Change "My Games" Installation Folder
I feel like having the option to change where I want to install the games from my Twitch Library is very essential. Instead of only be given the option of drives in my computer, have the option to set a specific folder is needed!
Ivan Reyes
shared this idea
44 comments
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abigaiaTV
commented
As @reynardmuldrake previously shared, you can create a symbolic link to fix this issue in the meantime. It can be used for Minecraft Modpack installations as well. Since Twitch wants to FORCE us to install Minecraft to C:\Users\Twitch, I wrote a new script.
The commands below must be run in an elevated command prompt. You should replace *username* with your own folder name, and make sure you replace any other folder names/drive letters with your own.
mkdir "C:\Users\*username*\Twitch\Minecraft"
rmdir "C:\Users\*username*\Twitch\Minecraft"
mkdir "G:\Games\Twitch\Minecraft"
mklink /D "C:\Users\*username*\Twitch\Minecraft" "G:\Games\Twitch\Minecraft"You can copy and paste those 4 lines and hit enter to run the entire script automatically. "mkdir" will "make a directory" - if it gives you an error, it's likely the directory already exists, so the error can be ignored, and the script should still work.
Hope this will be helpful to other Minecraft users out there, such as @CloudMixer.
Shoutout to @reynardmuldrake again for writing the original comment. @shellbbyy, I recommend trying that method! @JC I can confirm it works. -
reynardmuldrake
commented
I wrote a script to create a symbolic link to fix this incredibly stupid problem. I do not want the client installed to the same drive where I keep my games or use the default folder that Twitch requires. With the link I can redirect it to whatever folder I want. Run the following from an elevated command prompt. The destination folder I used can be changed to whatever is needed.
rmdir "C:\Program Files (x86)\Twitch\Games Library"
mkdir "J:\Games\Twitch"
mklink /D "C:\Program Files (x86)\Twitch\Games Library" "J:\Games\Twitch" -
Sn3akr
commented
So.. This issue is still here after years of people complainging... game folders can grow quite large, and quick..
How come in 2020 is this still an issue.. That's ******** lazy, and a big fat FU to your users!Guess i'll look for an alternative then! I don't want my main drive flooded.. I want my games on my game drive to not put unnecessary stress son my main drive.
Just make it an option, and at least let your users choose
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erehwon_enoon
commented
@shellbbyy I don't mean to state the obvious (though I will in a bit) or to aggravate you, but do you have the option to display hidden folders enabled in Windows Explorer? Developers will at times set files/folders associated with essential links and paths to 'hidden,' in case a less tech-savvy user happens upon these files; it leads to less unintended, unfortunate events.
I performed the same procedure @johnian80 described about a year ago, and it worked perfectly with the Twitch app. Exit the Twitch app, perform changes and reopen the app for the changes to take effect.
Also, Twitch Prime games are now available via the Amazon Games desktop app. Prime allows you to choose your installation drive, but it doesn't let you choose any path other than to the root of the drive, so I am trying to replicate this process with the AG client. Sadly, I thinked they patched the existing method. I can't find any .sql files for AG in ProgramData or AppData.
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shellbbyy
commented
@johnian80 I tried to follow your steps, but my sql folder is empty, and I don't understand why
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slysnake_
commented
I refuse to install any of my games i have because having to choose a drive for each individual game is tedious and time consuming not to mention the inability to disable the annoying UAC prompt for every game too.
I like to install all my games at once to one drive location that i have set as the game installation drive and let them download overnight while i sleep.
I don't want to have to click the same drive a hundred times and then accept a UAC popup every single game that gets downloaded and it doesn't even do all the UAC popups at once too, it forces you to wait till the first game is done before it will popup another UAC prompt and if you are busy or away from the PC it will just cancel everything if you don't accept the UAC popup in time.
OPTIMISE THIS!!!! -
CloudMixer
commented
So let me get this straight. I set Twitch to install on my second SSD, works fine. I tell minecraft/modpacks to install on my second SSD, and it installs to my main drives user folder?.... wtf. This isn't even an illusion of choice... its just dumb.
