If you are an avid gamer who uses Epic Games Launcher, you may find yourself needing to change drives at some point. Whether you need to free up space or want to move your games to a different storage device, knowing how to change drives in Epic Games is essential. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of changing drives, ensuring a smooth transition for your gaming experience.
Understanding The Need To Change Drives In Epic Games
Changing drives in Epic Games may become necessary for a variety of reasons. One common reason is running out of storage space on the current drive. As Epic Games offers a vast collection of games, it is not uncommon for the size of the games to increase over time due to updates and additional content. Consequently, the game library may outgrow the capacity of the existing drive, necessitating a switch to a new drive with more storage space.
Another reason to change drives is to optimize the performance of Epic Games. If the current drive is slow or experiencing issues, moving the games to a different, more reliable drive can help improve loading times and overall gameplay experience.
Lastly, some users may prefer to have their Epic Games library installed on a specific drive for organization or convenience purposes. By changing drives, they can ensure that all their games are located in the desired location.
Understanding these reasons will help users prioritize and execute the steps involved in changing drives within Epic Games efficiently.
Assessing System Requirements And Available Storage Space
Before changing drives in Epic Games, it is crucial to assess your system requirements and the availability of storage space on your new drive. Epic Games requires certain minimum system specifications to run smoothly, such as a certain amount of RAM, processor speed, and graphics card capabilities.
Take note of the system requirements listed on the Epic Games website for the games you have installed or plan to install. Compare these requirements with your current system specifications to ensure your new drive can handle the games without any performance issues.
Additionally, assess the available storage space on your new drive. Epic Games requires a significant amount of space to install and store games. Make sure your new drive has enough free space to accommodate not only the games you currently have but also any future games you may want to install.
By carefully assessing system requirements and available storage space, you can ensure a smooth transition and avoid any technical difficulties when changing drives in Epic Games.
Backing Up Game Files Before Changing Drives
Backing up game files before changing drives is an essential step to ensure that you don’t lose any important progress or data. By following this step, you can have peace of mind knowing that your hard-earned achievements and game settings are safely stored.
To begin this process, locate the game files on your current drive. Usually, they are found in the “Program Files” or “Program Files (x86)” folder in the “Epic Games” directory. Copy the entire folder to a separate external storage device, such as a USB drive or an external hard drive.
It’s important to note that some games may have additional save files or configurations stored in other locations, such as the “Documents” folder or the AppData folder. Make sure to identify and back up these files as well to ensure a complete backup of your game data.
By undertaking this crucial step, you can avoid any potential loss or corruption of game files during the drive change process. In the event that anything goes wrong, you can easily restore your games and continue playing seamlessly from where you left off.
Uninstalling Epic Games From The Current Drive
Before changing drives in Epic Games, it is necessary to uninstall the application from the current drive. This step ensures a clean slate for the installation process on the new drive. Here is a step-by-step guide to uninstall Epic Games:
1. Open the Start menu on your computer and go to “Control Panel.”
2. In the Control Panel, navigate to “Programs” and click on “Uninstall a program.”
3. Scroll down the list of installed programs and locate “Epic Games Launcher.”
4. Right-click on “Epic Games Launcher” and select “Uninstall” from the context menu.
5. A confirmation window will appear, asking if you want to uninstall Epic Games Launcher. Click “Yes” to proceed.
6. The uninstallation process will begin, and it may take a few minutes to complete.
7. Once the uninstallation is finished, restart your computer to ensure any remaining files or processes associated with Epic Games are removed.
After successfully uninstalling Epic Games from the current drive, you can proceed to the next step of installing Epic Games on the new drive.
