click “Steam” in the top-left corner and then select “Settings.”
Go to Downloads: In the settings window, click on “Downloads.”
Select Steam Library Folders: Click on the button that says “Steam Library Folders.”
Add Your SSD: Click on the button that says “Add New Library Folder”. Now, select the folder you want your games to be on your SSD. For example you might have an ssd named “D”, so you would choose “D:\SteamLibrary”. Once you do this, Steam knows you want to put games on your SSD.
Move Games: Close the settings window and go to your library, right click on the game you want to move, then go to “properties”. After that go to installed files and click “Move install folder…”. Pick your newly added SSD location and your games will move over.

Important: Steam manages all the game files for you, so it’s best to move games using its built-in feature. Don’t try to move the game folders manually, or you might mess things up.

Moving Epic Games Store Games to an SSD

The Epic Games Store also has a way to move games easily, although the process is slightly different.

Locate the game: In the library, find the game you want to move and click the 3 dots next to it.
Uninstall: Click uninstall on the option that shows up.
Reinstall: Click install, but before you press install make sure to change the install location to somewhere on your SSD.

Important: Epic Games Store does not have an easy “move” function. It is really easy though, it just takes two steps instead of one.

Moving Origin/EA Games to an SSD

Similar to Steam, Origin (now the EA app) lets you move games through its settings. Here’s how you do it:

Open the EA App: Start the EA app.
Go to Application Settings: Click the three horizontal lines at the top left, then go to Settings.
Go to Downloads: Click the downloads tab.
Change the install location: Change where games are installed by pressing edit on “install location”. Pick a folder on your SSD and then click ok.
Move Games: Close the settings window and go to your library, right click on the game you want to move, then go to “properties”. After that click “Move install folder…”. Pick your newly added SSD location and your games will move over.

Important: Moving games on Origin is very similar to Steam.

Moving Xbox Game Pass Games to an SSD (PC)

Xbox Game Pass games on PC can be a bit trickier because they are stored in a special location. Here’s the proper way to move them:

Open the Xbox App: Launch the Xbox app on your computer.
Go to Settings: Click on your profile picture at the top, and select “Settings.”
Select General: Click on “General” in the settings menu.
Change Default Drive: Under “Game install options” you’ll see “Change default drive”. Change this to a location on your SSD.
Move Games: Go back to your library. Right click on the game you want to move. Select “Manage”. After that select “Files”, then “Move”. Select your desired location on your SSD.

Important: You may have to select a new install location for future games, but do not worry. All old games can be moved using this method.

Moving Games Manually (For Non-Steam/Epic/Origin/Xbox Games)

If your game isn’t through one of the big platforms, you might need to move it manually. This process takes a bit more care, but it’s still possible. Here’s a basic guide for how to do that.

Locate the game files: Find the game folder on your HDD. This will be where all the files are.
Copy to SSD: Copy (don’t cut) the entire game folder to the desired location on your SSD.
Create a Shortcut: After copying, locate the executable file (.exe) inside the folder on your SSD. Right-click on it and select “Send to” then “Desktop (create shortcut)”. This allows you to easily run the game.
Uninstall old game: Once you can launch the game from the shortcut, you can delete the old folder from the HDD.

Important: This process may not work for all games. Sometimes you may need to reinstall the game and point it to the new install location. Always try the main platform’s process first.

After Moving: Checking and Optimizing

Once you’ve moved your games, it’s a good idea to check that everything is working correctly.

Run the Games: Make sure the game is running properly from your SSD. Check to make sure all settings are the same. If everything went well, you should see a huge decrease in loading time.
Remove Old Installations: If you are sure the game is running properly from the SSD, it’s okay to delete the files on your HDD.

Troubleshooting: Common Issues

Sometimes, things don’t go perfectly. Here are a few common issues and how to handle them:

Game Won’t Launch

If a game won’t start after moving, try these steps:

Verify Game Files: Steam, Epic, Origin and Xbox platforms have a verification tool that will check the game files are okay and will download any that are missing. Try using this if a game will not start.
Reinstall the game: Sometimes the game may not be able to recognize it’s own installation location. If you have tried all other options, then a reinstall may be needed.

Slower Performance Than Expected

If your game isn’t running as fast as it should be on the SSD, consider these things:

Check SSD Health: Make sure your SSD is running correctly. Some software may be needed to do this.
Update drivers: Outdated drivers can impact performance. Make sure that all your drivers are up to date.
Run Game Booster: Sometimes other applications can run in the background. Closing them can give your game more performance to use.

Moving games from an HDD to an SSD is a fantastic way to boost your gaming experience. Faster loading times and smoother gameplay can make a world of difference. Just follow the steps that are outlined above and you’ll have all the tools to move all your games to an SSD, so you can finally get into gaming quicker.

How to Move Games or Software from HDD to SSD | SSD to HDD | One Drive to Another

Final Thoughts

Moving games improves loading times significantly. You can use Steam’s built-in move feature for games there. Other platforms may require a copy/paste approach. Remember to confirm the new game location in their settings.

For games outside platforms, copy their folders to your SSD. Then, change game shortcuts, if any, to the new location. This approach ensures proper game launching.

Therefore, how to move games from hdd to ssd involves platform-specific tools and manual copying, ultimately boosting performance. It is important to do this correctly.