You Ran Out of Space on Your C Drive
You just found an amazing new game on the Epic Games Store, clicked install, and then saw the dreaded notification. Your C drive doesn’t have enough space. Your heart sinks a little. You know you have a spacious D drive or even a fast external SSD, but the Epic Games Launcher seems stubbornly set on installing everything to your primary drive.
This is a common frustration for PC gamers. Modern games are massive, often exceeding 100GB. Your C drive, typically a smaller SSD for your operating system, fills up fast. Moving your Epic Games library to another drive is not only possible but recommended for managing your storage effectively.
This guide will walk you through the exact steps to change the default install location for the Epic Games Launcher, move existing games without redownloading them, and set up your system for future installs. We’ll also cover troubleshooting for when things don’t go as planned.
Understanding the Epic Games Library Folder
Before you start moving files, it’s crucial to understand how the Epic Games Launcher organizes your games. Unlike some platforms, Epic uses a central “library” folder. By default, this is located at C:\Program Files\Epic Games.
Every game you install gets its own folder inside this main library directory. The launcher keeps a registry of where this library folder is. When you change the install location in the settings, you’re telling the launcher to use a new library folder on a different drive for all future installations.
It’s important to note that the launcher itself, the application you open to browse the store, will remain on your C drive. We are only moving the game files, which are the storage hogs.
What You Need Before You Start
To ensure a smooth process, have these things ready:
– Administrator access on your Windows PC.
– The target drive (like D:, E:, or an external drive) must be formatted with a file system Windows can read, like NTFS or exFAT. Check this in File Explorer under “This PC.”
– Enough free space on the target drive for your games. It’s best to have at least 50GB more than the total size of the games you plan to move.
– Close the Epic Games Launcher completely. Right-click its icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner) and select “Exit.”
Changing the Default Installation Directory
This is the first and most important step. It tells the Epic Games Launcher where to put new games you download from now on.
Open the Epic Games Launcher. Click on your profile icon in the bottom left corner of the window. From the menu that appears, select “Settings.”
Scroll down the settings page until you find the “MANAGE GAMES” section. Here, you will see the option “Default Install Location.”
Click the “BROWSE” button next to it. A file explorer window will open. Navigate to the drive where you want your new game library to live. It’s a good practice to create a new folder here, such as “Epic Games” on your D drive.
Select the folder and click “Select Folder” in the explorer window. The path will now appear in the launcher settings. For example, it might now read “D:\Epic Games”.
Important: Do not select a folder that already has game files in it unless you are intentionally merging libraries. It’s cleaner to start with a fresh, empty folder.
Once the new path is set, you can simply close the settings window. The change is saved automatically. The next time you install a game, it will use this new location.
Moving Your Already Installed Games
Changing the default location doesn’t magically move the games you already have. You need to migrate them manually. The good news is you don’t have to re-download hundreds of gigabytes. The Epic Games Launcher has a built-in migration tool.
In the same “Settings” menu, look below the “Default Install Location” for the section titled “LIBRARY DIRECTORIES.” This shows all the folders Epic knows about that contain your games.
You will see your old library (e.g., C:\Program Files\Epic Games) listed. Click the three-dot menu (“…”) next to it. A small menu will pop up with the option “MOVE FOLDER.”
Click “MOVE FOLDER.” A new window will ask you to select a destination. Navigate to the new library folder you just set as the default (e.g., D:\Epic Games). Select it and confirm.
The launcher will now begin the moving process. It will copy all the game files from the old location to the new one. This can take a long time depending on the amount of data and the speed of your drives. A progress bar will keep you updated.
Do not interrupt this process. Do not close the launcher or turn off your PC. Let it complete. Once finished, the launcher will update its internal registry. Your games will now appear in your library as if they were always installed in the new location. The old files on the C drive will be automatically deleted after a successful transfer.
What If the Move Option Is Grayed Out?
Sometimes, the “MOVE FOLDER” button might be unavailable. This usually happens for one of two reasons.
First, a game might be currently running or updating. Ensure all Epic games are fully closed. Check the Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) for any background processes related to Epic or a specific game and end them.
