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

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.