Introduction
Welcome to this helpful guide on how to change the download location in Epic Games! If you are an avid gamer who uses the Epic Games Launcher to download and play your favorite games, you might have encountered the need to customize the download location to a different folder or drive on your computer.
By default, the Epic Games Launcher automatically selects a location for game downloads based on your system settings. However, there are times when you may prefer to have your games stored in a different directory or on a separate hard drive to better manage your storage space or organize your gaming library.
Changing the download location in Epic Games is a simple process that offers great flexibility and convenience. Whether you want to store your games on an external drive, a specific partition, or a different folder altogether, this guide will walk you through all the necessary steps to achieve that.
So, if you’re ready to take control of where your Epic Games are downloaded to and start enjoying seamless gaming experiences, let’s dive right in and learn the step-by-step process together!
Why change the download location in Epic Games?
There are several reasons why you may want to change the download location in Epic Games. Let’s explore some of the key ones below:
- Storage Management: One of the primary reasons to change the download location is to better manage your storage space. By default, the Epic Games Launcher downloads your games to the system drive, which is often the C: drive. However, this drive may have limited space, especially if you have a solid-state drive (SSD). By redirecting downloads to a different drive or folder, you can ensure that your system drive remains free from excessive file storage, which can help improve the overall performance of your computer.
- Organizational Convenience: Changing the download location allows you to organize your games in a way that suits your preferences. For example, you may prefer to separate your games based on genre or have a dedicated folder for multiplayer games. By directing downloads to specific directories, you can maintain a clean and well-organized gaming library, making it easy to find and access your favorite games.
- Backup and Redundancy: Another benefit of changing the download location is the ability to keep backups of your games. If you have multiple drives or external storage options, you can download games to different locations for added redundancy. This way, if one drive fails, you have a backup copy on another drive without having to re-download the game.
- Multi-Device Usage: If you use multiple computers or have a gaming setup with different drives, changing the download location allows you to have the same games installed on different devices. By syncing the download location to a shared drive or cloud storage, you can easily access your games from any computer without the need to re-download them.
- Performance Optimization: In some cases, downloading games to a specific drive or folder can optimize performance. For example, if you have a high-speed external SSD, downloading and running games from that drive can result in faster loading times and smoother gameplay.
By changing the download location in Epic Games, you gain control over where your games are stored, allowing you to optimize storage space, organize your library, and ensure backups for a seamless gaming experience. Now that we understand why changing the download location is beneficial, let’s move on to the step-by-step process of achieving this in Epic Games Launcher.
Step 1: Open the Epic Games Launcher
The first step in changing the download location in Epic Games is to open the Epic Games Launcher on your computer. If you have already installed the launcher, you can find its shortcut on your desktop or in the Start menu. Simply double-click on the shortcut to open the launcher.
Once the Epic Games Launcher is open, you will be greeted with the login screen. If you have an existing Epic Games account, enter your login credentials and click on the “Sign In” button. If you don’t have an account, you can create a new one by clicking on the “Sign Up” button and following the instructions.
After logging in, the Epic Games Launcher will open, and you will be directed to the store page, where you can browse and download games. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the launcher interface if you are new to Epic Games.
Now that you have successfully opened the Epic Games Launcher, let’s move on to the next step to change the download location.
Step 2: Go to the Epic Games Settings
Once you have the Epic Games Launcher open, the next step is to navigate to the settings where you can modify the download location. To do this, look at the bottom-left corner of the launcher window and locate the gear icon. This icon represents the settings menu for the Epic Games Launcher.
Click on the gear icon to open the settings menu. A dropdown menu will appear with various options. Look for and select the “Settings” option from the menu. This will open the settings page where you can customize various aspects of the launcher.
On the settings page, you will find different tabs such as General, Library, Friends, Updates, and more. These tabs allow you to configure different aspects of the launcher. To change the download location, we need to access the “System” section, which is usually the default tab that appears when you open the settings page.
In the System tab, you will find various options related to the functionality of the Epic Games Launcher. Scroll down until you find the “Download Location” section. This section displays the current download location for your games.
