How to Uninstall Steam on Windows (Keep/Remove Games)

There are situations when uninstalling Steam from your Windows PC becomes essential. So, how to uninstall Steam without losing games or how to execute a complete removal? Be it to create space for a new operating system, switch to another gaming platform, or simply take a break from digital downloads, this guide from tools provides solutions customized to your requirements.

We will explore two different methods for uninstalling Steam. If you plan to reinstall Steam later while keeping your game library, we will guide you through the safe steps to achieve this. On the other hand, if you are permanently parting ways with Steam and want to eliminate it along with all related data, we have the instructions for that as well.

How to Uninstall Steam Without Losing Your Games

Since Steam games are tied to user accounts, uninstalling the Steam client won't result in losing access to your games. You can simply log back into Steam and re-download your games whenever necessary. If you don't wish to spend time redownloading them, refer to the guide below.

Here, we divide the uninstallation process into three phases:

1. 1. Move the steamapps folder to a secure location
2. 2. Uninstall Steam
3. 3. Reinstall Steam and recover games

1. Move the steamapps folder to a secure location

This step is essential for those encountering issues with Steam and wish to uninstall and reinstall to resolve them. Moving the steamapps folder to a secure location ensures that you have a backup of your Steam games.

Follow the steps:

Step 1. Navigate to your Steam folder (Default location: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam).

Step 2. Locate the steamapps folder and move it to a different location as a backup.

2. Uninstall Steam

Now let's proceed with uninstalling Steam on Windows. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Close Steam and any games to prevent it from running in the background. If the Steam icon is in your taskbar, right-click it and choose "Exit Steam."

Step 2. Press "Windows" + "I" simultaneously to open Settings and go to Apps.

Step 3. In Apps & Features, locate Steam, click on it, and then select "Uninstall."

Step 4. After confirmation, a message will appear saying, "This app and its related information will be uninstalled." Continue by clicking the "Uninstall" button.

3. Reinstall Steam and Restore Games

If you wish to reinstall Steam and restore your games, follow these steps:

Step 1. Go to Steam's About page, and then click the "INSTALL STEAM" button on the main screen.

Step 2. After reinstalling the Steam app, open it, sign in to your Steam account, and then close Steam.

Step 3. Transfer the contents of your backed-up steamapps folder to the corresponding steamapps directory within the newly installed Steam folder.

Step 4. Restart Steam, and the client will automatically detect and recognize the existing game files.

Step 5. If your games display "INSTALL," click the button, and Steam will automatically detect the game files in the steamapps folder. The button will then change to "PLAY" immediately.

If you wish to transfer Steam and its games to another drive, the tool Todo PCTrans can accomplish this efficiently. The subsequent article provides a straightforward guide to using this utility, enabling you to迁移应用程序和数据 without any disruptions.

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How to Transfer Steam Games to Another Drive in 2024

On this page, we'll guide you through 3 practical methods to relocate a single or multiple Steam games to a different drive, be it HDD, SSD, or a fusion drive. Read more >>

How to Completely Uninstall Steam from Your PC

If you no longer require Steam or any of your installed games, you can completely eliminate them from your system. Although the manual uninstallation of Steam and its games might appear straightforward, it can be intricate for many users since a standard uninstallation doesn't delete residual files and caches. For a streamlined and thorough uninstallation process, consider utilizing tools like Todo PCTrans Free.

This free and practical uninstaller not only removes the Steam application but also provides a transparent window for you to view and uninstall Steam games on your PC, along with their associated files.

You can accomplish this with just a few simple clicks using tools like Todo PCTrans.

< strong > Step 1. < /strong> Select App Management, and click "Start" to securely uninstall your apps and repair any damaged ones.

Step 2. Select the app that you want to uninstall or repair from all the installed apps on your PC. (If the uninstallation fails, click the small triangle icon and choose "Delete.")

Step 3. Click "Uninstall." (If you want to repair apps, click the icon right behind "Uninstall" and select "Repair.")

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Conclusion

Whether you want to uninstall Steam without losing your games or completely eliminate Steam and its related data from your PC, this guide has offered valuable methods to suit your requirements. Following these steps, you can effectively manage your Steam installation based on your preferences.

