Moving Your Origin Games: A Comprehensive Guide to Relocation and Storage
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Yes, you absolutely can move your Origin folder to another drive. It’s a common practice to free up space on your primary drive (usually the C drive), especially if you have an SSD (Solid State Drive) which tends to be smaller but faster, and a larger HDD (Hard Disk Drive) for bulk storage. Moving your Origin games is a straightforward process and won’t affect your game data if done correctly. Let’s dive into how to do it and answer all your burning questions about Origin and game relocation.
Understanding Origin Game Storage
Origin, now largely superseded by the EA app, was Electronic Arts’ platform for downloading, installing, and managing games. While the EA app is the recommended choice, understanding Origin’s file structure and relocation process remains relevant for users still utilizing the platform or troubleshooting related issues.
Why Move Your Origin Games?
There are several compelling reasons to move your Origin games to another drive:
- Freeing Up Space: Games, particularly modern titles, can be enormous, consuming a significant portion of your C drive.
- SSD Optimization: If your operating system is installed on an SSD, you might prefer to keep it lean for optimal performance.
- HDD for Storage: Utilizing a larger HDD for storing less frequently played games makes sense from a storage management perspective.
- Performance Considerations: While an SSD will generally provide faster loading times, the difference might be negligible for some games, making an HDD a viable alternative.
Step-by-Step: Moving Your Origin Games
Here’s how to move your Origin games to another drive:
- Launch the Origin Client: Open the Origin application.
- Access Game Library: Navigate to “My Game Library” to view all your owned and installed games.
- Initiate Move: Right-click on the specific game you want to move and select “Move Game.”
- Select Destination Folder: A window will appear, prompting you to choose the new location. Select a folder on the drive where you want to move the game. It is advisable to create a new folder on the destination drive, e.g., “D:Origin Games” or “E:Games.”
- Confirm and Move: Click “Select Folder” to confirm your choice. Origin will begin moving the game files to the new location. This process can take some time, depending on the game’s size and the speed of your drives.
- Verification: Once the move is complete, it’s a good practice to launch the game to ensure everything is working correctly.
Adjusting the Origin Game Library Location
You can also change the default installation location for future games within Origin settings. This ensures that new games are automatically installed on your preferred drive:
- Open Origin Settings: In the Origin client, go to “Origin” in the menu bar and select “Application Settings.”
- Navigate to Installs & Saves: Click on the “Installs & Saves” tab.
- Change Game Library Location: Under “Game library location,” click “Change folder…”
- Choose New Location: Browse to the desired folder on your other drive and select it. Click “Select Folder.”
Now, all future games you install through Origin will be installed in this new location by default.
FAQS: Relocating Origin Files and Games
1. Can Origin be installed on D drive?
Yes, you can install the Origin client itself on any drive, including the D drive. When you install Origin, you will be prompted to choose an installation location. However, keep in mind that even if Origin is installed on the D drive, the game installation location can be configured separately as described above.
2. How much space does Origin take up?
The Origin client itself doesn’t take up much space. It requires approximately 2 GB of free hard disk space for the program installation plus help files. However, the games you install through Origin will take up significantly more space, depending on their size.
3. Will deleting Origin delete Sims 4?
No, uninstalling the Origin client will not delete your Sims 4 files or other installed games. Your local save game files and online saves are safe. However, you will need the Origin client (or the newer EA app) to launch and play the game.
4. Is Origin launcher going away?
Yes, the Origin launcher has been replaced by the EA app. Electronic Arts announced its plans to retire Origin in favor of a new desktop client. Existing Origin users are encouraged to transition to the EA app, where their games and progress will be carried over.
5. How do I move my Origin games folder entirely?
While the “Move Game” option is the recommended approach, you can manually move the entire Origin games folder. However, this requires additional steps to ensure Origin recognizes the new location:
- Close the Origin client completely.
- Manually move the “Origin Games” folder (typically located in “C:Program Files (x86)”) to the desired drive.
- Open Origin and go to “Application Settings” -> “Installs & Saves” -> “Game library location” and update the location to the new folder.
- Restart Origin. You may need to “Repair” or “Locate Game” for some games if Origin doesn’t automatically recognize them.
6. How do I move games from D drive to C drive?
The process is similar to moving games from C to D. Using the “Move Game” option in Origin, select a folder on your C drive as the destination.
7. Will my Origin games transfer to a new computer?
Yes, your purchased Origin games are tied to your EA account, not a specific computer. After installing the Origin client (or the EA app) on your new computer and logging in, your games will be available in your game library for download and installation.
8. Where are Origin files stored?
The Origin client is typically installed in “C:Program Files (x86)Origin.” Game files are stored in the “Origin Games” folder within the installation directory. You can customize the installation path for new games in Origin’s settings as explained above.
9. How do I move Origin and Sims 4 to an external hard drive?
The process is identical to moving to an internal drive. Create a folder on your external hard drive, then use the “Move Game” option in Origin to move Sims 4 (or any other game) to that folder.
10. Is it OK to move files from C drive to D drive in general?
Yes, it’s perfectly fine to move files from your C drive to your D drive (or any other drive) to free up space. Just avoid moving system files or program files required for your operating system to function correctly.
11. Can I move space from my D drive to my C drive?
Moving space directly from one partition to another can be complex and potentially risky. It’s often easier to move files manually or use partition management software for more advanced operations. As mentioned earlier, moving User folders to D can simplify this.
12. Can I delete the Origin games folder?
You should not delete the “Origin Games” folder directly if you have games installed within it unless you’re planning to completely uninstall the games. Doing so without properly uninstalling through the Origin client can lead to issues and require you to re-download the games. Instead use the Move option in Origin.
13. What is replacing Origin?
The EA app is replacing Origin as the primary platform for downloading and launching PC games from Electronic Arts.
14. Can I reinstall Origin without losing my games?
Yes, reinstalling the Origin client (or transitioning to the EA app) will not affect your installed games. Your games are associated with your EA account.
15. Do you still need Origin to play Sims 4?
While the Origin client is being replaced, you still need either Origin or the EA app to play Sims 4. These platforms handle game authentication, updates, and other essential functions.
Conclusion: Mastering Origin Game Management
Moving your Origin games (or now, managing them in the EA app) is a simple way to optimize your storage and ensure your favorite titles have a home where they can thrive. By following these steps and understanding the underlying principles, you can keep your gaming experience smooth and your drives organized. Remember that understanding how games connect to learning can lead to more engaging educational experiences, which you can explore further at the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Happy gaming!