Steam allows your friends to see what you’re currently playing, but some games are better hidden from view. You may also want to remove a game if you’re getting bored of it. However, many users aren’t aware of these options or don’t know how to enable them, which can be frustrating.
Nevertheless, Steam allows users to perform both these actions quickly and easily. You only need to know what buttons and menus to press. Read on to find out the details.
Removing a Game from Your Steam Library
Removing a game from your Steam library isn’t the same as hiding it from prying eyes. You’ll permanently discard the game from your account when you do the former. You won’t be able to redownload or launch the game anymore, making a second purchase necessary.
However, people can see the achievements you earned from playing the title earlier, as they’re linked to your Steam account rather than the game.
Before removing a Steam game, you should uninstall it from the Control Panel first. If you only delete the game from Steam, you won’t remove the files. Instead, the process will involve locating the files and manually deleting them.
The instructions for removing a game from your Steam library are as follows:
- Launch Steam.
- Click on “Help” and select “Steam Support” from the drop-down menu.
- Pick a game to delete using the search box at the bottom or from recently-played titles.
- Select “I want to permanently remove this game from my account.”
- Click on “OK, remove the listed games from my account permanently.”
- The game will be removed.
If you want to play the game again, you need to purchase it from the Steam Store and pay the full price a second time.
Alternatively, if you’ve only had the game for two weeks and played it for less than two hours, it’s eligible for a refund. If you select this option, Steam will return the total cost to you.
In earlier days, removing a Steam game involved contacting customer support and requesting deletion. However, we can now use the steps described above to get rid of unwanted titles.
Removing a Free Steam Game
Free Steam games can be removed from your library easily. You won’t have to go through any questions that make you second-guess your decision.
- Launch Steam on your computer.
- Go to the Steam Library.
- Look for one of the free games you want to remove.
- Right-click the game.
- Pick “Manage.”
- From “Manage,” select “Remove from Account.”
- A pop-up will greet you with the “Remove” option.
- Select it to go through with the process.
You can always get the game again later, as it’s a free game. Doing so will make it appear in your library once again.
Hiding a Game from Your Steam Library
If you have Steam titles that are best kept from friends’ eyes, you can hide them from being displayed on your status. Hiding games is incredibly simple, and you can also remove the hidden status from the game later on.
To hide a Steam game, follow these steps:
- Look for a game in your Steam library.
- Right-click said game.
- Select “Manage” from the menu.
- Pick “Hide this Game” from the list.
- It will automatically hide the game.
From now on, if you allow Steam to show your status, the hidden game won’t appear. Other Steam users also can’t see the game in your library. Thus, keeping these games in the secluded corner can be advantageous.
Unhide Games on Steam
If you don’t want to hide your games anymore, there’s always the option of removing them from the hidden folder. If you choose to do this, the game will be visible in your main library for everyone. Games can be added to and removed from the hidden folder unlimited times.
- Launch Steam.
- Go to the “View” tab.
- Select “Hidden Games.”
- Find a game you want to make visible again.
- Right-click the game.
- Pick “Manage.”
- Select “Remove From Hidden.”
Of course, you can always send the game back to the corner of shame later.
Reasons to Hide Games
There are two main reasons Steam users may hide games from their main library. One has to do with age-restricted titles and the other is for organizational purposes.
Adults may prefer to play games that aren’t fit for children. If they know other kids who use the same Steam account, such as their children, hiding some games is an excellent idea. It prevents the child from accidentally launching and playing the title.
Other users send their favorite games to the hidden folder purely for organization purposes, especially with libraries containing hundreds of games. The hidden folder makes it easier to locate a particular title and eliminates navigating through long menus.
For Your Eyes Only
Steam has features for hiding and removing games at will, though the latter will result in permanent deletion, and you must pay for a second copy. Many users take advantage of the hidden games folder for organization purposes or keeping titles away from prying eyes. With these methods, your secrets can stay safe.
Do you hide any games on your Steam account? What games have you removed from your account? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
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