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PfluorescentZebra
commented
The fact that you *can* tell the app to install on a different drive but it still puts all your saves on the main drive is nearly an insult. Ease of use is great for those who need it but at least acknowledge that some of us do actually know what we're doing and provide options that literally everyone else does.
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Amo387
commented
This seriously is a huge item being neglected by Twitch here. People expect this from installers. I (unfortunately) have a half dozen of the darn things now, and Twitch is the only one I can't choose whatever folder I want. And not being able to migrate the files for a game from one location to another is frustrating too.
Edit: It's great that someone apparently found a workaround, but having to install database management/editing software and learn how to do everything that comes with it and risk borking your system is asinine when it could be so easily implemented by Twitch. -
Pwog3
commented
Agreed. It's a feature which exists in softwares since years !! Do you guys realise we can't even see our installed games in the client?
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DigitalNikki
commented
Twitch can give me all the "free" games they want, but until we have basic features like this I will never play them. I'll buy the game somewhere else before I get it free from Twitch. If they start the exclusive ****, then I just won't play it.
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johnian80
commented
There is a way, I found that the data is stored in a sqlite database in
C:\ProgramData\Twitch\Games\Sql\GameInstallInfo.sqliteMAKE A COPY OF THE DATABASE FILE ABOVE IN CASE ANYTHING GOES WRONG
Close twitchDownload DB browser from https://sqlitebrowser.org/
Use it to open the database file aboveClick on tab Browse Data and select the table DbSet, now you can see all the games and where they are installed, last column is the game name
Go to tab execute sql and execute the following
In this case I simply want to move the games from my D to E driveSo D:\Twitch\Games... will become E:\Twitch\Games...
Modify the 'D:\', 'E:\' to suit your needs, the command will modify all the rows
Command:
update DbSet
set InstallDirectory = replace(InstallDirectory, 'D:\', 'E:\')When you are satisfied with the results, click on Write Changes below the menu to save to the database file
Copy the game folders from the old location to the new location
Open twitch -
Yijare
commented
I find it funny how you can't say where this thing has to install itself. You want a 'fast' experiance for most of the user, I get that, but if someone wants to actually control where what goes you simply can't provide an option we already had back in the 1990ies? Seriously, who ever programmed this mess of a bloatware isn't aware of good coding practices. Sadly FTB was bought by Curse wich in turn was purchased by twitch.
Just because it is 'easy' it doesn't menas it is 'right'
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supercoolsonicguy
commented
Even after moving my games to the directory, Twitch App fails to recognize them. Truly an atrocious product and corporation.
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Splor
commented
Being someone who uses the "saved games" folder on my second drive, this is ridiculous. steam, epic, and gog all seem to play nice, but twitch doesn't trust you to navigate a directory?
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Coop
commented
Installed on my Mac and only have a few games, everything is nice and neat. But does twitch recognize them? Nope, I even went to locate the games, located them and then twitch said it's the wrong location... The Hell?! I'm just trying to enjoy my gaming experience here, and this sucks right now.
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Jesh
commented
When you click 'install' on your game you can pick what drive you install to. You can't set it to automatically install to a drive by default, but you can choose what drive you want it on.
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CG
commented
How has this not been implemented, I'll hold off on installing my twitch games, probably forever...
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Benjamin Petry
commented
Due to one of my harddrives dying i had to reassemble my driveletters and twitch wont recognized my installed games at all no matter where i put them. Even reversing the files to the exact same location they were installed on before doesnt make twitch find the games and it keeps telling you to install the games again. Twitch App needs a way to find installed games! At least those installed in its own folder? This is just horrible! Twitch makes me download 50 games AGAIN even though theyre already there (and even run if i use the internal exe).
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JC
commented
Anyone know if this can be addressed via windows symlink e.g.:
mklink /D "c:\Program Files (x86)\Twitch\Games Library" x:\Twitch\Games
I'm going to have to try... this seems like such a crazy oversight