How do you move Valorant to another drive? It’s a question plenty of PC gamers ask sooner or later, especially when hard drive space is at a premium or you’ve just upgraded to a shiny new SSD. The good news: you don’t need to redownload gigabytes of files or worry about losing your settings. Moving Valorant to another drive is a straightforward process – as long as you follow each step carefully. In this guide, we’ll break down the process in clear, manageable stages, share some tips on avoiding common pitfalls, and even look at when third-party tools could make your life easier. Whatever your reason for relocating Valorant, you’ll have it up and running, right where you want it, in no time.

The Manual Cut-and-Paste Method: A Reliable Approach

If you’d rather stay hands-on and in control, the manual file transfer method is your best bet. This doesn’t require any special software and works for nearly all modern Windows installations. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Completely close Valorant and Riot Client. Make sure neither is running, not even in the background. Check your system tray (the little up-arrow on your taskbar) to ensure all Riot icons are gone. If in doubt, open Task Manager and end any processes named Riot or Valorant.
  2. Locate your current Valorant installation. Most folks will find it at C:\Riot Games\VALORANT, but if you picked a custom path, double-check. You can see the install path in Riot Client settings: click the gear icon in the client, then select Valorant, and you’ll spot the directory path listed there.
  3. Prepare your destination folder. On your preferred drive (let’s say D:), create a new folder called Riot Games if it doesn’t already exist. You can use any drive, including SSDs for faster loading.
  4. Move Valorant’s files. Right-click the VALORANT folder in your old Riot Games directory, select “Cut” (or use Ctrl+X), then “Paste” (Ctrl+V) it into the Riot Games folder on your new drive. Depending on your drive speeds and system, copying might take a few minutes.
  5. Update the Riot Client about the new location. Open the Riot Client again. Click on Valorant. Instead of installing, click on the “Already installed?” link or a similar option beneath the Install button.
  6. Select the new path. Use the file browser that pops up to direct Riot Client to your new installation – go to the VALORANT folder you just moved, and select the live subfolder inside.
  7. Let Riot Client verify. The client will check your files. If all is well, the Play button will reappear, and everything is ready for launch.

That’s it! No reinstalling, no loss of personal settings or configs. You’re now gaming from your drive of choice, which means more space for other games or, potentially, faster load times if you’ve moved to an SSD.

Why Move Valorant to Another Drive? A Gamer’s Perspective

Why bother moving Valorant in the first place? For many, the answer comes down to storage headaches. Maybe your main drive is almost full, Windows is throwing constant low disk space warnings, or you’re juggling updates between two or three big games. Or maybe you want to take advantage of faster startup and loading by running Valorant from an SSD. In either scenario, moving the game can feel almost as refreshing as a clean desk or a new gaming mouse – that little bit of digital decluttering just hits different.

Using Migration Tools: When Automation Makes Sense

If you’re not the DIY type or just want things to be as foolproof as possible, software like EaseUS Todo PCTrans or AOMEI Partition Assistant can help. These game migration tools automate nearly every step: they find the files for you, move them over, update any registry or path references, and usually offer the option to move multiple applications at once. It’s like hiring a moving crew instead of schlepping boxes yourself.

That said, these tools might lock certain features behind paywalls, or require you to create an account. And for a single game like Valorant, manual moving is often just as quick. But if you’re thinking of moving your entire gaming library, a migration tool is well worth a look.

Choosing a New Install Location During Setup

If you haven’t installed Valorant yet and want full control – or you’re planning a fresh start – simply choose “Advanced Options” during the Valorant installer. Here, you can browse to your preferred drive and folder before hitting install. There’s no need to move files later if you plan ahead, and every new patch or update will download directly to your chosen drive.

Troubleshooting: When Things Don’t Go to Plan

Tech doesn’t always cooperate, does it? If something feels off post-move, here are a few likely bumps and how to smooth them out:

  • Stuck on “Install” or missing “Play” button? Double-check you selected the right live folder inside VALORANT when pointing the Riot Client to your new location.
  • Files re-downloading unexpectedly? You might have picked the wrong directory or interrupted the transfer. Cancel, recheck your folder structure, and try the process again.
  • Settings/reset issues? Almost all Valorant player data is stored server-side, but custom config files (rare for most) can be manually backed up before moving, just in case.
  • Shortcuts broken? Desktop or Start Menu shortcuts may still point to the old path. Delete the old shortcut and pin Valorant freshly from the Riot Client on your new drive.

Boosting Performance: Does Drive Choice Matter?

If you’re moving Valorant onto an SSD, you’ll likely notice snappier launch times, faster match loading, and potentially smoother map streaming, especially during the first seconds of a round. On the flip side, don’t expect mind-blowing FPS jumps – Valorant’s engine is pretty lightweight, but reducing storage bottlenecks is always a win. Moving the game from an SSD to an HDD might help clear high-speed space for even bigger downloads, but it’s generally best to keep your highest-traffic games on the fastest storage available.

Keeping It Clean: What Else to Remember

While Valorant’s move is usually painless, it pays to keep your system neat. Transfer the entire VALORANT folder, not just bits and pieces. Updates only get bigger as time goes on, so make sure your target drive has ample space left over for future patches. If you run into persistent errors, a full uninstall and reinstall to your preferred drive will solve almost anything—just make sure to link your Riot account so all your in-game progress and friend lists sync up automatically.

Want More In-Depth Guides?

If you learn better by seeing each step play out, you might enjoy full visual walkthroughs from other players. For example, check out this video tutorial:

For written guides and detailed screenshots, consider reviewing:

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving Valorant to Another Drive

Does moving Valorant to another drive affect my game settings or progress?

Not at all! Most of your preferences, keybinds, unlocked cosmetics, and progress are tied to your Riot account and stored online. Moving the local game files doesn’t touch your personal stats. However, if you use custom configuration files, be sure to transfer those as well – but for the vast majority, you won’t notice a thing except the new drive letter.

How much free space do I need on my new drive for Valorant?

Valorant’s install folder can range from about 23GB to 30GB, and it slowly grows with patches. We recommend having at least 35GB free to ensure smooth future updates and room for error. If you’re moving to an SSD with limited capacity, double-check available space before starting the move.

Can I move Valorant without using third-party tools or reinstalling?

Absolutely. The manual method (cut and paste the VALORANT folder, point the Riot Client to the new location) is all you need. Third-party migration software can save time for multiple games but isn’t necessary for a single move.

Will moving Valorant help with lag or FPS?

You probably won’t see a direct FPS increase, but moving from a slow HDD to an SSD can reduce map loading times and eliminate texture pop-in, especially right after launching the game. For steady, high frame rates, your GPU and CPU matter more – but every tech upgrade helps!

What should I do if the Riot Client doesn’t recognize my new installation?

Double-check that you’ve selected the correct live folder inside the VALORANT directory when Riot Client prompts you for a path. If issues persist, consider fully uninstalling Valorant using Control Panel or Settings, then reinstall it directly to your desired location with Advanced Options.

Is it safe to delete the old Valorant folder after the move?

Yes, as long as you’ve confirmed Valorant runs correctly from the new drive. After launching the game and playing a match or two, you can safely delete the leftover files from the old drive to reclaim space. Just don’t remove anything before confirming everything works as expected!