Steam – Install steam game does not give other library folders as option

steam

I want to install a new game but only the default library location is being offered.

I have two locations setup in the steam settings.

D:\Program Files(x86)\Steam\SteamApps (0 installed) - DEFAULT
U:\Games\SteamLibrary (8 installed)

I uninstalled another game (Transformers) that was on the U: drive and went to install it again. Only the default option was offered. I cannot remove the default folder as it is the default or the U: folder as it already has games installed.

U: drive has over 100gb free.
I am aware of the mklink method so dont want that as an answer.

I have also tried closing and opening steam and rebooting.

I have tried adding a new steam folder location as a test. That too does not show up as an install option. Only the default folder.

Best Answer

Attempt 1 - Uninstalling and reinstalling.

Once I reinstalled I had to re-add the library location after-which steam then automatically detected the existing games were already installed. nothing was lost.

When I went to install my new game, the game location from my manage libraries was finally there.

Update 2 - the workaround

The problem has returned. I don't know what triggers it. So the following is an easier workaround than reinstalling Steam.

  • Install the game to the undesired library location.
  • Wait for downloading to be completed (may not be required, as it could continue downloading in the new location).
  • Close steam.
  • Move the files and folders from the install SteamApps folder to the other library folder.
  • Start steam and it will detect where the games have been moved to.

This success of this can be verified by bringing up the properties of the game, clicking Local Files tab and clicking on "browse local files" to see the actual location path.

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