How to Download Steam on Any Platform

Steam is one of the most popular digital game distribution services in the world, and you can find nearly any new game released for PC, Mac, Chromebook, and Linux on it. Steam can be installed on any operating system, though the games available to play may be limited on Linux, Mac, and Chromebook. You can also install a Steam mobile app to manage your account and purchase games. Steam even has its own operating system, called SteamOS, that allows you to turn your computer into a high-powered gaming console.

Install Steam

You can download the Steam installer from Steam's website for Windows and Mac. Alternatively, you can download the Steam mobile app from the Google Play Store or App Store. You can use the Terminal or Software Center to install Steam on Linux. The process is different depending on your Linux distribution.

Method 1

Method 1 of 6:

Using Windows

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You can download Steam from store.steampowered.com/about.
This button is green and is located at the top of the Steam page.

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Double-click the SteamSetup file in your Downloads folder to run the installer. You will need to accept the license agreement and confirm that you are 13 or older.
4
Follow the prompts to install Steam. Use the following steps to do so:
- Click Next on the welcome page.
- Select a language and click Next.
- Select an installation location and click Install.
  - By default, Steam is installed to C:\Program Files\Steam. You can enter a different installation location, a different disk drive, or a partition.
After installing Steam, you'll be prompted to start it. Steam will need to update the first time that it runs, which may take a few minutes.
6
Log in with your account or create a new one. If you already have an account, you can use it to log in. If you don't have an account, you can create one for free.
- If you don’t have an account, click Create a free account in the lower-right corner. You'll need to pick a username and password, and enter a valid email address. You'll need to confirm this email address after creating your account by following the verification link you are sent. If your desired username is already taken, you'll be shown several alternatives, or you can try creating a new one.
- If you already have an account, you'll likely be prompted by SteamGuard to verify your identity. This is to help prevent unauthorized access to your account. You can verify your identity via a confirmation email or using the [[[#Using-Mobile|mobile app]].
When you first launch Steam, you'll be taken to the Store page. You can switch to the other sections by clicking the tabs along the top of the window. Hover over the tabs to select from the various subpages.
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Set a new location for games to be installed (optional). By default, games will be installed to the same directory that Steam was installed in. You can change this if you would prefer to store your games somewhere else, such as on a second hard drive.
- Click the "Steam" menu and select "Settings".
- Select the "Downloads" tab in the Settings menu and then click "Steam Library Folders".
- Click "Add Library Folder" and then select a folder you want to be able to install games to.
In the list of games on the left, uninstalled games will be grayed out, while installed games will be white. Selecting a game will open the game's information page, allowing you to see achievements, DLC, news updates, and more.
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Double-click an uninstalled game to begin installing it. You can use the drop-down menu in the installation window to select which folder you want to install the game to. You'll also be given the option to create desktop and Start menu shortcuts directly to the game.
- Depending on the size of the game and your internet connection, the download and install process could take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days.
- You can monitor your current downloads by hovering over the Library tab and selecting "Downloads".

Method 2

Method 2 of 6:

Using Mac

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You can download Steam from store.steampowered.com/about.
2
Click Install Steam. This button is green and is located at the top of the Steam page.
- If you see the Windows logo next to the “Install Steam” button, click the Apple icon below it.
To do so, double-click the Steam.dmg file in your Downloads folder or web browser when it finishes downloading.
4
Drag the Steam icon into your Applications folder. You will be prompted to drag the Steam icon to your applications folder. This will copy the Steam app to your Applications folder.
5
Double-click Steam in your Applications folder. Open the Finder and click Applications. Then double-click Steam. Steam will likely need to update the first time you launch it. Wait a few minutes for it to finish updating.
6
Log in with your Steam account or create a new one. If you have an account already, you can use it to log in when Steam finishes updating. If you don't have an account, you can create one for free by following the account creation prompts.
- If you don’t have an account, click Create a free account in the lower-right corner. You'll need to pick a username and password, as well as enter a valid email address. You'll need to confirm this email address after creating your account by following the verification link you are sent. If your desired username is already taken, you'll be shown several alternatives, or you can try creating a new one.
- If you already have an account, you'll likely be prompted by SteamGuard to verify your identity. This is to help prevent unauthorized access to your account. You can verify your identity via a confirmation email or using the [[[#Using-Mobile|mobile app]].
Depending on your account settings, you'll be taken to either the Store or the Library page when Steam starts. You can click the tabs along the top of the window to switch sections. Hover over the tabs to see the various subpages for each section.
8
Open the Library tab to see your purchased games. Uninstalled games will be grayed out, while installed games will have white text.
- Note that not all games on Steam support Mac. If you've purchased a lot of games on Steam in the past, you'll likely not see all of them in the Library window. When purchasing a game, make sure to look for the Apple logo and the "Mac OS X" section of the System Requirements in the Store page.
9
Double-click an uninstalled game to start the installation process. You'll be informed of how large the game will be on your hard drive, and you will be given the option to create shortcuts. Click Install to install the game.
- Note: The estimated download time is almost always incorrect. You will usually download faster than the indicated time.

