Download Xbox Games to External Hard Drive from PC
If you are an Xbox gamer, you probably have a lot of games that you want to play on your PC. But what if you don't have enough space on your internal drive? Or what if you want to play your games on different devices without having to download them again? In this article, we will show you how to download Xbox games to an external hard drive from PC, and how to transfer games from your internal drive to your external drive. This way, you can enjoy your games without worrying about storage space or portability.
Why You Might Want to Download Xbox Games to an External Drive
There are several reasons why you might want to download Xbox games to an external drive instead of your internal drive. Here are some of them:
download xbox games to external hard drive from pc
Save Space on Your Internal Drive
Xbox games can take up a lot of space on your internal drive, especially if you have a lot of them. For example, Forza Horizon 4 requires about 80 GB of space, while Gears of War 5 requires about 120 GB. If you have a small or full internal drive, you might not be able to fit all your games on it. By downloading your games to an external drive, you can free up some space on your internal drive and avoid performance issues.
Play Games on Multiple Devices
If you have more than one device that you use for gaming, such as a desktop PC and a laptop, you might want to play your games on both of them. However, downloading the same game on different devices can be time-consuming and use up a lot of bandwidth. By downloading your games to an external drive, you can easily plug it into any device that has the Xbox app installed and play your games without having to download them again.
Backup Your Games and Data
If something happens to your internal drive, such as a crash or a virus attack, you might lose all your games and data. This can be very frustrating and costly, especially if you have invested a lot of time and money into your games. By downloading your games to an external drive, you can have a backup of your games and data in case something goes wrong with your internal drive. You can also use your external drive as a recovery option if you need to reinstall Windows or reset your PC.
How to Format Your External Drive as NTFS
Before you can download Xbox games to an external drive from PC, you need to make sure that your drive is formatted as NTFS. NTFS is the file system that Windows uses, and it is compatible with Xbox games. If your drive is formatted as FAT32 or exFAT, you will not be able to install or play Xbox games on it.
To format your external drive as NTFS, follow these steps:
Connect Your Drive to Your PC
Plug in your external drive into a USB port on your PC. You should see a notification that your drive is ready to use. If not, you can check if your drive is detected by opening File Explorer and looking for it under This PC.
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Open Disk Management Tool
Right-click on the Start menu and select Disk Management. This will open a tool that shows you all the disks and partitions on your PC. You should see your external drive as a removable disk with a letter assigned to it, such as E: or F:.
Right-Click on Your Drive and Select Format
Be careful not to format the wrong drive, as this will erase all the data on it. Make sure you select your external drive and not your internal drive or any other drive. Right-click on your external drive and choose Format from the menu. This will open a window that lets you choose the file system and other options for formatting your drive.
Choose NTFS as the File System and Click OK
In the Format window, select NTFS as the file system from the drop-down menu. You can also change the volume label if you want, but this is optional. Leave the other options as they are, unless you know what you are doing. Click OK to start formatting your drive. This might take a few minutes, depending on the size and speed of your drive. Do not disconnect your drive or turn off your PC while the formatting is in progress.
How to Set Your External Drive as the Default Install Location
Once you have formatted your external drive as NTFS, you can set it as the default install location for your Xbox games. This means that whenever you download a game from the Xbox app on your PC, it will automatically be installed on your external drive. To do this, follow these steps:
Open the Xbox App on Your PC
If you don't have the Xbox app on your PC, you can download it from the Microsoft Store for free. You will need to sign in with your Microsoft account that is linked to your Xbox account. If you don't have one, you can create one for free.
Go to Settings and Select General
In the Xbox app, click on the gear icon in the bottom left corner to open the settings menu. Then, click on General from the left sidebar. This will show you some options for customizing your Xbox app experience.
Under Default Storage Device, Choose Your External Drive
Scroll down until you see Default Storage Device under Game Installation Options. Click on the drop-down menu and select your external drive from the list of available drives. You should see a green check mark next to it, indicating that it is now your default install location for Xbox games.
