Where Does Vortex Store Mods and Downloads?
Vortex app data, staging and download folders on Windows, and the purge before moving rule.
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Vortex roots everything in %APPDATA%\Vortex: internal state, profiles and metadata, with downloads/ archives and per game staging (skyrimse\mods etc.) underneath by default. Staged mods link into the game Data folder rather than copying.
Both big folders move only inside Vortex UI (Settings, Download and Mods sections). Explorer moves corrupt deploys, and staging must stay on the same drive as the game for hard links to work. Never merge staging and downloads into one folder. Domain users note: that Roaming tree breaks roaming profiles, so exclude it.
Where Vortex stores this, by platform
%APPDATA%\Vortex\
State, profiles, metadata and logs; default downloads/ plus <gameid>\mods staging beneath. Relocate only via Settings (Download folder, Mod Staging Folder); staging must share the game drive. The app data root itself is fixed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I move Vortex mods to another drive?
Purge deploys first, change the staging and download paths in Vortex Settings, deploy again. Explorer moves mid state break links and risk data loss; the UI move is the only supported one.
Can staging and downloads share one folder?
No. Keep them separate or deploys collide with archives. Point each at its own folder on the game drive and leave the app data root where it is.
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