Possible to transfer games from one pc to another without re-downloading?

The manual transfer and re-downloading the games will take a lot of time and you have set at the computer to monitor the whole progress. Instead, you can use a pc game transfer software to let it do the job automatically. It is much more safe and faster!

Using Migrate Games tools can be an effective way to transfer game from one PC to another, especially if you want to move installed games without redownloading everything. These tools are designed to help you migrate game files, saves, and configurations efficiently.

Migrate Games is a general term for software or scripts that facilitate copying and transferring game installation folders, save data, and configurations between PCs. Some popular options include specialized tools or built-in features within game launchers.

Steps to Use Migration Tools:

1. Identify the Game Files: Locate the installed game folders on the source PC.

2. Backup or Copy: Use migration tools or manually copy these folders to an external drive.

3. Transfer Games from One PC to Another: Move the folders to the corresponding directories on the new PC.

4. Reconfigure or Verify: Update game launcher settings if needed and verify game integrity or files.

Platform-Specific Tips:

Steam: Use Steam's backup and restore feature or move the entire Steamapps folder and update the library path.

Epic Games / GOG: Copy game installation folders and re-verify files via the launcher.

Other Games: Check if the launcher or game has specific migration instructions.

Ludusavi is a lightweight, open-source backup tool designed to back up and restore game save data and game installation files for various game platforms, including Steam, GOG, Epic Games, and others. It helps you selectively back up your games and restore them on another PC, saving time and storage.

How to Use Ludusavi for Transferring Games from one PC to another:

1. Install Ludusavi on your current PC.
2. Backup your game data and installation files using Ludusavi. It will create a backup folder with game files and saves.
3. Transfer the backup folder to the new PC via external drive or network.
4. Install Ludusavi on the new PC.
5. Restore the game data and saves from the backup folder to the new PC.

Additional Tips:

Before transferring games from one PC to another. You might need to reinstall the game clients (Steam, Epic, etc.) on the new PC.

Ludusavi does not handle the actual game files for all platforms automatically; sometimes, you need to ensure the game is installed on the new PC before restoring data.

Using disk cloning to transfer games from one PC to another can be an effective method, especially if you want to replicate the entire system environment, including all installed games, settings, and files. Here's what you need to know:

Steps to transfer games from one PC to another via Disk Cloning :

1. Choose reliable disk cloning software.

2. Clone your current drive or partition containing the games.

3. Transfer the clone to the new PC’s drive.

4. Boot from the cloned drive on the new PC.

Post-Transfer:

5. You may need to reinstall or update drivers.

6. Some games might require verification or reactivation.

7. Check for Windows activation issues if hardware significantly changes.

Advantages of Disk Cloning:

Complete Transfer: Creates an exact replica of your current drive or partition, including all games and data.

Time-Efficient: Eliminates the need to reinstall each game individually.

Preserves System State: Keeps your current setup intact.

For transferring games from one pc to another, PC migration tool is a pretty good option. It is one of the easiest and fastest ways to transfer games from one PC to another without re-downloading, especially when you have many large games installed. These tools are designed to move installed programs, game files, and related system data automatically, reducing manual work and avoiding common mistakes like missing dependencies or shortcuts.

Detailed Steps for Game Transfer:

1. Install the same PC migration tool on both the old PC and the new PC.
2. Connect the two computers using a local network (LAN), Wi-Fi, or an external hard drive, depending on what the tool supports.
3. Launch the tool on the old PC and choose the option to transfer applications or installed programs.
4. Select the games you want to move from the list of detected software.
5. Start the transfer process and wait until all game files are copied to the new PC.
6. On the new PC, let the tool finalize the setup and create shortcuts if needed. This will transfer all games from one pc to another.
7. Open your game launcher and verify the game files so the launcher can recognize the transferred games.

A PC migration tool is a great choice when transferring all games from one pc to another without re-downloading, including steam games and video games. It saves time, avoids re-downloading large files, and minimizes manual steps, making it especially useful for users who want a smooth and hassle-free game transfer experience.

Manually copying game files is a viable option for transferring games from one PC to another. especially if you want to avoid re-downloading large files. Here's a step-by-step guide to do it efficiently:

How to Transfer games from one PC to another:

1. Identify the Game Installations

• Locate game folders on your old PC. Common locations include:
• Steam games: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\
• Epic Games: C:\Program Files\Epic Games\
• Other game platforms: Check their default install directories.
• Note down the folder locations. You may want to copy entire directories to preserve all files.

2. Prepare External Storage

• Use a fast external drive such as an SSD or a high-speed USB 3.0/3.1 drive.
• Connect it to your old PC and make sure it has enough space for all game files.

3. Copy the Game Files

• Copy the entire game folders to the external drive.
• To speed up the process, use a file transfer tool, which can handle large files more efficiently and provide error recovery.

4. Transfer Files to the New PC

• Disconnect the external drive from the old PC and connect it to the new PC.
• Copy the game folders to the same directory structure as on the old PC, ideally in the same location (e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\).

5. Configure the Game Clients

For Steam games:

• Open Steam on the new PC.
• Go to Steam > Settings > Downloads > Steam Library Folders.
• Add the folder where you copied the game files.

Verify game files:

• Right-click the game in your library.
• Select Properties > Local Files > Verify Integrity of Game Files.
• Steam will check the files and re-link the game to its files, avoiding re-download.

For non-Steam games:

• Launch the game directly from the executable if it doesn't require a launcher.
• If the game uses an installer or launcher, you might need to re-point the game folder or reinstall the launcher but keep game data.

6. Troubleshooting & Validation

• Missing files or errors? Re-verify game files or re-install the launcher.
• Game not launching? Some games or platforms may need registry tweaks or reactivation.

Using the built-in backup and restore feature of game launchers is one of the safest ways to transfer games from one PC to another without re-downloading. Since the process is officially supported by platforms like Steam and Epic Games, the launcher can recognize existing game files and simply verify them instead of downloading everything again.

This method works even for older or non-launcher games.

How to transfer games from one pc to another without re-downloading

1. Copy the game’s install folder from the old PC

2. Place it in the same directory on the new PC

3. Let the launcher “detect” or “verify” the files instead of downloading

Where this works best

• Steam: Backup/Restore or “Install → Detect existing files”
• Epic Games: Start install → Pause → Replace folder → Resume
• Battle.net / Ubisoft / EA App: Scan existing files

Pros

No re-download

Official & safe

Keeps game files intact

Cons

Launcher-specific steps

Slightly different process for each platform

This trick is ideal if both PCs use the same game launcher and you want a clean, risk-free transfer. It avoids unnecessary downloads, preserves game integrity, and requires minimal manual work, making it the best first option for most players.