Method 3

Method 3 of 6:

Using Mobile

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1
Open the App Store or Google Play Store. You can use the Steam mobile app to purchase games, manage SteamGuard, view news, notifications, and chat with other players. If you are using an iPhone or iPad, open the App Store. If you are using Android, open the Google Play Store.
2
Search for Steam. If you are using an iPhone or iPad, tap the magnifying glass icon at the top of the page to display the search bar. If you are using Android, tap the Search tab at the bottom of the app.
3
Search Steam. This will display a list of apps that match your search.
4
Tap Steam. This will display the Steam information page.
5
Tap GET or Install. This will install the Steam mobile app on your device.
6
Open Steam. You can either tap the Steam icon on your Home screen or apps menu, or you can tap Open in the Google Play Store or App Store when it finishes downloading.
- You may be asked if you want to allow Steam to send you notifications. Tap Allow to allow it.
7
Sign in to Steam or create an account. Enter the username and password associated with your Steam account. If you don’t have a Steam account, tap Create a free account and follow the prompts to create one.
- You may need to verify your Steam account via your email or text messages. If so, retrieve the one-time verification code from your email or text messages and enter it.

Method 4

Method 4 of 6:

Using Chromebook

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1
Verify you have the minimum requirements for Steam. Press Ctrl + Search + Esc to find out what type of CPU and how much RAM you have. You can find out how much storage you have under Settings > Device > Storage. Steam requires the following specs:^{[1]
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- Intel i3 or Ryzen 3 CPU or better.
- 8 GB or RAM or more.
- 128 GB of storage or more.
2
Enable Borialis. Borialis is a Linux container for Chromebook that allows you to play a vast library of Steam games natively on Chromebook (provided your Chromebook has the hardware to play those games). Use the following steps to enable Borialis:^{[2]
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- Open the Chrome web browser.
- Enter chrome://flags in the address bar at the top.
- Enter borialis in the search bar at the top.
- Use the drop-down menu next to Borialis Enabled to select Enabled.^{[3]
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Click the Launcher. It’s the circle icon in the lower-left corner of your Chromebook desktop.
4
Search Steam Installer. Enter “Steam Installer” in the search bar at the top of the Launcher.
5
Double-click Steam Installer. It should be under “Apps.” This installs Steam on your Chromebook.
- If you don’t see Steam Installer under “Apps,” your device most likely doesn’t meet the minimum requirements.
6
Open Steam. You can open Steam under the Launcher. Click the Steam icon to run Steam.
7
Log in with your Steam account or create a new one. If you have an account already, you can use it to log in when Steam finishes updating. If you don't have an account, you can create one for free by following the account creation prompts.
- If you don’t have an account, click Create a free account in the lower-right corner. You'll need to pick a username and password, as well as enter a valid email address. You'll need to confirm this email address after creating your account by following the verification link you are sent. If your desired username is already taken, you'll be shown several alternatives, or you can try creating a new one.
- If you already have an account, you'll likely be prompted by SteamGuard to verify your identity. This is to help prevent unauthorized access to your account. You can verify your identity via a confirmation email or using the [[[#Using-Mobile|mobile app]].
Depending on your account settings, you'll be taken to either the Store or the Library page when Steam starts. You can click the tabs along the top of the window to switch sections. Hover over the tabs to see the various subpages for each section.
9
Open the Library tab to see your purchased games. Uninstalled games will be grayed out, while installed games will have white text.
- Note that not all games on Steam support Mac. If you've purchased a lot of games on Steam in the past, you'll likely not see all of them in the Library window. When purchasing a game, make sure to look for the Apple logo and the "Mac OS X" section of the System Requirements in the Store page.
10
Double-click an uninstalled game to start the installation process. You'll be informed of how large the game will be on your hard drive, and you will be given the option to create shortcuts. Click Install to install the game.
- Note: The estimated download time is almost always incorrect. You will usually download faster than the indicated time.

Method 5

Method 5 of 6:

Using Linux

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1
Update your graphics drivers. While some games will work without updating, most newer games won't perform well or may not even start at all unless you have the latest drivers installed. The process varies depending on whether you're using an Nvidia or an AMD/ATI card as well as what Linux distribution you are using.
- NVIDIA: You find instructions on how to download and/or update Nvidia graphics drivers on all Linux distributions here. Just click your Linux distribution in the menu to the left and follow the instructions.
- AMD: You can find download links and installation instructions for Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED) here.
2
Press Ctrl+Alt+T to open the Terminal. This opens the Terminal on most Linux distributions.
- Alternatively, on many Linux distributions, you may be able to download Steam from the default app installer, such as the Software Center on Ubuntu, or Software Manager on Linux Mint. Open the default app installer and search for Steam. Click Steam if it’s available and click the option to install it.
3
Add the multiverse repository (Ubuntu only). On some Linux distributions, you may need to add the correct software repository to download and install Steam on Linux. Enter the following commands and press Enter to do so:^{[4]
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- Ubuntu: sudo add-apt-repository multiverse
4
Enable Multilib repository (Arch Linux Only). If you are using Arch Linux, use the following steps to enable the Multilib repository:^{[5]
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- Enter sudo nano /etc/pacman.conf and press Enter.
- Remove the hash (#) in front of the line #[multilib]
- Remove the hash (#) in front of the line {{{1}}}
- Remove the hash (#) in front of the line {{{1}}}
- Press Ctrl + X to quit Nano.
- Press Y to save the file.
5
Update your software repository Enter one of the following commands and press Enter to update your repository:
- Ubuntu/Debian/Mint: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
- Fedora: sudo dnf update --refresh
- Arch Linux: sudo pacman -Syu
- SUSE: sudo zypper update
6
Install Steam. Use one of the following commands to install Steam:
- Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt install steam
- Mint: sudo apt install steam-installer -y ^{[6]
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- Fedora: sudo dnf install steam -y ^{[7]
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- Arch Linux: sudo pacman -S steam
- SUSE: sudo zypper install steam ^{[8]
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Method 6

Method 6 of 6:

Installing SteamOS

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SteamOS is a Linux-based operating system designed for living room TV sets and SteamDecks. Installing SteamOS will delete everything that is on the target computer, and SteamOS does not allow for dual-booting or multiple partitions. Make sure you don't need any of the data on the computer or SteamDeck you intend to install it on.
2
Download the SteamOS Beta Installer. You can download it from here. The installer file is 1 GB, so it may take a while to download.
- You’ll need to check the checkbox at the bottom to agree to the Terms and Conditions, and then click the Download button.
3
Download and install Balena Etcher. Balena Etcher is a free program you can use to create a bootable USB drive. It is available for PC, Mac, and Linux. You can download Balena Etcher from here. After you download it, run the installation file in your Downloads folder and follow all the prompts.
- Alternatively, you can use Rufus on Windows, which is also free.
You’ll need a USB drive with at least 4 GB of storage. Make sure that you don't have any important files on it, as everything will be erased.
5
Open Balena Etcher. It has an icon that resembles a green box. Click the Etcher icon to open the program.
6
Select the SteamOS disk image. Use the following steps to do so:
- Click Flash from File.
- Select the SteamOS img.bz2 file you downloaded.
- Click Open.
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Select your USB flash drive. Use the following steps to do so:
- Click Select Target.
- Click your USB flash drive.
- Click Select.
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Click Flash. This will begin the process of writing the SteamOS image file to the USB drive.
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Reboot the computer into the BIOS menu. You'll need to hit the BIOS key when you see the manufacturer's logo. Typical BIOS keys include F2, F10, F11, or Del. Use the following steps to boot into the BIOS from within Windows:
- Press Ctrl + i to open the Settings menu.
- Click System in the menu bar to the left.
- Click Recovery.
- Click Restart Now below “Advanced Startup.”
- Click Troubleshoot.
- Click UEFI Firmware Settings.
- Click Restart.
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Set your computer to boot from a USB drive first. Locate the Boot menu in the UEFI/BIOS menu. Set your computer to boot from a USB drive first. This will allow you to boot from the SteamOS recovery image on the USB drive. Then save the changes.
- If you don't have a UEFI option, you may need to enable UEFI for the motherboard. If you can't enable UEFI, you'll need to download the ISO file and burn it to a disc. You can then boot from this disc to start the installation. You can download the ISO file from repo.steampowered.com/download/.^{[9]
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Boot from the USB drive. Insert the USB drive and reboot your computer. Your computer will boot from the USB drive with the SteamOS disk image.
↵ Enter. The rest of the installation process is hands-off. You can watch the screen to monitor the progress of the install. The computer will reboot after the installation is complete, and after a moment, the SteamOS desktop will appear.
13
Wait for SteamOS to install. After the computer boots to the desktop, the Steam client will automatically begin downloading updates so that Steam can be installed.
- During the Steam setup process, you'll see a wall of Terminal information flash by as files are installed and configured.
A program called Partclone will run automatically at the end of the installation to create a backup of the system. When it's finished, you'll be prompted to select an option from the menu. Select "reboot" to reboot the computer.
After rebooting, SteamOS will load your hardware drivers, which may take a minute. This will only happen the first time you boot up. Once it's finished, you'll be taken through the SteamOS setup process, where you can select your language, adjust your display, set the timezone, and review the license agreement.
Once the setup is complete, you can log in with your Steam account or create a new one. If you don't have an account, follow the prompts to get one made in a few minutes. If you already have an account, you'll likely be asked for the SteamGuard verification code, which will be sent to your Steam email address.
SteamOS has built-in controller support, and the interface is designed to be used with one. The tabs at the top allow you to switch between your library and the Store page. SteamOS is a Linux operating system, and only Linux games will work with it.

Community Q&A

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Question

Is there an offline installer?

Community Answer

There is not currently an offline installer for steam.

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