Congratulations! You have successfully reached the Epic Games settings page, and now we are ready to proceed to the next step of modifying the download location.
Step 3: Modify the download location
Now that you are on the settings page of the Epic Games Launcher and have located the “Download Location” section, it’s time to modify the download location to your desired folder or drive.
In the “Download Location” section, you will notice a text box displaying the current download location. To change it, click on the “Browse” button next to the text box. This will open a file explorer window, allowing you to navigate to the desired location where you want your games to be downloaded.
Browse through your computer’s files and folders to find the folder or drive where you want your games to be downloaded. Once you have selected the desired location, click on the “OK” button or double-click on the folder to confirm the selection and close the file explorer window.
After selecting the new download location, you will notice that the text box in the “Download Location” section is updated with the path of the chosen folder or drive.
Keep in mind that the Epic Games Launcher will create a new folder inside the selected location to store your downloaded games. You don’t need to manually create a folder for this purpose.
Now that you have successfully modified the download location, let’s move on to the next step to ensure the changes are applied.
Step 4: Confirm the changes
After modifying the download location in the Epic Games Launcher, the next step is to confirm the changes to ensure that your games will now be downloaded to the desired folder or drive.
Take a moment to double-check the new download location displayed in the “Download Location” section on the settings page. Make sure that it reflects the folder or drive you selected in the previous step.
If the download location is correct, you can proceed to confirm the changes. To do this, locate the “Apply” or “Save” button at the bottom-right corner of the settings page. Click on this button to save the new download location and apply the changes.
Once you click on the “Apply” or “Save” button, the Epic Games Launcher will update its settings with the new download location. This means that any future game downloads will be directed to the specified folder or drive.
It’s important to note that the changes are applied immediately, so there is no need to restart the Epic Games Launcher at this point.
Now that you have confirmed the changes to the download location, let’s move on to the final step to ensure that the modifications are fully implemented.
Step 5: Restart the Epic Games Launcher
After modifying the download location and confirming the changes in the Epic Games Launcher settings, it’s important to restart the launcher to ensure that the modifications are fully implemented.
To restart the Epic Games Launcher, close the application completely. You can do this by clicking on the “X” button at the top-right corner of the launcher window or right-clicking on the launcher icon in the taskbar and selecting “Close” from the menu.
Once the Epic Games Launcher is closed, wait a few seconds to ensure that all processes related to the launcher have been terminated. Then, double-click on the Epic Games Launcher shortcut on your desktop or locate it in the Start menu to open it again.
Upon reopening the Epic Games Launcher, it will read the updated settings and apply the new download location. From now on, any games you download through the launcher will be stored in the specified folder or drive.
By restarting the Epic Games Launcher, you ensure that the changes to the download location are fully activated and ready for use. This step is crucial for the modifications to take effect and for a smooth gaming experience.
Congratulations! You have successfully changed the download location in the Epic Games Launcher and restarted the application. Now you can enjoy the flexibility and convenience of having your games downloaded to the desired folder or drive.
Conclusion
Changing the download location in Epic Games is a straightforward process that allows you to have more control and flexibility in managing your downloaded games. By following the step-by-step guide outlined in this article, you can easily redirect your game downloads to a different folder or drive on your computer.
We discussed the reasons why changing the download location can be beneficial, such as improving storage management, organizational convenience, backup and redundancy, multi-device usage, and performance optimization. These advantages make it worth considering customizing your download location to suit your gaming needs.
Throughout the guide, we covered each step in detail, from opening the Epic Games Launcher and accessing the settings to modifying the download location, confirming the changes, and restarting the launcher. By carefully following these steps, you can successfully change the download location and ensure that your games are saved in the desired location.
Remember to choose a location with sufficient storage space and consider factors like performance, organization, and backup options when deciding on the new download location.
Now that you have the knowledge and know-how to change the download location in Epic Games, you can make the necessary adjustments to enhance your gaming experience. Enjoy your games and the convenience of having them stored exactly where you want!
