Valve has rolled out an update to its Steam client that allows you to copy game installations between PCs on your local network (or Steam Deck (open in new tab)).

It is already fairly easy to move game files between two PCs under one roof, but to do so, you will either need an SSD or HDD large enough to hold the entire game installation directory, or alternatively, use Windows' LAN setup to transfer files would need to be transferred. The first option isn't so bad for compact indie games, but with Call of Duty and flight sims (any storage-hungry game (open in new tab)), you start sweating a storage medium large enough. [Valve has made this process easier with the latest Steam client update, moving features that were previously beta access (open in new tab) to public builds. This allows you to select a game on one PC and transfer it to another PC without having to re-download it, using the power of your local network. Of course, with the limitation of local transfer, you will need to copy the files to an external drive if you want to give them to a friend, but it should be very convenient for certain tasks.

That is, moving games to the Steam deck. This is something I've been wanting to find an easy way to do for a while now, and currently requires a bit more fiddling with Deck's desktop mode. Right now, all I have to do is launch the two Steam clients, make sure a few settings are enabled, and I can transfer as much as I want from my PC to Deck.

No more using your 4G internet connection to the limit to re-download the same file.

When you request Steam to download a game, a check is made to see if the game files are already installed on the local network of the device running Steam. If found, Steam will initiate a file transfer process to move the files to the device instead of initiating a download from Steam's online servers.

Steam's new local connection settings include several important settings that determine Steam's permissions to access other clients and users. By default, Steam will only initiate file transfers from another PC or Steam Deck where your account is logged in.

To allow the Steam client to detect other clients with games installed, make sure that both are set to online, that you allow transfers using the settings above, that no running games or downloads are occurring when the check is made that the game must not be preloaded (it must be a public build), that it is up-to-date, and that the client sending the file is a desktop PC.

This last rule means that Steam Deck can receive game files from a desktop PC, but cannot transfer the installed game files to another PC or Deck.

As Steam's FAQ page (opens in new tab) details, basically only game installations are transferred. Saves, mods, etc. will not be transferred. If you need them, you will have to download them again.