How to Download Xbox Games to Your External Drive from PC
Now that you have set up your external drive as your default install location, you can start downloading Xbox games to it from PC. Here's how:
Browse or Search for the Game You Want to Download
In the Xbox app, you can browse or search for games that are available for PC. You can use the tabs at the top to filter games by category, genre, platform, or popularity. You can also use the search bar in the top right corner to look for a specific game by name or keyword.
Click on Install and Select Your External Drive as the Destination
When you find a game that you want to download, click on it to open its details page. You will see some information about the game, such as its description, rating, screenshots, trailers, and system requirements. You will also see a button that says Install if you own the game or have access to it through Xbox Game Pass or EA Play. Click on this button and choose your external drive as the destination for installing the game. You can also change some other options, such as creating a shortcut on your desktop or pinning the game to your Start menu.
Wait for the Download to Complete and Enjoy Your Game
After you click on Install, you will see a progress bar that shows you how much of the game has been downloaded and how much time is left until it is ready to play. You can also pause or cancel the download at any time by clicking on the three dots next to the progress bar. Once the download is complete, you can launch the game from the Xbox app or from your desktop or Start menu. You can also check the game's status, updates, achievements, and more by clicking on the three dots next to the game's name in the Xbox app. Enjoy your game on your external drive!
How to Transfer Games from Your Internal Drive to Your External Drive
If you already have some Xbox games installed on your internal drive and you want to move them to your external drive, you can do that easily with the Xbox app. This way, you can save space on your internal drive and play your games from your external drive. Here's how:
Open the Xbox App on Your PC
Launch the Xbox app on your PC and sign in with your Microsoft account if you haven't already.
Go to My Library and Select the Game You Want to Transfer
In the Xbox app, click on My Library from the left sidebar. This will show you all the games that you have installed or own on your PC. Find the game that you want to transfer from your internal drive to your external drive and click on it to open its details page.
Click on Manage Installation and Select Move or Copy
On the game's details page, click on the three dots next to the Play button and choose Manage Installation from the menu. This will open a window that shows you where the game is installed and how much space it takes up. You will also see two options: Move and Copy. Click on the one that suits your needs.
Choose Your External Drive as the Target and Confirm
After you click on Move or Copy, you will see a list of available drives that you can transfer your game to. Select your external drive from the list and click on Confirm. This will start the transfer process, which might take some time depending on the size and speed of your drives. Do not disconnect your drives or turn off your PC while the transfer is in progress.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download Xbox games to an external hard drive from PC, and how to transfer games from your internal drive to your external drive. By doing this, you can save space on your internal drive, play games on multiple devices, backup your games and data, and enjoy your games without any hassle. We hope you found this article helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about downloading Xbox games to an external hard drive from PC:
Q: What kind of external hard drive do I need for Xbox games?
A: You need an external hard drive that has enough space for your games, is formatted as NTFS, and has a USB 3.0 or higher connection. You can use any brand or model of external hard drive that meets these requirements.
Q: Can I play Xbox games from my external hard drive on my Xbox console?
A: Yes, you can play Xbox games from your external hard drive on your Xbox console, as long as they are compatible with your console's generation. For example, you can play Xbox One games from your external hard drive on your Xbox One console, but not on your Xbox 360 console. You can also play some Xbox 360 and original Xbox games from your external hard drive on your Xbox One console, if they are backward compatible.
Q: Can I use my external hard drive for other purposes besides Xbox games?
A: Yes, you can use your external hard drive for other purposes besides Xbox games, such as storing files, photos, videos, music, etc. However, keep in mind that if you format your drive as NTFS, it might not be compatible with some other devices or operating systems that use different file systems.
Q: How can I delete or uninstall Xbox games from my external hard drive?
A: You can delete or uninstall Xbox games from your external hard drive by following the same steps as transferring them, but choosing Uninstall instead of Move or Copy. Alternatively, you can right-click on the game's icon in File Explorer and choose Delete.
Q: How can I update or repair Xbox games on my external hard drive?
A: You can update or repair Xbox games on your external hard drive by opening the Xbox app on your PC and going to My Library. Then, click on the game that you want to update or repair and choose Manage Installation. Then, click on Update or Repair from the menu and follow the instructions.
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