Uninstalling Epic Games From The Current Drive
Before changing drives in Epic Games, it is crucial to uninstall the application from the current drive. This is necessary to ensure a clean and efficient installation on the new drive. Follow these steps to uninstall Epic Games:
1. Open the Start menu and search for “Control Panel.”
2. Click on “Control Panel” to open the application.
3. In Control Panel, locate and click on “Programs” or “Programs and Features,” depending on your Windows version.
4. A list of installed applications will appear. Scroll through the list and find “Epic Games.”
5. Right-click on “Epic Games” and select “Uninstall” from the drop-down menu.
6. Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall Epic Games from your current drive.
7. Once the uninstallation process is complete, restart your computer to ensure all changes are applied.
After completing these steps, Epic Games will be successfully uninstalled from your current drive. Now you can proceed with installing Epic Games on the new drive, as described in the next section of this guide.
Transferring Game Files And Settings To The New Drive
In this step, we will focus on transferring your game files and settings from the old drive to the new drive in Epic Games. This process ensures that you can continue playing your games seamlessly without losing any progress or customizations.
To begin, locate the folder where your game files are currently stored on the old drive. Typically, this would be in the “Program Files” folder or a specific folder dedicated to Epic Games. Once you find it, copy the entire folder and all of its contents.
Next, navigate to the new drive where you have installed Epic Games. Create a new folder within the Epic Games directory and name it something recognizable, such as “Game Files.” Open this folder and paste the copied game files from the old drive.
After copying the game files, open the Epic Games Launcher on the new drive. Click on the “Settings” button in the bottom left corner and select “Library.” Under the “Library Folders” section, click on the “+” icon and browse to the new folder where you pasted the game files.
Finally, click on the “Verify” button next to each game in your library to ensure that the files are recognized by Epic Games. Once the verification process is complete, you can launch your games and continue playing from the new drive without any issues.
Verifying And Launching Games From The New Drive
After successfully transferring game files and settings to the new drive, it is essential to verify and launch games from the new location to ensure everything is working correctly. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open the Epic Games launcher on your computer.
2. Sign in to your Epic Games account if you’re not already logged in.
3. Navigate to the “Library” section within the launcher.
4. Look for the games you transferred to the new drive in the list of installed games.
5. Check if the game’s status shows “Installed” or “Ready to Play.” If not, verify the game files. To do this, click on the three dots next to the game’s name and select “Verify.”
6. Wait for the verification process to complete, which may take some time depending on the game’s size.
7. Once verified, click on the game’s name and hit the “Launch” button to start playing the game from the new drive.
By following these steps, you can ensure that the games you moved to the new drive are fully functional and ready to be enjoyed without any hassle.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do you change drives in Epic Games?
To change drives in Epic Games, follow these steps:
1. Open the Epic Games Launcher.
2. Click on the Library tab.
3. Locate the game you want to move to a different drive and click on it.
4. Click on the three horizontal dots icon next to the Launch button.
5. From the drop-down menu, select “Move” to open the Move Installation window.
6. Choose the desired destination drive from the drop-down menu.
7. Click “Move” to begin the process of moving the game files to the new drive.
2. Can I change the installation drive of multiple games at once in Epic Games?
Unfortunately, Epic Games does not currently offer an option to change the installation drive of multiple games simultaneously. You need to follow the steps mentioned above individually for each game you wish to move.
3. Is it possible to change drives while a game is currently running in Epic Games?
No, it is not recommended to change drives while a game is running in Epic Games. Ensure that you exit the game completely before attempting to move it to a different drive. Changing drives while the game is running can cause file corruption or other issues.
4. Will moving a game to a different drive in Epic Games delete my saved progress?
Moving a game to a different drive in Epic Games will not delete your saved progress. The game files, including your save data, will be transferred to the new drive. However, it is always advisable to create a backup of your game saves before making any changes to avoid potential data loss.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, changing drives in Epic Games is a relatively simple process that allows users to manage their game library and storage space efficiently. By following the step-by-step guide provided in the article, users can easily transfer their games from one drive to another without losing any progress or data. This feature enhances the flexibility and convenience of the Epic Games platform, ensuring a seamless gaming experience for its users.