Use Steam’s Downloads page to pause, resume, and reorder downloads; set a bandwidth limit or update window under Steam > Settings > Downloads; and use Steam > Settings > Storage to add a library on another drive or move installed games. These controls let you manage network use and reclaim space without downloading a moved game again. Menu labels can vary slightly by Steam client version or operating system.
Manage the Steam download queue
Open the Download Manager by selecting Downloads in Steam, or use View > Downloads. It shows active and completed downloads and updates, along with their progress. From here, pause or resume an item and reorder queued downloads so the game you want is handled first.
Check this page when a game seems to be downloading unexpectedly: an update may be active or waiting in the queue. If a control’s label differs in your client, look for the equivalent action on the Downloads page.
Limit Steam download speed
To leave more bandwidth available for browsing, calls, or other devices, open Steam > Settings > Downloads and set the download speed limit. Choose a cap that fits your connection and household use; a lower cap can reduce competition for bandwidth but will make Steam downloads take longer. Steam’s download settings interpret limits according to whether the client displays rates in bytes or bits per second.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems#1 Best Overall
- Customize your drive’s RGB lighting with the downloadable WD_BLACK Dashboard (Windows only) to show off your style and make every play personal.
- Kick loading into overdrive with a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 interface and speeds up to 2,000MB/s. (Based on read speed. 1 MB/s = 1 million bytes per second. Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon host device, usage conditions, drive capacity, and other factors.)
- Compatible with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. {Compatible with PlayStation 4 Pro or PS4 with system software version 4.50 or higher, PlayStation 5 (Play and store PS4 games; archive PS5 games), Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S (Play and store Xbox One games; archive Xbox Series X|S games).}
- Keep more of the latest and largest titles installed and ready to launch with capacities of up to 2TB. (1TB = 1 trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.)
- Built with WD_BLACK toughness thanks to a shock-resistant structure, this durable drive can survive a drop of up to two-meters.
Check bytes versus bits before diagnosing a slow download
Internet plans are typically advertised in bits per second, while Steam’s download rate may be shown in bytes per second. One byte equals eight bits. Steam Support gives 768 KB/s = 6,144 Kb/s, or about 6 Mbps as a conversion example; it is not a measured speed test. Compare like units before deciding that Steam is delivering less speed than your plan.
Choose when games update
In Steam > Settings > Downloads, you can restrict automatic updates to a time window. This controls when eligible automatic updates run; it is separate from the bandwidth limit, which controls download rate. You can also reorder the queue in the Download Manager.
Rank #2
- 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
Set update behavior for an individual game
On the game’s Library page, open Manage or Properties, then select the Updates tab. Depending on the available options, you can keep the game updated automatically, update it only when launched, or give it high priority for automatic updates.
Choosing “Only update this game when I launch it” can defer an update, but launching the game can trigger that update immediately. Plan for the download before you need to play.
Rank #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
Free up space by adding a Steam library on another drive
If your current drive is full, Steam can use another configured library location. Open Steam > Settings > Storage, add a library folder on the other drive, and choose that location when installing future games. The exact wording may differ slightly across client versions.
Move an installed game
- Open Steam > Settings > Storage and select the drive or library containing the game.
- Select the game, then choose the move option and the destination library. If your client presents the move control under the game instead, open the game’s Properties and look under Installed Files.
- Confirm the move and let Steam finish transferring the installation before launching the game.
Steam’s supported in-client move process transfers the existing installation to the configured library rather than requiring a full re-download. Steam cautions that installing the Steam client itself on an external hard drive can cause performance issues; that warning does not establish that every external drive is unsuitable for a game library. Moving a game also does not guarantee that every local save moves with it: some games store saves outside Steam Cloud, including in user folders.
Rank #4
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Troubleshoot a slow or stuck Steam download
Work from simple checks toward more disruptive troubleshooting. A different download region is a diagnostic test, not a guaranteed speed boost: Steam selects content servers based on location, and a server region may be slow or overloaded.
- Confirm the units. Compare Steam’s displayed rate with your internet plan using the bytes-to-bits conversion above.
- Check the download region. In Steam > Settings > Downloads, check the selected region and test a nearby alternative if performance is poor. If it does not help, switch back.
- Restart Steam or your computer. Then check whether the download resumes normally.
- Clear the download cache if needed. Steam’s download-cache control is in Settings > Downloads. Clearing the cache removes locally cached configuration data so Steam can retrieve it again from its servers; it does not delete installed games, but Steam will require you to sign in again.
- Repair the library folder or verify the affected game’s files. Use the relevant Storage or game Properties controls if the problem appears tied to a library or installation rather than network speed.
If an installation or update still fails, use Steam’s current troubleshooting guidance for that specific error. Avoid uninstalling Steam as a routine fix: Steam warns that uninstalling it deletes game content. Back up important data and follow Steam’s current procedure before moving the entire Steam installation.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Get NVMe solid state performance with up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance mean this tough drive can take a beating(3) (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
- Use the handy carabiner loop to secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind.
- Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.(3)
- Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5). Non-Operating Temperature -20°C to 85°C
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