For those who prefer a thorough uninstallation, we highly recommend using the tool Todo PCTrans Free. This robust utility offers various functionalities for different purposes, ranging from transferring files from one PC to another to completely removing the Steam application with a single operation. All these features can assist you in managing apps and files more efficiently.

We hope this guide has been useful in guiding you through the process of uninstalling Steam on your Windows PC. If you found this information valuable, please consider sharing this article with your friends who might also need to remove Steam from their systems!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Uninstalling Steam: 1. **What is Steam?** - Steam is a digital distribution platform developed by Valve Corporation for purchasing, downloading, and playing video games. 2. **Why would I want to uninstall Steam?** - You might want to uninstall Steam if you're experiencing performance issues, plan on reinstalling it, freeing up disk space, or no longer use the platform. 3. **Can I delete Steam games individually?** - No, you can't directly uninstall individual games from Steam. However, you can remove them from your library by right-clicking the game, selecting "Manage," and then "Delete Local Content." 4. **How do I uninstall Steam on Windows?** - On Windows, go to "Settings" > "Apps" > "Steam" > "Uninstall." Follow the prompts to complete the process. 5. **How do I uninstall Steam on macOS?** - On macOS, go to "Finder," then "Applications," locate Steam, drag it to the Trash, and empty the Trash. 6. **Will uninstalling Steam delete my game saves?** - If your game saves are stored locally, they may be deleted. However, if they're synced with Steam Cloud, they should be safe. 7. **How do I reinstall Steam after uninstalling?** - Visit the official Steam website (), download the installer, and follow the installation instructions. 8. **Will uninstalling and reinstalling fix Steam issues?** - It could. Many issues can be resolved by this method, especially if they're caused by corrupted files or settings. 9. **Will I lose my friends list and account information?** - No, your account information, including your friends list, is stored on Steam's servers and will be accessible after reinstallation. 10. **Are there any alternatives to uninstalling Steam?** - Yes, try repairing the installation, validating game cache files, or updating Steam to the latest version before resorting to uninstallation.

If you have any questions about the Steam uninstallation process, please refer to these FAQs for answers.

1. Does uninstalling Steam remove all games?

No, uninstalling Steam only removes the program, not your games.

< b > 2. Will I lose my data if I Uninstall Steam? If you uninstall Steam, you may potentially lose your game progress and saved data, depending on how you've set up your storage. However, as long as you have your Steam account linked to the games and your games are properly installed and validated through Steam, uninstalling and reinstalling the platform itself should not result in data loss. Your game library, save files, and other data are typically stored on your hard drive and associated with your Steam account. Make sure to back up any important saves if you're concerned.

It depends. Some games utilize Steam Cloud for online saves, but not all do. Therefore, it's advisable to back up your saves for uncertain games before uninstalling them.

3. Can I move Steam games to another drive? Yes, you can move Steam games to another drive. Here's how: 1. **Backup Your Game Files**: First, it's recommended to back up your game saves and any important files. Go to `Steam > Library`, right-click the game, and select `Manage > Backup and Restore Games`. Follow the prompts to create a backup. 2. **Install Steam on the New Drive**: If Steam is not already installed on the target drive, install it there. You can download the Steam client from their official website. 3. **Move the Game**: Once Steam is installed on the new drive, follow these steps: - Close the Steam client. - Navigate to your current Steam installation folder, usually located at `C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam`. - Find the game's folder, which is named after the game's unique identifier (e.g., `C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\[Game Name]`). - Cut the game folder and paste it into the new Steam installation folder on the other drive (e.g., `D:\Steam\steamapps\common`). 4. **Update Steam Library**: Open the Steam client, click on `Steam` in the top-left corner, then `Settings`. In the `Library` tab, click on `Add a Library Folder` and browse to the new location of the game folder you just moved. 5. **Verify Game Files**: After Steam detects the game in the new location, right-click the game in your library, select `Manage > Verify Integrity of Game Files`. This will ensure all necessary files are present and undamaged. Your game should now be accessible from the new drive. Keep in mind that moving games may take some time depending on the game size and your system's performance.

Yes! You can either move the steamApps folder manually or use tools like Todo PCTrans for a more automated approach.