Where Are Steam Games Stored on SteamOS/Windows/macOS?

Steam is a widely-used gaming platform, attracting numerous gamers to download and install their favorite games from it. Apart from downloading game files, users can also engage with other players through the Steam Community. The platform is compatible with Windows PCs, Mac computers, and the Steam Deck. There might be instances when users need to locate their Steam game files for purposes such as recovering lost game data, managing game corruption, or backing up game files. So, where are Steam games stored? In this article, we will guide you to find the game locations on Windows, macOS, and SteamOS systems.

Where Are Steam Games Stored on Windows? Steam games are typically stored in a specific folder on your Windows computer, which is part of the Steam library. Here's how you can locate where Steam games are saved: 1. **Open Steam**: First, launch the Steam client by clicking on its icon from your desktop, taskbar, or Start menu. 2. **Go to "Library"**: Once Steam is open, click on the "Library" tab in the top-left corner of the window. 3. **Right-click on a Game**: In the left panel, find the game you want to locate, right-click on it, and select "Manage" from the context menu. Then choose "Browse local files" or "Show in Explorer" (this option may vary depending on the language settings). 4. **Explore the Game's Installation Folder**: A File Explorer window will open, showing you the installation folder for that particular game. This is where the game files are stored. The default Steam game installation directory is usually: ```shell C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common ``` However, Steam may have been installed in a different location if you chose a custom installation path. If that's the case, you'll need to navigate to the Steam installation folder first, then follow the `\steamapps\common` path within it. Keep in mind that some games may store additional files, like saves and configurations, in your Steam user data folder. To access this folder, follow these steps: 1. Click on your username in the top-right corner of the Steam client. 2. Select "View" > "Preferences." 3. In the Preferences window, go to the "Interface" tab. 4. At the bottom, there's a field labeled "Steam Cloud Sync for Saved Games." Next to it, click on "Show Steam Cloud sync settings for..." 5. A new window will pop up, displaying the Steam Cloud folder path. Your user data, including save files, might be stored here. Please note that the paths mentioned above are for a standard Windows installation. If you've customized your Steam installation or are using a different version of Windows, the paths might differ slightly.

Most gamers utilize Steam on a Windows PC since Macs are typically perceived as more suitable for office use. Some users might alter the default game save location to prevent storing game files on their C drive. For those who have changed the standard save location, they might encounter difficulty finding the files in the default Steam game folder.

How to Find the Default Save Location for Steam Games

This tutorial can assist you in discovering the default location where Steam games are stored on a Windows PC:

Step 1. Open the File Explorer on Windows 11/10.

Step 2. Steam games are typically stored in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common directory. You can either type this path into your file explorer or copy and paste it to open the "Common" folder on your PC.

Step 3. You'll see a folder named after a specific game. You can back up the entire game folder to an external hard drive.

How to Change the Default Game Installation Location on Steam

Upon discovering the default location for Steam game saves, you might prefer not to store game files on the C drive. How can you alter Steam's default game installation folder or recover Steam save files? Continue reading the straightforward steps below to find out:

Step 1. Launch Steam on your PC by opening it.

Step 2. Open the Steam Downloads settings and look at the "STEAM LIBRARY FOLDERS" section.

Step 3. Next, the Storage Manager window will open. Click on the "+" button and select "Let me choose another location" to add a new game location.

Step 4. Select a location when the new window appears.

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How to Recover Deleted Steam Game Files

Occasionally, you might encounter issues where game files are missing from your computer, or they might have been accidentally deleted. Firstly, it's advisable to check the Recycle Bin on Windows 10, as the game files might still reside there. If you don't have Steam backups and need to recover those game files, you can give a try to a tool like Data Recovery Wizard.

Why is this recovery software helpful? Read the following tips to find out more:

• Recover deleted game files on PC. Although you can reinstall deleted games, the saved progress will be lost. Hence, a game recovery program is necessary.
• Recover deleted photos and videos on PC. In case you accidentally delete game recordings or screenshots, this convenient tool can help you retrieve them easily.
• Support for external hard drive data recovery. If you lose crucial game backups on an external hard drive, you can still recover the data with the aid of this recovery tool.

