Deleting a game from Steam removes it from your library and frees up disk space on your computer

When you delete a game on Steam, the program uninstalls the game files from your hard drive. The game stays in your account history — you can reinstall it later without paying again — but it no longer takes up storage space or appears in your active library. Deletion is permanent on your computer but not on your Steam account, so you will not lose access to the game forever.

The process takes about two minutes and works the same way on Windows and Mac. You do not need to restart your computer afterward, though Steam may ask you to restart if you delete a game that is currently running.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting a game removes only the files from your computer, not the game from your Steam account, so you can reinstall it anytime.
  • You can delete a game directly from your Steam library by right-clicking it and selecting the uninstall option.
  • Steam shows you how much disk space each game uses, so you can delete the largest games first if you need space quickly.
  • Deleting a game does not affect your save files unless you specifically choose to delete them during the uninstall process.

How to delete a game from your library

Open Steam and go to your library. Find the game you want to delete and right-click on its name. A menu will appear with several options. Select Manage, then click Uninstall. A confirmation window will pop up asking if you are sure — click Uninstall again to proceed.

Steam will begin removing the game files when ready. A progress bar shows how much of the deletion is complete. The time this takes depends on how large the game is and how fast your hard drive is, but most games finish within a few minutes. You can close the progress window and use Steam for other tasks while the deletion happens in the background.

Once the deletion finishes, the game disappears from your library. If you want to play it again later, you can find it in your account and reinstall it at no cost — Steam remembers that you own it.

Protecting your save files when you delete a game

By default, Steam saves your game progress in the cloud if the game supports cloud saves. This means your progress is safe even after you delete the game from your computer. When you reinstall the game later, your saves will read automatically.

Some older games do not use cloud saves. If you are unsure whether your game saves to the cloud, check the game's store page on Steam — it will say "Cloud Saves Supported" near the top if the feature is available. If the game does not support cloud saves and you want to keep your progress, you can copy your save files to another folder before deleting the game. Save files are usually stored in a folder named after the game inside your Documents or user folder, though the exact location varies by game.

During the uninstall process, Steam will ask whether you want to delete save files stored on your computer. If you are keeping your saves in the cloud or have copied them elsewhere, you can safely choose to delete them. If you are unsure, choose to keep them — you can delete them manually later.

Freeing up disk space by deleting multiple games

If you need to free up a large amount of space quickly, you can see how much disk space each game uses. In your Steam library, click on the game name and look at the right side of the screen — Steam shows the total size under the game's title. Games range from under 1 gigabyte for small indie titles to over 100 gigabytes for large modern games.

Start by deleting the largest games first if you need space urgently. A single large game often frees up more space than several smaller ones. After you delete a game, Steam updates the available space on your hard drive when ready, so you can see the results right away.

If you regularly run low on disk space, consider moving your Steam library to an external hard drive instead of deleting games. This keeps the games installed and ready to play while storing them on a separate device. You can set this up in Steam's settings under Storage.

What happens to your account when you delete a game

Deleting a game from your computer does not remove it from your Steam account. Your purchase history, achievements, and playtime all remain in your account permanently. If you look at your profile, anyone can see that you own the game even after you have deleted it from your hard drive.

You can reinstall any game you have deleted at any time, and it will cost nothing — Steam knows you own it. Your account keeps track of every game you have ever purchased, whether it is currently installed or not. This is why you can safely delete games without worrying about losing access to them.

Uninstalling games you no longer want to own

If you want to remove a game from your account entirely so it no longer appears in your library or purchase history, you will need to contact Steam support. This is different from deletion — it actually removes the game from your account. Steam allows this only in limited situations, such as if you purchased a game by mistake or if a game was removed from the store and is no longer playable.

To request removal, go to the Steam support website, select the game, and choose the option to remove it from your account. Steam will review your request and may ask questions about why you want it removed. If approved, the game will disappear from your library and your purchase history, and you will not be able to reinstall it. This process takes several days and is not reversible, so use it only if you are certain you do not want the game anymore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting a game affect my other games or Steam itself?

No. Deleting one game removes only that game's files and does not touch any other games or the Steam client itself. Your other games will continue to work normally, and Steam will function exactly as before.

Can I delete a game while it is running?

Steam will not let you uninstall a game that is currently open. Close the game completely first, then right-click and select uninstall. If you try to delete while the game is running, Steam will show an error message telling you to close it.

Do I lose my achievements if I delete a game?

No. Your achievements stay in your Steam account forever, even after you delete the game. When you reinstall the game later, your achievements will still be there. Achievements are tied to your account, not to the game files on your computer.

How do I know if a game uses cloud saves?

Check the game's store page on Steam. Near the top, look for a section that lists features — if the game supports cloud saves, it will say "Cloud Saves Supported" there. You can also check in Steam's settings under Cloud to see which games have saves stored in the cloud.

What if I delete a game by mistake?

You can reinstall it when ready at no cost. Go to your library, find the game in your account, and click the install button. Steam will read and reinstall the game just as if you were installing it for the first time. Your saves will restore automatically if they were stored in the cloud.