Back Up & Reinstall Digital PC Games

This guide shows you how to back up your digitally purchased PC games and reinstall them later without re-downloading huge files. You’ll learn where games are stored, how to copy them safely, and how to restore them on the same or a new PC. You only need your game store account credentials and enough free storage space for the backup.

What You’ll Need

• Your game store account login (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, Battle.net, etc.)
• An external drive or second internal drive with enough free space for the games you want to back up
• Administrator access to your PC (to move files in Program Files if needed)

Step-by-Step

1. Identify which games to back up. Open your game library in the store client and note the install sizes. Check the folder where games are installed (usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common for Steam, C:\Program Files\Epic Games for Epic, C:\GOG Games for GOG, and C:\Program Files (x86)\Battle.net for Blizzard games).
2. Close the game store client. Right-click the client icon in the system tray and choose Exit. This prevents file locks and ensures the game files are not being written to.
3. Copy the game folder to your backup drive. Navigate to the game’s installation folder, select it, and copy (Ctrl+C) then paste (Ctrl+V) to your external drive. For large games, this may take a while. Ensure the copy completes without errors.
4. Note the game’s App ID or store ID (optional). For Steam, each game has a unique App ID found in its store URL (e.g., app/730 for CS:GO). This helps identify the folder later. For other stores, the folder name usually matches the game title.
5. Reinstall the game store client on your new PC (if needed). Download and install the same client (Steam, Epic, etc.) from the official website. Log in with your account.
6. Create a new installation folder (optional but recommended). In the client settings, set a new library folder on your new drive, e.g., D:\SteamLibrary for Steam. This is where you’ll place the backed-up files.
7. Copy the backed-up folder to the new installation location. Move the game folder from your backup drive to the new library folder. For Steam, the path should be D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\GameName. For Epic, it’s D:\Epic Games\GameName.
8. Initiate the install in the client. In your library, click “Install” for the game. The client will start downloading, but it will detect existing files and verify them instead of re-downloading the whole game. For Steam, it will say “Discovering existing files” and then complete quickly. For Epic, it may ask you to choose the folder where the files are located.
9. Wait for verification. The client will check each file against its manifest. This may take a few minutes, but it’s much faster than downloading 50 GB. Once verified, the game is ready to play.
10. Test the game. Launch it to ensure everything works. If it fails, see Troubleshooting below.

Common Mistakes

• Copying while the game is running or the client is open. This can result in corrupted files that the client may not recognize.
• Not copying the entire game folder. Some games have files in other locations (like save data in Documents or AppData). The game folder itself is usually enough, but saves are often separate. Back up your saves too if you want to keep progress.
• Forgetting to reinstall the client first. You can’t verify files without the client installed and logged in.
• Placing the folder in the wrong location. Each store expects a specific folder structure. Steam uses steamapps\common, Epic uses the game’s own folder, GOG uses the game folder directly.
• Assuming the backup is a full install. The game files are there, but the client must still register the game as owned and installed. This requires a login and an “install” command.

Tips

• Use an external SSD for faster copying. HDDs are fine but slower, especially for large games.
• Back up saves separately. Many games store saves in Documents\My Games or AppData\Local. Use cloud saves if available, or copy these folders manually.
• For Steam, use the built-in backup feature. In Steam, right-click a game, select “Backup Game Files…” to create a compressed backup that can be restored via “Restore Backup…”. This is more reliable than manual copying for Steam games.
• Check for updates after restore. The client will likely download any patches that came out since your backup.
• Keep the backup drive organized. Create a folder structure like Backups\Steam\GameName to avoid confusion.

Troubleshooting

• The client doesn’t detect the files and starts downloading from scratch. This usually means the folder is in the wrong location or the folder name doesn’t match. Double-check the path. For Steam, ensure the folder is under steamapps\common and the name matches the game’s App ID folder name (e.g., Counter-Strike Global Offensive). If it still fails, try moving the folder to the default Steam directory temporarily.
• The game crashes on launch. This could be due to corrupted files. Right-click the game in your library, select Properties, then Local Files, and click “Verify integrity of game files” (Steam) or similar option in other clients. This will re-download any missing or corrupted files.
• You get an error about missing DLLs or runtime. Most games require Visual C++ Redistributables or DirectX. Install the latest versions from Microsoft’s official site. The game’s installation folder may have a _CommonRedist folder (Steam) with these installers.
• The backup drive runs out of space. Check the size of the game folder before copying. If it’s too large, consider compressing it with 7-Zip or similar, but note that compression may slow down the process.
• You moved the game but the client still shows “Install”. In Steam, you need to click “Install” and then select the drive where the files are. Steam will then discover them. For Epic, you may need to click the three dots next to the game and select “Locate Install” to point to the folder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to back up the game files if I have cloud saves?
A: Cloud saves only store your progress, not the game files. You still need to re-download or back up the game installation.

Q: Can I back up a game to a USB flash drive?
A: Yes, but USB flash drives are slower and may not have enough capacity for large games. An external SSD or HDD is recommended.

Q: Will backing up and restoring work for games from different stores?
A: Yes, the process is similar for most stores, but the folder paths and verification methods differ. Always follow the specific store’s instructions.

Q: Can I share my backed-up games with a friend?
A: No, games are tied to your account. Your friend would need to own the game and have their own account to install it.

Q: What if I lose my backup drive?
A: You’ll need to re-download the games, but your saves may be safe if you have cloud saves or backed them up separately.

Q: Is it faster to back up or just re-download?
A> For large games or slow internet, backing up is usually faster. For small games or very fast internet, re-downloading may be simpler.

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