Refer to the following tutorial to recover lost Steam game files using the tool Data Recovery Wizard:

Step 1. Select the exact file location and then click the "Scan" button to proceed.

Step 2. Following the process, choose the "Deleted Files" and "Other Lost Files" folders from the left panel. You can then utilize the "Filter" feature or click on the "Search files or folders" button to locate the erased files.

Step 3. Click the "Recover" button and save the recovered files to a different location than the original one理想情况下.

Where Are Steam Games Stored on Mac? Steam games on a Mac are typically stored in the following location: 1. Open Finder. 2. Click on the "Go" menu in the top bar. 3. Hold down the "Option" key, and an additional menu item called "Library" will appear. Click on it. 4. Navigate to the "Application Support" folder. 5. Inside the "Application Support" folder, find and open the "Steam" folder. 6. Within the "Steam" folder, you'll see a folder named "SteamLibrary". This is where your downloaded Steam games are stored. 7. Inside the "SteamLibrary" folder, you'll find individual folders for each game, which contain the game's files. If you have multiple Steam library locations, you might also have additional "SteamLibrary" folders in other places on your Mac. To manage these locations, go to Steam > Preferences > Library Folders in the Steam app.

Now that you know where Steam games are stored on a Windows PC, it's time to locate Steam games on a Mac computer. Whether you're using an iMac or a MacBook, the process should be similar, as Mac computers run on the same operating system, the macOS.

Step 1. Open the Mac Finder and select "Go" > "Go to Folder..." from the top menu bar.

Step 2. The Steam games are stored in ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/SteamApps. Type this path to navigate to the game folder.

Here's an additional reading regarding Steam's unexpected quitting issues:

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Steam Quit Unexpectedly on Mac? 6 Solutions

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Where Are Steam Games Stored on Steam Deck? Steam games on the Steam Deck are stored in the device's internal storage by default. The Steam Deck has a solid-state drive (SSD) that acts as the primary storage for your games and the operating system. When you download and install games from the Steam Library, they will be saved in the following location: ``` /home/deck/.steam/steam/steamapps/ ``` This folder contains subfolders for each game, with names corresponding to their unique Steam app IDs. Keep in mind that the available storage space may vary depending on the model of your Steam Deck, as different models come with different SSD capacities. If you need more storage, you can expand it by using external USB storage devices, such as a USB flash drive or an external SSD. When you connect an external storage device, you can choose to move games to it from the Steam Library settings. To access and manage your games' storage locations, follow these steps: 1. Launch the Steam client on your Steam Deck. 2. Navigate to your Steam Library. 3. Right-click on the game you want to move and select "Manage" from the context menu. 4. Choose "Move Install Folder." 5. Select the external storage device as the new location. Remember that moving games to an external storage device may affect performance, as the Steam Deck's internal SSD is likely to be faster than an external USB drive.

Steam Deck is a new video game console released in 2022. It enables users to enjoy Steam games without requiring a desktop computer. For those who need to copy games to their local PC, you might be wondering where games are stored on the Steam Deck. To locate the Steam game folder, follow this tutorial:

Step 1. Enter the Desktop Mode on your Steam Deck.

Step 2. Navigate to the Steam game folder using this path: /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/.

Upon completing all the tutorials, will you be able to locate Steam games on your Windows PC, Mac computer, and Steam Deck? Don't forget to share this article with more friends!

Conclusion

We've provided the specific folder locations to assist you in locating where Steam games are stored on Windows, macOS, and SteamOS. If you're unable to find your Steam games on Windows or macOS, you can opt to redownload them or recover game files using a tool like Data Recovery Wizard. This data recovery software is available for both Windows and Mac, and you can click the following button to download a trial version.

