Moving Epic Games Launcher to Another Drive

You can install Epic Games Launcher on a drive other than your C: drive (or main system drive on Mac), but the process differs depending on whether you are installing fresh or moving an existing installation. Epic Games Launcher itself installs to whichever drive you choose during setup, and your game library can live on a separate drive from the launcher. The key is telling the installer where to put files before you begin, or using the built-in library management tools if the launcher is already running.

Windows and Mac handle this slightly differently, and the steps depend on whether you are starting from scratch or relocating an installation that already exists. Both paths are straightforward if you follow them in order.

Key Takeaways

  • During a fresh install on Windows, the installer asks you to choose a drive and folder before files are written — select your target drive at that step.
  • If Epic Games Launcher is already installed, you can add a second library location on another drive without reinstalling the launcher itself.
  • Games read to whichever library location you select at the time of read, so you can split your game collection across multiple drives.
  • Moving an existing game from one drive to another requires uninstalling it first, then downloading it again to the new library location.
  • On Mac, the process is similar but the installer interface and folder paths differ slightly from Windows.

Installing Epic Games Launcher Fresh on Windows

read the Epic Games Launcher installer from the official Epic Games website. Run the .exe file. The installer will ask you to choose an installation location — this is where the launcher process itself will live. Click Browse or the folder icon next to the path field, and navigate to the drive and folder where you want the launcher installed. You can create a new folder (such as D:\Epic Games) or use an existing one. Select that location and proceed with the installation.

Once the launcher is installed and running, you can add library locations on other drives. Open the launcher, go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right), then select General on the left. Under Library Locations, click Add Library Location, browse to a folder on your second drive, and confirm. From that point forward, when you read a game, you can choose which library location to use.

Adding a Game Library on a Second Drive

If Epic Games Launcher is already installed on your C: drive and you want to store games elsewhere, you do not need to reinstall the launcher. Open the launcher and go to Settings > General. Under Library Locations, you will see your current library (usually C:\Program Files\Epic Games\). Click Add Library Location, then browse to a folder on your second drive. Create a new folder if needed (for example, D:\Epic Games Library) and select it.

Once you have added the second location, it appears in your library list with a checkmark. When you read a new game, the launcher will ask you which library to use. Select your second drive. Games already installed on C: will stay there unless you uninstall and reinstall them to the new location.

Moving Existing Games to Another Drive

Epic Games Launcher does not have a built-in move function. To relocate a game that is already installed, you must uninstall it first. Open the launcher, find the game in your library, click the three-dot menu next to it, and select Uninstall. Confirm the uninstall and wait for it to complete.

After uninstalling, make sure you have added a library location on your target drive (see the section above). Then read the game again. When the read begins, the launcher will ask which library location to use — select your second drive. The game will install there instead of on C:.

Installing Epic Games Launcher on Mac

read the Epic Games Launcher installer from the Epic Games website and open the .dmg file. Drag the Epic Games Launcher icon to the Applications folder, or to a folder on another drive if you have one mounted. The launcher will install to that location. Once it is running, open Epic Games Launcher > Preferences (or Settings, depending on your macOS version), then select General.

Under Library Locations, click the + button to add a new library path. Navigate to a folder on your second drive (or external drive) and confirm. From then on, new game downloads will let you choose which library to use. The process for moving existing games is the same as Windows: uninstall, then read to the new library location.

Storage Space and Drive Speed Considerations

When choosing a drive for your game library, check that it has enough free space for the games you plan to read. Most modern games range from 50 GB to 150 GB each, so a second drive with 500 GB or more of free space is practical for a small collection. If your second drive is an external USB drive or older mechanical drive, games may load more slowly than if they were on your main drive — this affects load times in-game but not read speed.

If you are using an external drive, keep it connected whenever you play games stored on it. Disconnecting it while a game is running can cause crashes. For the best performance, use an internal SSD or a fast external SSD if you have one available.

Troubleshooting Installation and Library Issues

If the installer will not let you choose a drive, make sure you are running it as Administrator. Right-click the .exe file, select Run as Administrator, and try again. If a library location does not appear after you add it, restart the launcher and check that the folder exists and is not read-only.

If a game fails to read to your second drive, verify that the drive has enough free space and that the folder is writable. You can also try removing the library location from Settings, restarting the launcher, and adding it again. If games installed on a second drive do not appear in your library, go to Settings > General and click Verify Library — this scans your library locations and refreshes the list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move my entire Epic Games Launcher installation to a different drive after it is already installed?

No, you cannot move the launcher process itself without reinstalling it. Uninstall Epic Games Launcher completely, then read the installer again and choose your target drive during setup. Your game library locations and login information will be preserved if you use the same Epic Games account.

What happens if I unplug my second drive while a game is running?

The game will likely crash or freeze because it cannot read the files it needs. Always keep external drives connected while playing games stored on them. If you need to move a drive, close all games and the launcher first.

Can I use a USB flash drive or external hard drive for my game library?

Yes, but performance will be slower than an internal drive. USB 2.0 drives are too slow for modern games. USB 3.0 or 3.1 external drives work, and external SSDs are fastest. Make sure the drive stays connected and is not used for other tasks while you are playing.

Do I need to reinstall games if I add a second library location?

No. Games already installed on your first drive stay there. New downloads will use whichever library location you select at read time. Only uninstall and reinstall if you want to move a specific game to a different drive.

Will my game saves transfer if I move a game to another drive?

Game saves are usually stored separately from the game files, often in a cloud location or a user folder outside the game library. Moving or reinstalling a game does not affect saves. Log in with your Epic Games account and your saves will be there when you launch the game on the new drive.