Right-click the game in your library and select "Manage" → "Uninstall"

The fastest way to remove a game from Steam is through your library. Open Steam, go to your Games section, find the title you want to delete, right-click it, and choose "Manage" from the menu that appears. Then click "Uninstall" and confirm. Steam will remove the game files from your computer.

This method deletes only the game files themselves — the actual program and assets that take up space on your hard drive. Your purchase record stays in your Steam account, so you can reinstall the game later without paying again. Steam keeps track of what you own separately from what you have installed.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any game in your Steam library, select "Manage," then "Uninstall" to remove it from your computer.
  • Uninstalling a game does not remove it from your account — you can reinstall it anytime without repurchasing.
  • Steam stores game files in a folder you can locate through the game's properties if you need to find them manually.
  • If you want to permanently remove a game from your account history, you must contact Steam Support to request a refund and removal, which is separate from uninstalling.

Where Steam stores game files on your computer

By default, Steam installs games in a folder called "steamapps" inside your main Steam directory. On Windows, this is usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps. On Mac, it's in ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps. Each game gets its own subfolder inside steamapps.

You can check where a specific game is stored by right-clicking it in your library, selecting "Properties," then clicking "Local Files" and "Browse." This opens the folder where that game lives. Knowing this location is useful if you want to back up game files or move them to a different drive before uninstalling.

Uninstalling vs. removing from your account

Uninstalling removes the game from your hard drive but keeps it in your Steam account. You own it permanently, and you can download it again whenever you want. This is what most people mean when they say "delete a game."

If you want to actually remove a game from your account history — so it no longer appears in your library at all — that is a different process. Steam does not offer a self-service option for this. You would need to contact Steam Support and request that they remove the game from your account. They may ask why, and they typically only grant this for games purchased by mistake or within a short window after purchase. Even then, removal is not may provide.

Freeing up disk space when you uninstall

When you uninstall a game through Steam's "Uninstall" button, Steam removes the game folder and its contents. The space becomes available for other files. However, the process is not always instant — your operating system may take a moment to update how much free space you have.

If you uninstalled a game but your hard drive still shows the same amount of used space, restart your computer. Windows and Mac both cache storage information, and a restart forces them to recalculate. If the space still does not appear free after a restart, the game folder may not have deleted completely — in that case, you can manually delete the game's subfolder from the steamapps directory, though this is rarely necessary.

Reinstalling a game you have already uninstalled

To reinstall any game you own, open your Steam library, search for the game by name, and click the download button. Steam will re-download the game files and install them in the same location as before (or a different Steam library folder if you have multiple). Your save files may or may not be preserved depending on where the game stores them — some games save to the Steam Cloud, while others save locally on your computer.

Before you uninstall a game you care about, check whether it uses Steam Cloud saves. Right-click the game, select "Properties," go to "Updates," and look for "Steam Cloud." If it says "enabled," your progress will be safe when you reinstall. If it says "not enabled," your save files will be deleted along with the game, so back them up first if you want to keep them.

Uninstalling games from a secondary hard drive or external storage

Steam lets you install games on multiple drives. If you have a second hard drive or external SSD, you can create a Steam library folder there and install games to it instead of your main drive. To uninstall a game from a secondary location, the process is the same — right-click, "Manage," "Uninstall" — and Steam will remove it from whichever drive it is on.

If you want to move a game from one drive to another without re-downloading it, Steam has a built-in move feature. Right-click the game, select "Properties," go to "Local Files," and click "Move Install Folder." Choose your destination drive, and Steam will transfer the files. This is much faster than uninstalling and reinstalling, especially for large games.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling a game delete my save files?

It depends on where the game saves them. Games that use Steam Cloud save to Valve's servers and are not deleted when you uninstall. Games that save locally to your computer will lose those saves when you uninstall, unless you back them up first. Check the game's properties under "Updates" to see if Steam Cloud is enabled.

Can I uninstall a game and then reinstall it without paying again?

Yes. Once you own a game on Steam, you can uninstall and reinstall it as many times as you want without paying again. Your purchase is tied to your account, not to whether the game is currently installed.

What if Steam will not let me uninstall a game?

This usually means the game is currently running. Close the game completely, including any background processes, and try again. If the game still will not uninstall, restart Steam or your computer and attempt the uninstall once more.

Does uninstalling a game free up space immediately?

Usually, but not always. Your operating system may take a moment to update its storage information. If the space does not appear free right away, restart your computer. If it still shows as used after a restart, manually delete the game folder from your steamapps directory.

Can I delete a game from Steam on my phone or tablet?

The Steam mobile app does not have an uninstall feature. You can only uninstall games through the Steam client on Windows, Mac, or Linux, or through the Steam Deck. From a phone, you can view your library and see what is installed, but you cannot remove games from there.