Running Steam From An External Hard Drive: A Comprehensive Guide

Want to take your Steam library on the go or expand your storage without cracking open your PC? Running Steam and your games from an external hard drive is absolutely doable, but it comes with a few considerations. Here’s the lowdown on how to make it work smoothly. The process essentially involves telling Steam where to find its game files and libraries on your external drive, and ensuring that drive is properly set up within your operating system.

Setting Up Steam On Your External Drive

The easiest way to run Steam games from an external hard drive is to move your Steam library to the external drive while keeping the Steam application on your primary drive. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Prepare your External Drive: First, ensure your external hard drive is properly formatted. NTFS is generally recommended for Windows, while APFS or exFAT work well for macOS, offering compatibility across platforms. Make sure there is enough space on the drive to contain your games. Also, defragmentation (for HDD) and TRIM (for SSD) are important for drive health and performance.
2. Create a Steam Library Folder: On your external hard drive, create a new folder. Name it something like “SteamLibrary” or “SteamGames” to keep things organized.
3. Open Steam Settings: Launch Steam on your computer.
4. Navigate to Storage Settings: Click “Steam” in the top-left corner of the Steam window, then select “Settings.” In the Settings window, click on “Downloads.”
5. Steam Library Folders: Click the “Steam Library Folders” button. This will open the Storage Manager.
6. Add the External Drive Library: Click the “+” button to add a new library folder. Navigate to your external hard drive and select the folder you created earlier. Click “Select.” Steam will now recognize this folder as a potential location for installing games.
7. Moving Installed Games (Optional): In the Storage Manager, you’ll see your current Steam library location(s) and the new one on your external hard drive. You can move existing games by selecting them and clicking the “Move” button. Choose the external drive location as the destination. Be patient; this can take a while depending on the size of the games.
8. Setting Default Installation Location: You can set the external hard drive as the default location for new game installations by right-clicking the external drive library in the Storage Manager and selecting “Make Default.”
9. Playing Your Games: Once the games are moved or installed, you can play them directly from your external hard drive through Steam as if they were on your internal drive.

Considerations For External Drives and Steam

• USB Connection: The speed of your USB connection is critical. USB 3.0 or USB 3.2 (or later) is highly recommended for decent performance. USB-C connections often provide the best speeds.
• Drive Type (SSD vs. HDD): An external SSD will provide significantly faster loading times and better overall performance compared to an external HDD. The price is higher, but the experience is worth it if you can afford it.
• Drive Health: Regularly check the health of your external drive. Use tools like CrystalDiskInfo to monitor its condition.
• Power Management: Ensure your operating system isn’t putting the external drive to sleep to save power. This can cause disconnects and interruptions. Adjust your power settings accordingly.
• Antivirus: Configure your antivirus software to not aggressively scan the external drive while gaming, as this can impact performance.

By following these steps, you can enjoy your Steam library on an external hard drive, giving you portability and expanded storage. Remember that drive quality and USB speeds matter, so plan accordingly for the best gaming experience. It’s important to remember the positive impact of games and play in our society. The Games Learning Society website (GamesLearningSociety.org) offers great resources for learning more about the intersection of games and education.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I install Steam itself on an external hard drive?

While technically possible, it’s generally not recommended to install the entire Steam client on an external drive. The constant reading and writing of system files can lead to performance issues and potentially shorten the life of the external drive. Keep the Steam client on your internal drive and just move the game libraries.

Will my games run slower on an external hard drive?

Yes, potentially. The speed of the external drive and the connection type will significantly impact performance. An external HDD connected via USB 2.0 will be noticeably slower than an internal SSD. An external SSD connected via USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Thunderbolt 3/4 can offer performance close to an internal drive.

Is an external SSD as fast as an internal SSD for gaming?

Not quite as fast, but close. An internal SSD will always have a slight edge due to the direct connection to the motherboard. However, a high-quality external SSD with a fast connection like USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 or Thunderbolt 3/4 can provide a very similar gaming experience.

What’s the best type of external hard drive for Steam games?

An external SSD is almost always the best choice for performance. Look for models with USB 3.2 Gen 2 or faster connections. If budget is a concern, a 7200 RPM external HDD is a decent alternative, but expect longer loading times.

How do I move a Steam game from my internal drive to my external drive?

Use Steam’s built-in Storage Manager. Go to Steam Settings > Downloads > Steam Library Folders. Select the game you want to move and click “Move.” Choose the destination library on your external drive.

Can I play all my Steam games from an external hard drive?

Yes, you can play any Steam game from an external hard drive as long as Steam recognizes the library location and the drive is connected. However, very demanding games may suffer performance issues if the drive or connection is slow.

How do I make my external hard drive run games faster?

• Use an SSD: Upgrade to an external SSD if you’re currently using an HDD.
• Ensure a fast USB connection: Use USB 3.0 or higher.
• Enable “Optimize for performance”: Right-click the drive in Windows, select “Properties,” go to the “Policies” tab, and choose “Optimize for performance.”
• Keep the drive defragmented (for HDDs): Regularly defrag your external HDD using Windows’ built-in defragmentation tool.
• Avoid running other programs simultaneously: Close unnecessary applications to free up system resources.

Will using an external hard drive damage my PC?

No, using an external hard drive will not damage your PC as long as you use it properly. Ensure the drive is properly formatted and safely eject it when disconnecting.

Do I need to format my external hard drive before using it with Steam?

Yes, it’s recommended to format the external hard drive before using it with Steam. NTFS is generally best for Windows. APFS or exFAT are good options if you need cross-platform compatibility.

Can I use multiple external hard drives with Steam?

Yes, Steam allows you to have multiple library folders on different drives, including multiple external drives. You can add each drive as a separate Steam Library Folder in the Steam settings.

What happens if I disconnect the external hard drive while playing a game?

The game will likely crash or freeze, and you may lose unsaved progress. It’s crucial to safely eject the external drive through your operating system before disconnecting it.

Is a USB hub okay to use for my external hard drive?

It’s not recommended to connect your external hard drive through a USB hub, especially a passive one. USB hubs can limit the power and bandwidth available to the drive, leading to performance issues or even disconnections. Connect the drive directly to a USB port on your computer for best results.

How much storage space do I need on my external hard drive for Steam games?

That depends entirely on how many games you plan to install. Modern AAA games can easily take up 50-100GB or more. Consider starting with at least 1TB, and more if you have a large library.

Can I install Steam OS on an external hard drive?

Yes, you can install SteamOS on an external hard drive, effectively turning any computer into a portable Steam Machine. However, ensure that your BIOS/UEFI supports booting from a USB drive and that you select the correct boot option. This will erase all data on the targeted external drive. This is an advanced project for tech-savvy users.

How do I safely eject my external hard drive after playing Steam games?

In Windows, click the “Safely Remove Hardware” icon in the system tray. In macOS, drag the drive icon to the Trash or right-click it on the desktop and select “Eject.” Always wait for the operating system to confirm that it’s safe to remove the drive before disconnecting it.