Download Steam directly from the official website

Go to steampowered.com in your web browser. At the top right of the page, you'll see a button labeled "Install Steam". Click it, and the site will detect that you're on a Mac and show you the macOS installer.

Click the "Install Steam Now" button. Your browser will download a file called SteamInstaller.dmg — this is the installer package for Mac. The file is usually about 10 to 15 MB and takes a few seconds to download on most connections.

Once the download finishes, open your Downloads folder (or look for a notification at the bottom of your browser window). Double-click the SteamInstaller.dmg file to open it.

Key Takeaways

  • Download the Steam installer from steampowered.com, which automatically detects your Mac and provides the correct version.
  • Open the .dmg file from your Downloads folder and drag the Steam icon into your Applications folder to complete installation.
  • Launch Steam from Applications, create or sign into your account, and you can start downloading games immediately.
  • Steam on Mac supports most but not all games available on Windows — check the game's store page to confirm Mac support before purchasing.
  • Your Mac needs at least macOS 10.13 or later and enough free storage space for both Steam and the games you plan to download.

Drag Steam into your Applications folder

When you open the .dmg file, a window appears showing two icons: the Steam icon and a folder icon labeled "Applications". This is the installation window.

Click and drag the Steam icon onto the Applications folder icon. This copies Steam into the Applications folder on your Mac, which is where macOS programs live. The copy process takes about 30 seconds. Once it finishes, you can close this window and eject the .dmg file by dragging it to the Trash.

Launch Steam and create or sign in to your account

Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar. Scroll down until you find Steam, then double-click it to launch the program. The first time you open Steam, it may take a minute to start up while it checks for updates.

When Steam opens, you'll see a login screen. If you already have a Steam account, enter your username and password. If you don't have an account yet, click "Create a new account" and follow the prompts. You'll need an email address and a username, and you'll set a password.

Steam will ask you to verify your email address — check your inbox for a message from Steam and click the link inside. After verification, you're logged in and ready to browse games.

Check your Mac's storage and system requirements

Before you download games, make sure your Mac has enough free space. Steam itself takes about 5 GB, but individual games range from 2 GB to 150 GB or more. Check how much space you have by clicking the Apple menu, selecting "About This Mac", and looking at the storage bar at the bottom of the window.

Steam on Mac requires macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or later. To check your macOS version, click the Apple menu and select "About This Mac" — your version number appears at the top of the window. If your Mac is older than this, you won't be able to run Steam.

Not every game on Steam works on Mac. When you look at a game's store page, scroll down to the "System Requirements" section — it will list whether the game supports macOS. If it doesn't say macOS, that game only runs on Windows or Linux.

Download your first game

Once you're logged in, use the search bar at the top of the Steam window to find a game. Click on the game's title to open its store page. If the game supports Mac, you'll see a blue button that says "Add to Cart" or "Install" (depending on whether the game is free or paid).

For paid games, click "Add to Cart", then proceed to checkout with your payment method. For free games, click "Install" directly. Steam will begin downloading the game to your Mac automatically. You can watch the download progress in your Library — click the Library tab on the left side of the Steam window.

Once the download finishes, the game is ready to play. Click the blue "Play" button in your Library to launch it.

Troubleshooting common installation problems

If Steam won't open after installation, try restarting your Mac. Click the Apple menu, select "Shut Down", wait a few seconds, then turn your Mac back on. This fixes most startup issues.

If you get a message saying Steam is damaged or can't be opened, your Mac's security settings may be blocking it. Right-click the Steam icon in Applications, select "Open", and click "Open" again in the dialog that appears. This tells macOS to trust the program.

If a game won't download or keeps stopping, check your internet connection by opening a web browser and visiting a website. If the web works but Steam doesn't, try restarting Steam by quitting it (Steam menu > Quit Steam) and opening it again. If downloads still fail, restart your Mac.

If you run out of storage space during a download, Steam will pause automatically. Delete files you don't need, then click the Resume button in your Library to continue the download.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play the same games on Mac that I play on Windows?

Most games on Steam are Windows-only. Some popular titles have Mac versions, but you need to check each game's store page to confirm. Your Steam Library shows which games you own that work on your Mac — they'll have a Mac icon next to the title.

Do I need to pay for Steam itself?

No. Steam is free to download and use. You only pay for games you purchase. Many games on Steam are also free to download and play.

What happens if I uninstall Steam?

Uninstalling Steam removes the program from your Mac, but your account and game library stay saved on Steam's servers. When you reinstall Steam and log back in, all your games and settings are still there. You can reinstall any game you own without paying again.

Can I use an external hard drive to store my games?

Yes. In Steam's settings (Steam menu > Settings > Storage), you can add a second location for game installations. This lets you store games on an external drive to save space on your Mac's main drive. Games run fine from external storage as long as the drive stays connected.

Why is my download speed so slow?

Steam downloads are limited by your internet connection speed. If other devices are using your Wi-Fi, disconnect them temporarily to speed up the download. You can also check Steam's download region in Settings (Steam menu > Settings > Downloads) — choosing a server closer to your location sometimes helps.