diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/NonVisual/CustomDataDirectoryTest.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/NonVisual/CustomDataDirectoryTest.cs
index 834930a05e..b5ab33b9fc 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/NonVisual/CustomDataDirectoryTest.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/NonVisual/CustomDataDirectoryTest.cs
@@ -233,6 +233,48 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.NonVisual
             }
         }
 
+        [Test]
+        public void TestMigrationFailsOnExistingData()
+        {
+            string customPath = prepareCustomPath();
+            string customPath2 = prepareCustomPath();
+
+            using (var host = new CustomTestHeadlessGameHost())
+            {
+                try
+                {
+                    var osu = LoadOsuIntoHost(host);
+
+                    var storage = osu.Dependencies.Get<Storage>();
+                    var osuStorage = storage as OsuStorage;
+
+                    string originalDirectory = storage.GetFullPath(".");
+
+                    const string database_filename = "client.realm";
+
+                    Assert.DoesNotThrow(() => osu.Migrate(customPath));
+                    Assert.That(File.Exists(Path.Combine(customPath, database_filename)));
+
+                    Directory.CreateDirectory(customPath2);
+                    File.Copy(Path.Combine(customPath, database_filename), Path.Combine(customPath2, database_filename));
+
+                    // Fails because file already exists.
+                    Assert.Throws<ArgumentException>(() => osu.Migrate(customPath2));
+
+                    osuStorage?.ChangeDataPath(customPath2);
+
+                    Assert.That(osuStorage?.CustomStoragePath, Is.EqualTo(customPath2));
+                    Assert.That(new StreamReader(Path.Combine(originalDirectory, "storage.ini")).ReadToEnd().Contains($"FullPath = {customPath2}"));
+                }
+                finally
+                {
+                    host.Exit();
+                    cleanupPath(customPath);
+                    cleanupPath(customPath2);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         [Test]
         public void TestMigrationToNestedTargetFails()
         {
diff --git a/osu.Game/IO/OsuStorage.cs b/osu.Game/IO/OsuStorage.cs
index 6e7cb545e3..a3f7b4bfec 100644
--- a/osu.Game/IO/OsuStorage.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/IO/OsuStorage.cs
@@ -64,12 +64,22 @@ namespace osu.Game.IO
         /// </summary>
         public void ResetCustomStoragePath()
         {
-            storageConfig.SetValue(StorageConfig.FullPath, string.Empty);
-            storageConfig.Save();
+            ChangeDataPath(string.Empty);
 
             ChangeTargetStorage(defaultStorage);
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Updates the target data path without immediately switching.
+        /// This does NOT migrate any data.
+        /// The game should immediately be restarted after calling this.
+        /// </summary>
+        public void ChangeDataPath(string newPath)
+        {
+            storageConfig.SetValue(StorageConfig.FullPath, newPath);
+            storageConfig.Save();
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Attempts to change to the user's custom storage path.
         /// </summary>
@@ -117,8 +127,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.IO
         {
             bool cleanupSucceeded = base.Migrate(newStorage);
 
-            storageConfig.SetValue(StorageConfig.FullPath, newStorage.GetFullPath("."));
-            storageConfig.Save();
+            ChangeDataPath(newStorage.GetFullPath("."));
 
             return cleanupSucceeded;
         }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Settings/Sections/Maintenance/MigrationSelectScreen.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Settings/Sections/Maintenance/MigrationSelectScreen.cs
index 1a60ab0638..047587e084 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Settings/Sections/Maintenance/MigrationSelectScreen.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Settings/Sections/Maintenance/MigrationSelectScreen.cs
@@ -3,11 +3,14 @@
 
 using System;
 using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
 using osu.Framework.Allocation;
 using osu.Framework.Localisation;
 using osu.Framework.Logging;
 using osu.Framework.Platform;
 using osu.Framework.Screens;
+using osu.Game.IO;
+using osu.Game.Overlays.Dialog;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Settings.Sections.Maintenance
 {
@@ -16,6 +19,12 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Settings.Sections.Maintenance
         [Resolved]
         private Storage storage { get; set; }
 
+        [Resolved]
+        private OsuGameBase game { get; set; }
+
+        [Resolved(canBeNull: true)]
+        private DialogOverlay dialogOverlay { get; set; }
+
         protected override DirectoryInfo InitialPath => new DirectoryInfo(storage.GetFullPath(string.Empty)).Parent;
 
         public override bool AllowExternalScreenChange => false;
@@ -32,8 +41,29 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Settings.Sections.Maintenance
 
             try
             {
-                if (target.GetDirectories().Length > 0 || target.GetFiles().Length > 0)
+                var directoryInfos = target.GetDirectories();
+                var fileInfos = target.GetFiles();
+
+                if (directoryInfos.Length > 0 || fileInfos.Length > 0)
+                {
+                    // Quick test for whether there's already an osu! install at the target path.
+                    if (fileInfos.Any(f => f.Name == @"client.realm"))
+                    {
+                        dialogOverlay.Push(new ConfirmDialog("The target directory already seems to have an osu! install. Use that data instead?", () =>
+                            {
+                                dialogOverlay.Push(new ConfirmDialog("To complete this operation, osu! will close. Please open it again to use the new data location.", () =>
+                                {
+                                    (storage as OsuStorage)?.ChangeDataPath(target.FullName);
+                                    game.GracefullyExit();
+                                }, () => { }));
+                            },
+                            () => { }));
+
+                        return;
+                    }
+
                     target = target.CreateSubdirectory("osu-lazer");
+                }
             }
             catch (Exception e)
             {