Store:Steam

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^Windows September 12, 2003
^{OS X} May 12, 2010
^Linux February 14, 2013

Steam

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Release dates

Digital Distribution

Key points

DRM: Digital distribution platform with accompanying client required for downloading and often playing games as well. Games can also be DRM-Free or contain third party DRM.

Refund policy: 14 days or 2 hours of playtime, 24 hours for Steam Workshop purchases; see the Steam Refunds and Steam Workshop Refund Policy pages for details respectively.

Some games sold through third parties activate on Steam; see Retail / Digital CD Keys.

Periodic free weekend and individual publisher-driven events provide temporary and permanent free access to select titles.

General information

Official store

Official Support

Account details

Steam Community Forums

Steam User's Forums

Steam Database

Big Picture

See PC gaming on a TV and couch for general setup information.

Big Picture Mode is a new interface which allows using Steam with a controller.

Big Picture Mode requires Windows Vista or newer or OS X 10.7 (Lion) or newer; earlier versions are not supported.

Instructions

Taskbar showing on top

This is caused by the incompatibility with DPI scaling in Windows.

Instructions

Speed up Big Picture web browser

Windows, for compatibility reasons, has Automatically Detect Proxy settings enabled. It can add significant lag to loading web pages in Steam as well as other internet dependent applications, and is not usually required.

Instructions

Adjust font size DPI

Steam does not always respect the Windows dpi settings. This hack adjusts Steam's DPI.

Appears to work if the Windows DPI settings are also adjusted above 100% size.

Instructions

Family Sharing

Steam Family Sharing is a new feature that allows Steam users to share games.

Each player gets their own achievements, saves, etc.

The owner can't play any game without kicking the borrower (after a grace period).

Some games are not available for sharing, e.g. those with third-party DRM; refer to The Big List of 3rd Party DRM on Steam for details.

Issues fixed

Lowered volume when using background Metro apps while Steam is open (Windows 8)

Instructions

Unable to log in

Alternatively Steam can be launched as an admin.

Steam has an official page including fixes related to network and connection issues: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_cat.php?id=4

Instructions

Steam won't launch

Delete ClientRegistry.blob

Steam updates sometimes fail to progress, or the message Failed to find Steam appears.

Instructions

Reinstalling Steam

Every Steam game should be installed in a separate folder, outside the main installation location, this makes it easier to play and backup such games again.

Steam should be installed outside of the Program Files paths just in case.

Step One

Instructions

Step Two

Instructions

Step Three

Instructions

Game Won't Launch

Verify integrity of game cache

First recommended step before troubleshooting any other issues.

Instructions

Unable to download any games

Steam servers are currently unavailable, Steam servers are too busy, The Steam servers are currently too busy to handle your request. Please try again in a few minutes.

Instructions

Error 80 And Application Load Error P:0000065432

Restart Steam.

Failed to start game. App already running

This may appear when launching the same game twice. Restart Steam if it still appears.

Other information

Moving Steam Files

Manual Move

If you wish to re-install Steam, or transfer your game data to a new hard drive, simply move the steamapps and userdata folders to a new location. You will find these folders in the following folder by default:

1. • 64-bit Windows: %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Steam
   • 32-bit Windows: %ProgramFiles%\Steam

Depending on the size of the folder it may take some time. Then, on the new system, install Steam and let it run once. Move steamapps and userdata back to the new Steam folder, replacing any existing files, then run Steam, connect online, and 'install' the games, which will revalidate the existing files and update their entries in the Steam library.

Failed To Find Steam

Restart Steam. If this doesn't work, then see Delete ClientRegistry.blob.

Moving Steam Games To Another Drive

Some games does not have the option to install to secondary drives, it is however possible to use symbolic links for this matter.

Steam has the possibility to download games to secondary drives. You can add a custom directory for games through Steam: Steam > Settings > Downloads > Steam Library Folders > Add Library folder

Option - GameSave Manager

GameSave Manager's Sync and Link feature can automate this process and is easily the best method.

Steam Offline Mode

The Offline Mode can only be forced after having logged into Steam at least once with a working internet connection.

Instructions

Disable Steam announcements

Instructions

Change a game's language

Instructions

Toggle the Steam overlay per game

Instructions

Toggle Steam Cloud per game

Instructions

Delete files stored in the Steam Cloud

Instructions