Second, you might not have sufficient permissions on the folder. Try running the Epic Games Launcher as an administrator. Right-click its shortcut and select “Run as administrator,” then navigate back to the settings and try again.
Using Symbolic Links as an Advanced Alternative
If the built-in move tool fails or you want more control, you can use a Windows feature called a symbolic link. Think of it as a sophisticated shortcut that tricks Windows and applications into thinking a folder is in one place when it’s actually in another.
This method is more technical but very effective. First, manually copy your entire “Epic Games” folder from C:\Program Files\ to your new drive (e.g., D:\Epic Games). Use File Explorer to drag and drop or copy-paste. Wait for this copy to complete.
Next, you must delete the original folder from the C drive. This is necessary to create the link. Then, open Command Prompt as an Administrator. Search for “cmd” in the Start menu, right-click it, and choose “Run as administrator.”
In the Command Prompt, type the following command, but replace the paths with your own:
mklink /J “C:\Program Files\Epic Games” “D:\Epic Games”
Press Enter. If successful, you will see a message saying “Junction created.” You will now see the “Epic Games” folder back in C:\Program Files, but it’s just a link pointing to the real files on your D drive. The launcher will work perfectly without knowing anything changed.
This method is powerful but requires careful typing. A single mistake in the path can cause issues. It’s best for users comfortable with the command line.
Troubleshooting Common Issues After Moving Games
Even with a successful move, you might encounter problems. Here are solutions to the most frequent issues.
Game Fails to Launch or Asks to Install Again
If you click “Launch” and nothing happens, or the launcher acts like the game isn’t installed, the launcher has lost its pointer to the game files.
The first fix is to verify the game files. In your Epic library, click the three dots under the game’s title and select “Manage.” Click the “Verify” button. This will scan the files in the new location and repair any issues with the installation registry. This process is usually quick and solves most launch problems.
“Not Enough Disk Space” Error on the New Drive
You might get a disk space error even on a drive with plenty of room. This can be a cache issue. Try clearing the Epic Games Launcher’s cache.
Fully exit the launcher. Press Windows Key + R, type “%localappdata%” and press Enter. Navigate to the “EpicGamesLauncher” folder. Open the “Saved” folder inside it. Find a folder named “webcache” or similar and delete it. Restart the launcher. It will rebuild this cache, which can resolve phantom disk space errors.
Slow Performance After Moving to an External HDD
If you moved games to an external hard drive (HDD) and they now load slowly or stutter, the drive speed is the bottleneck. Game assets stream from the drive while you play. A slow USB 2.0 HDD cannot keep up with modern games.
For the best experience, use an internal SSD (SATA or NVMe) or, at minimum, a fast external SSD connected via USB 3.0 or better. If you must use an HDD, expect longer load times, especially in open-world games.
Organizing Multiple Game Libraries
What if you have more than two drives? The Epic Games Launcher allows you to manage multiple library folders. This is perfect for separating games between a fast NVMe SSD for your favorites and a larger HDD for your backlog.
In the “LIBRARY DIRECTORIES” section of the settings, click “ADD ANOTHER DIRECTORY.” You can point it to a folder on a third drive, like E:\Games.
When you go to install a new game, the launcher will now show a dropdown menu letting you choose which of your registered library folders to use. You can install Fortnite on your D drive SSD and a less demanding indie title on your E drive HDD, all from the same interface.
To move a game between these multiple libraries, you still use the “MOVE FOLDER” option on the specific game’s library entry in the settings list.
Setting Up for a Clutter-Free Future
Now that your games are on a dedicated drive, take a moment to future-proof your setup. Regularly check the storage space on your new game drive. Uninstall games you no longer play directly through the Epic launcher to free up space easily.
Consider making the same change on other gaming platforms you use, like Steam or Xbox PC App, to centralize all your game files away from your system drive. This keeps your C drive healthy for Windows updates and essential applications, ensuring your entire PC runs smoothly.
By taking control of your Epic Games install location, you’ve solved an immediate storage crisis and built a more sustainable system for your gaming hobby. No more frantic file deletions before a new release. Your games have a proper home, and your primary drive can breathe easy.