"Where Are Steam Games Stored" FAQs

Upon mastering how to locate Steam games across various devices, you might have some queries. Browse through the following FAQ to address your concerns:

1. How to recover missing downloaded files on Steam?

You have several options to restore missing downloaded files on Steam: 1. Verify Game Files: Right-click the game in your Steam Library, select "Properties," then go to the "Local Files" tab. Click on "Verify Integrity of Game Files." Steam will scan and repair any missing or corrupted files. 2. Reinstall the Game: If verifying the game files doesn't work, you can uninstall the game and then reinstall it from your Steam Library. This will ensure that all necessary files are downloaded again. 3. Check Download Cache: Make sure Steam's download cache is not disabled. Go to Steam > Settings > Downloads > Clear Download Cache. Restart Steam and try downloading the game again. 4. Update Steam Client: Ensure that your Steam client is up to date. Go to "Steam" in the top menu (Windows) or "Steam" in the dock (Mac), then click "Check for Steam Client Updates." 5. Check for Hidden Files: Sometimes, files might be hidden. Press "Win + R" on Windows, type "control panel" and hit Enter. Go to "Appearance and Personalization," then "Show hidden files, folders, and drives." If you're on Mac, open "Finder," then "Preferences," and check the "Show all file extensions" option. 6. Temporarily Disable Antivirus/Firewall: Your antivirus or firewall might be blocking the download. Temporarily disable them and try redownloading the game. Don't forget to re-enable them after. 7. Contact Steam Support: If none of these solutions work, reach out to Steam Support for further assistance. They may have more specialized troubleshooting steps or can investigate any potential issues with their servers. Remember to back up any important save files before attempting these steps, as some methods may involve uninstalling or reinstalling the game.

• 1. Restore lost games from Steam Library
• 2. Add installation Libraries/folders
• 3. Rename the ClientRegistry.blob file
• 4. Restore missing Steam game files
• 5. Remove local content and reinstall

2. What is the Steam game installation folder on a Windows PC?

Steam games are typically stored in the following directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common. To access the 'Common' folder on your PC, you can copy this path and paste it into the File Explorer address bar.

3. How to add a new Steam Library on Windows? To add a new Steam Library on Windows, follow these steps: 1. **Create a New Folder**: First, create a new folder where you want to store your additional Steam games. It's recommended to choose a location with ample storage space, such as an external hard drive or a separate partition. Name the folder something like "Steam Games" or any preferred name. 2. **Launch Steam**: Open the Steam client on your computer. 3. **Access Settings**: Click on the Steam menu in the top-left corner of the client window, then select "Settings" from the drop-down menu. 4. **Select Downloads Tab**: In the Settings window, click on the "Downloads" tab on the left-hand side. 5. **Add Library Folders**: Under the "Library Folders" section, you'll see a list of existing library folders. To add a new one, click the "+" button at the bottom. 6. **Browse for the Folder**: A file explorer window will open. Navigate to the folder you created in step 1 and select it. Click "OK" to confirm your choice. 7. **Verify the Addition**: The new library folder should now appear in the "Library Folders" list. Steam will scan the folder for any existing games and include it in your library. 8. **Start Downloading Games**: To download games to this new library, right-click on the game in your Steam library, select "Manage," and then choose "Install/Download." In the following window, select the new library location. That's it! You've successfully added a new Steam Library on Windows. Your future downloads and installs can now be directed to this new location.

You can add a new Steam Library by following these steps in Steam settings. First, open the Steam Download settings. Then, click on the "STEAM LIBRARY FOLDERS" section. Next, hit the "+" button and select "Let me choose another location" to designate a new spot for your games.

4. Does Steam store your games? Yes, Steam stores your games digitally on its platform. When you purchase a game on Steam, it gets added to your Steam library. The games are not physically stored on your device like traditional CD or DVD copies; instead, they are downloaded from Steam's servers onto your computer. Once downloaded, you can access and play them anytime as long as you have an internet connection to log in to your Steam account. Additionally, Steam offers cloud saves, which allow you to save game progress and sync it across different devices.

Yes, Steam saves your games in your Steam library and also on the cloud. When you buy a game on Steam, it gets added to your library, allowing you to download and install it on any of your devices an unlimited number of times.