How to Uninstall Steam

Steam is one of the most popular platforms for gaming, offering access to thousands of games and community features. However, there may come a time when you need to uninstall Steam from your computer. Whether you’re troubleshooting an issue, freeing up space, or no longer using the platform, knowing how to uninstall Steam is an essential skill for any gamer.

This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of uninstalling Steam on Windows and macOS. Additionally, we’ll cover how to remove leftover files and discuss what happens to your games and data after uninstallation.

Why Uninstall Steam?

Before diving into how to uninstall Steam, it’s essential to understand why you might want to do so:

Troubleshooting Issues: If Steam isn’t functioning properly, reinstalling it after uninstallation can resolve the problem.
Freeing Up Space: Steam games take up significant storage. Uninstalling the app and its associated files can reclaim valuable space.
No Longer Needed: If you’ve switched to a different gaming platform or stopped gaming, uninstalling Steam can declutter your system.

What Happens When You Uninstall Steam?

Uninstalling Steam will remove the application from your computer, but it also affects your games and files:

Loss of Installed Games: All installed games in your Steam library will be removed from your device.
Cloud Saves Remain Safe: Game progress saved in Steam Cloud will remain intact and can be accessed again if you reinstall Steam.
Local Files Removed: Any game files stored locally will be deleted unless you back them up beforehand.

If you’re concerned about losing data, back up important game files before proceeding.

How to Uninstall Steam on Windows

Step 1: Exit Steam Completely

Before uninstalling Steam, ensure it is not running in the background:

Right-click the Steam icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner of your screen).
Select Exit to close the application.

Use Task Manager to ensure no Steam-related processes are running:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Look for processes like Steam.exe and click End Task.

Step 2: Uninstall Steam via Control Panel

The most common method to uninstall Steam on Windows is through the Control Panel:

Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type appwiz.cpl and press Enter. This opens the Programs and Features window.
Locate Steam in the list of installed programs.
Right-click Steam and select Uninstall.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process.

Step 3: Remove Leftover Files

Uninstalling Steam doesn’t always delete all related files. To ensure a complete uninstallation, manually remove leftover files:

Navigate to the default installation directory:
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam
Delete the entire Steam folder.

Additionally, clear temporary files:

Press Win + R, type %temp%, and press Enter.
Delete any Steam-related temporary files in the folder.

How to Uninstall Steam on macOS

Step 1: Quit Steam Completely

Ensure Steam is not running before uninstalling it:

Click the Steam icon in the top-right menu bar.
Select Quit Steam.

Use Activity Monitor to check for running Steam processes:

Open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities.
Search for “Steam” in the search bar.
Select any Steam processes and click the X to force quit.

Step 2: Remove the Steam Application

To uninstall Steam, drag the application to the Trash:

Open Finder and navigate to Applications.
Locate Steam in the list of apps.
Drag the Steam app icon to the Trash.

Step 3: Delete Steam Files and Folders

To completely remove Steam, delete its associated files:

Open Finder and click Go > Go to Folder in the menu bar.
Enter the following path:
- ~/Library/Application Support/
Locate the Steam folder and move it to the Trash.

Additionally, clear cached files:

Go to ~/Library/Caches/.
Delete any Steam-related files.

Empty the Trash to free up space permanently.

How to Back Up Steam Games Before Uninstalling

If you’re uninstalling Steam but plan to reinstall it later, backing up your games can save time and bandwidth. Here’s how:

Open Steam and go to Library.
Right-click the game you want to back up and select Properties.
Under the Local Files tab, click Browse.
Copy the game’s folder to an external drive or another location on your computer.

When you reinstall Steam, you can restore these files to avoid redownloading them.

Reinstalling Steam After Uninstallation

If you uninstalled Steam to troubleshoot an issue or free up space temporarily, reinstalling it is straightforward:

Visit the official Steam website.
Click Install Steam and download the installer.
Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Steam.

After reinstalling, log in to your account to access your game library and Cloud saves.

Common Issues When Uninstalling Steam

While learning how to uninstall Steam, you may encounter some challenges. Here’s how to address them:

1. “Steam Is Still Running” Error

Ensure Steam processes are completely closed using Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (macOS).

2. Uninstallation Fails

If the uninstallation process fails, try using a third-party uninstaller like CCleaner to remove Steam.

3. Leftover Files Not Deleting

Restart your computer and attempt to delete the files again. If they persist, use Safe Mode (Windows) or Recovery Mode (macOS) to delete them.

Conclusion

Knowing how to uninstall Steam is a useful skill for maintaining your system’s health, freeing up space, or troubleshooting issues. By following the step-by-step instructions for Windows and macOS, you can safely remove Steam and its associated files.

Remember to back up any important game data before uninstalling if you plan to reinstall the platform later. With this guide, you’re equipped to handle the process efficiently and confidently.