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To free space used by installed Steam games, move them to another library drive or uninstall games you no longer want. Clearing Steam’s download cache is for troubleshooting download problems; it does not remove installed games or reclaim the space they occupy.
Manage downloads and updates
Open the Download Manager by selecting Downloads at the bottom of the Steam client, or choose View > Downloads. From there, you can monitor progress and reorder queued downloads or updates. Steam’s Managing Steam Downloads & Updates page documents these controls.
For download-wide controls, open Steam > Settings > Downloads. There you can set bandwidth limits and schedule automatic updates. To change the update behavior for one game, open Library > right-click the game > Properties > Updates. Steam’s documented options include updating a game only when you launch it.
Move an installed game to another drive
Moving a game to a different Steam library can free space on its current drive without requiring you to download the game again. Steam supports multiple library folders across drives.
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- Open Steam > Settings > Storage and add or select the library location on the destination drive.
- In your Library, right-click the game and choose Properties.
- Open Installed Files, select Move Install Folder, and choose the destination library.
You can also select an existing library location when installing a new game. See Steam’s Managing Steam Downloads & Updates instructions for library and move options.
Free space by removing games you no longer play
If you do not need a game installed on any drive, uninstalling it is the direct way to reclaim the space it uses. Use Steam’s Library controls to uninstall the game rather than manually deleting files from Steam folders. If you want to keep the game installed, move it to another library instead.
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Clear the download cache only to troubleshoot downloads
Clearing the cache is a troubleshooting step when a download is stuck or behaving incorrectly, not a way to free the storage occupied by installed games. To do it, open Steam > Settings > Downloads > Clear Download Cache. Steam says installed games are unaffected, but you will need to sign in to Steam again. Details are on Steam Support’s Clear download cache page.
Fix installation or update errors
If a game will not install or update correctly, Steam documents several troubleshooting options. Try the one that matches the problem:
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsRank #3
- MADE FOR THE MAKERS: Create; Explore; Store; The T7 Portable SSD delivers fast speeds and durable features to back up any endeavor; Build your video editing empire, file your photographs or back up your blogs all in an instant
- SHARE IDEAS IN A FLASH: Don’t waste a second waiting and spend more time doing; The T7 is embedded with PCIe NVMe technology that brings fast read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s¹, making it almost twice as fast as the T5
- ALWAYS MAKE THE SAVE: Compact design with massive capacity; With capacities up to 4TB, save exactly what you need to your drive – from large working files to game data and everything in between
- ADAPTS TO EVERY NEED: Whether using a PC or mobile phone, count on the T7 for extensive compatibility²; It’s a true team player when it comes to heavy-duty application usage or file-saving
- HI RESOLUTION VIDEO RECORDING: Record Ultra High Resolution (4K 60fs) videos directly onto the T7 Portable SSD with your favorite camera or mobile devices; Supports iPhone 15 Pro Res 4K at 60fps video and more³
- Repair the library folder: Open Steam > Settings > Storage and use the library’s repair option.
- Verify game files: In the Library, right-click the game, choose Properties > Installed Files, then select the file-verification option.
- Change download region: If downloads continue to fail or stall, try a different region in Steam > Settings > Downloads.
Steam describes these options in its Update & Installation Issues guidance. Menu wording or layout may vary with the client version, operating system, or language.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose storage for a larger Steam library
If you need more room, Steam’s library folders let you use another drive and move games there. An internal SSD may be an option, but check that your computer supports the drive’s form factor and interface before buying; not every computer accepts the same hardware. Steam’s cited guidance does not establish a universal speed or value advantage for one type of drive over another.
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- Note: Magsafe is not available in this version
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Steam warns that external drives can cause performance or connection problems. In its guidance for games appearing as uninstalled, Steam states: “External hard drives are not recommended for use with Steam or Steam’s games.” If you encounter an external-drive issue, Steam recommends installing Steam and games on an internal drive. See Installed games are appearing as uninstalled.
Quick Recap
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