How can I change download/install directory?

iFire · March 22, 2014, 2:48am

As use a ssd, I wish to switch download directory to another drive because of low disk space. I don’t how to do that.

I’ve installed it to my L: drive, but it still requires space on C: to store downloaded store content. This causes unpacking problems on my main drive.

iFire · March 22, 2014, 12:19pm

Not exactly, his was about installing. Mine was about opening store content.

anonymous_user_33800a51 · March 27, 2014, 12:47am

Hey iFire,

It sounds like you’re having trouble with location of downloaded store content. Currently, Launcher automatically looks for everything in default location on your C: drive. We’re working on an update to let you choose location for that. There is some more information here that might help you get around that:

Hope that helps!

Stephen_Ellis · July 10, 2014, 2:21pm

This post was bumped (and then bump removed by poster) so I will go ahead and update this.

EDIT: With recent launcher updates, content sample projects are now automatically downloaded to Vault in your engine install location. You can then make a copy of project at any location you choose.

Cheers

C-Arch · February 9, 2015, 4:25pm

Hi, has there been any progress regarding this?
I do not have required 18gb free space on my C drive and would like to install to a new drive. However it gives me no option to select my install directory.

Something i feel is lacking considering usage of small SSD for OS.

Please note. Not for downloads of sample content but for where to install Engine.
I had to delete all my builds but now when i try to install it requires `18gb. I do not have 18gb.

And there is nothing i can further remove from my drive

anonymous_user_33800a51 · February 11, 2015, 10:38pm

Hi Crocopede,

If you uninstall from your SSD, you can download installer to your secondary drive and install there. This should put everything, including Vault and all Engine content, on other drive. Is that not working for you?

ngrts_1 · February 13, 2015, 1:07am

Use "MKLINK /D link target"command to link a directory to another location. In a command prompt opened as administrator. This is native to Windows stuff.

Use it for almost anything.

Two changes i made: launcher seems to duplicate and patch a copy of engine (4.7 preview is sitting at 20GB for me) before replacing it. And VaultCache (store content) is just fine on my HDD instead of my small C-drive/SSD.

    cd \Program Files\Epic Games\Launcher
    (First move PatchStaging and VaultCache to other drive, root of E:\ for me with Windows Explorer)
    mklink /d PatchStaging E:\PatchStaging
    mklink /d VaultCache E:\VaultCache
    
     Directory of C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Launcher
    
02/02/2015  07:24 PM    <DIR>          Backup
12/11/2014  01:19 AM    <DIR>          Engine
02/12/2015  07:28 PM    <SYMLINKD>     PatchStaging [E:\PatchStaging]
01/07/2015  02:31 AM    <SYMLINKD>     VaultCache [E:\VaultCache]

Make sure the /d is there and it says SYMLINKD.

This works fine with 4.6, 4.7 engine folders. This works fine with Unreal Projects folder in your Documents folder.

edit: updated Launcher Troubleshooting guide: Tips and Tricks

C-Arch · February 13, 2015, 4:24pm

Hi.

Apologies for misunderstanding. I was hoping there was a way to keep installer on my C:\ and only have engine on d:\

However i read on forums that its essential they reside next to each other. I am in process of contemplating uninstalling and re-installing.

Thanks for feedback. Have a great weekend.

ngrts_1 · February 13, 2015, 11:33pm

Yes there might be issues with relative pathing (….... stuff).

symlinks should make this transparent. As far as UE4 is concerned, its for Epic Games\4.6 and its getting 4.6 (Not E:\4.6 as in example).

Also last option, windows does let you mount an entire hard drive partition onto a directory. Just un-assign drive letter of that partition and mount it on directory. Inside Disk Management. (same right click absolute lower left on Win 8.1)

simonschreibt · December 3, 2015, 9:36am

For me mklink didn’t work as well as no other workaround I found in Internet.

I had 4.9 and 4.10 installed on C:\program files\epic games\ and just cut the “epic games”-folder and pasted it to D:\program files.…

Verifying didn’t work BUT this could be solved by starting launcher with Admin-Rights.
With Admin-Rights repairing/verifiying works BUT launcher would create new folders on C:\ all time and I didn’t find any manifest-files/Ini-files to change target-directory
SOLUTION: was to uninstall 4.9 and 4.10 via Launcher.
3.1 I just clicked “uninstall”. This DIDN’T deleted my 4.9 or 4.10 folders in D:\program files\epic games\ - they’re still there which is awesome.
3.2 I just restarted launcher and now it noticed folders on D:\ and started verifying BUT failed!
3.3 I had to start Launcher again with Admin-Rights and then verifiying worked!

Shabang1200 · January 10, 2016, 10:10am

I found this open source app which changes default installation folder of windows installers
maybe it helps

anonymous_user_f8b6627b1 · May 8, 2016, 3:22am

That is how I originally had my 4.6 install. Then somewhere along line I either reinstalled launcher or something and it put my new stuff in Program Files directory. Which for a developer is a really bad place to put things. It seems launcher is really designed for end users of games and not developers. Anyway, I find almost all of my SSD space is gone because of this and was wondering what heck happened. So I am copying everything over hoping launcher will get it right though it will be run from a different directory. I really DONT EVER want to try developing from a program files directory. Just dealing with permissions would be horrible.

anonymous_user_f8b6627b1 · May 8, 2016, 3:55am

I have tried this. Now it will not recognize my 4.6, 4.9, or 4.10 installs. I made sure launcher is installed to my E: drive, but I had to move it because installer forces to C: drive. This is very bad that you cannot choose install directory. I cannot get launcher to even see installed files now. When it went to repair it was downloading to Program Files again even though launcher is running from E: drive now.

anonymous_user_f8b6627b1 · May 8, 2016, 4:43am

Correction, I had to completely uninstall first. Then installer would give me option to change directory. If there is an existing launcher installed it will not let you choose. Now it is recognizing my existing projects.

anonymous_user_1d1b169f1 · May 10, 2016, 4:18pm

this is not a solution, this didnt work at all

PsychoTaker · December 6, 2016, 11:30am

OK GUYS EVERYBODY LOOK HERE

Install Epic Games Launcher in wanted drive (D: if your C: is full) (I think it isn’t necessary)

Open Epic Games Launcher click on gear icon at upper right corner left from minimize THAN
in pop up window CLICK ON Edit Vault Cache Location AND ALMOST DONE in next pop up window
JUST CLICK Reset and Apply or (change C: to wanted drive in this case D:) AND that’s it.

PsychoTaker · December 6, 2016, 11:31am

OK GUYS EVERYBODY LOOK HERE

Install Epic Games Launcher in wanted drive (D: if your C: is full) (I think it isn’t necessary)

Open Epic Games Launcher click on gear icon at upper right corner left from minimize THAN
in pop up window CLICK ON Edit Vault Cache Location AND ALMOST DONE in next pop up window
JUST CLICK Reset and Apply or (change C: to wanted drive in this case D:) AND that’s it.