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My experience moving a Steam library to a network drive was better than I expected: game load times were not nearly as bad as I had feared. That is an observation about my setup, not a benchmark or a promise that every NAS, network, or game will perform similarly. Steam documents how to add and move games between library locations, but its instructions do not establish network shares as an officially supported place to run games.
What happened when I moved my Steam library
In my setup, running games from a network drive did not make loading feel as slow as I expected. That does not establish that network storage matches a local SSD or HDD, or that the result will hold for other games and home networks. Load time depends on the particular game, storage configuration, network connection, and the part of the game being loaded.
I do not have a controlled local-drive comparison or measurements to attach to that observation. A useful comparison would time the same game under repeatable conditions and identify the storage devices, network connection, and load phase being measured—for example, launch to menu or a specific level load. First and repeat launches should be recorded separately if both matter to the result.
The Tool Desk
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Adding a library and moving a game
Steam’s documented library workflow is to add another library location through Settings > Storage, then use the installed game’s controls to move its installation. Steam describes moving a game to another location on the same computer; that procedure is not a documented guarantee that a NAS or network share will work as a running game library. See Steam Support’s guide to moving a Steam installation and games and its guide to managing downloads and updates.
#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.
Steam’s external-drive caution
Steam Support says, “It is not recommended that you install Steam to an external hard drive, due to potential performance issues.” This is a caution about installing Steam on an external hard drive, not a measured result for every NAS or mapped network share. It is relevant context, but it does not settle how a particular network setup will perform.
Do not confuse file transfers with game loading
Steam’s Local Network Game Transfers feature copies installation and update files from one Steam client to another over a local network. Steam says, “A modern PC can easily transfer game content with 100MB/sec over a wired network connection.” That figure describes game-content transfer over a wired network; it is not a measurement of a game loading while installed on network storage. The feature and its scope are described in Steam’s Local Network Game Transfers support page.
Rank #2
- 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
Download, installation, and update transfer speeds therefore cannot be used on their own to predict launch or level-load times. Those are different activities, and the Steam transfer guidance does not provide a comparison of games running from a NAS against games running from local storage.
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What to check if Steam or a game cannot find its files
If a library location or installed game stops appearing, the documented move workflow may not resolve a network-share issue. Steam’s troubleshooting guidance includes repairing a library folder and verifying installed game files. Use those checks when appropriate, while bearing in mind that they do not amount to a compatibility assurance for a network share. See Steam Support’s update and installation troubleshooting guide.
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
- Confirm that the library location is visible to the computer and that Steam can access the files.
- Try Steam’s library-folder repair option if the library reports a problem.
- Verify the affected game’s installed files if Steam or the game reports missing or damaged files.
- If the issue continues, treat it as a problem with the specific share, mount, or game rather than assuming Steam’s local-library instructions certify that configuration.
How to judge whether network storage suits your games
Use your own workload as the deciding evidence rather than a transfer-rate number or someone else’s NAS anecdote. Community posts describe people using NAS or network shares for Steam files, but those reports involve individual configurations and are not controlled performance tests or official compatibility statements. Examples include discussions in r/synology and r/SteamDeck.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 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
Rank #4
- NONSTOP SPEED: Race through projects with our fastest SSD for creators; Load, edit and transfer with sustained read and write speeds of up to 2,000MB/s1; The T9 Portable SSD performs at high speeds even during longer processes
- DYNAMIC THERMAL GUARD: When you’re elbow-deep in a passion project, the T9 Portable SSD stays cool; Its advanced thermal solution withstands and controls heat to keep the SSD at ideal temperatures—even in heavy use2
- ADAPTS TO EVERY NEED: Whether you’re using a desktop, camera or a gaming console3, count on the T9 Portable SSD for extensive compatibility; It’s a true team player when it comes to heavy-duty application usage or file-saving
- STRONG. SOLID. STABLE: From concept to completion – the T9 Portable SSD gives you the longevity to last through heavy use with one convenient drive that dares to go the distance
- WORKS LIKE MAGIC: Your T9 Portable SSD performs like new with the always up-to-date Magician Software; With firmware updates, extra encryption and continual monitoring of your drive health, it works like a charm
- Compare the same game on local storage and the network share, keeping other conditions as consistent as possible.
- Write down whether the connection is wired or wireless and describe the storage and share configuration.
- Define exactly what the timer measures, such as launch to menu or a repeatable level load.
- Do not infer that every game will behave alike; the cited Steam guidance does not give game-by-game results.
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