Will I lose all my games if I uninstall Steam?
No. Uninstalling the Steam client and platform will not delete your game library or cause data loss under most conditions. Your downloaded games, DLC content, and save files stored locally or in the Steam Cloud will remain intact. Reinstalling Steam later will restore full access.
However, losing access to the Steam platform does create certain risks around managing your collection over time. And a minority of titles may save data in less protected locations. So how exactly does removing Steam impact your gaming hoard? What steps should you take to protect irreplaceable save files?
As an avid PC gamer with over 200 titles on my Steam account, I‘ve researched this issue in depth. Keep reading for a comprehensive look at what happens to your treasured games when Steam goes away – and how to prepare for that day.
Steam by the Numbers
To start, let‘s explore some key statistics that underscore the importance of Steam for today‘s PC gaming market:
- 125 million active monthly Steam users as of October 2022 [1]
- Over 30,000 games available on Steam as of November 2022 [2]
- 1.9+ million peak concurrent Steam users, a new record set November 2022 [3]
As these staggering figures show, Steam is central to PC gaming today. And a massive userbase relies on the platform to store and manage sizable gaming libraries. But what exactly happens to all those downloads and saves when you remove Steam from the equation?
Breakdown: What Gets Removed (And What Doesn‘t)
When you open Windows‘ Add/Remove Programs dialog and begin uninstalling Steam, there are specific components that will and won‘t get deleted from your PC:
Removed Files
- Steam Client Application
- Associated background services/processes
- Temporary app data like caches and logs
Intact Files
- Downloaded game content under Steam library folders
- Most save games and configuration files
- Local content for third-party platforms like Uplay
Digging deeper, let‘s explore what stays behind for each category – and why.
Downloaded Games Remain in Steam Library Folders
By default, all games downloaded and managed through Steam live under common Steamapps directories:
C:/Program Files/Steam/Steamapps
C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/SteamappsWhen removing the Steam client itself, uninstallation does not touch these folders or their contents. All installed title data like graphics, audio, level files, etc. stays put.
Why it remains: Steam assumes users may manually backup this high-value content before uninstalls.
Most Save Files Are Stored Separately and Locally
For the majority of titles, saved games exist outside the main game installation – making them immune to library deletions. Specific save locations depend on developers‘ preferences:
- Your Windows user profile folder (e.g.
Documents\My Games\{GameName}) - Game-specific folders in your profile (e.g. `Saved Games{GameName}*)
- General purpose folders like
My Documents
However, a few exceptions do scatter saves locally alongside game files or in appdata, covered next.
Some Saves Exist Alongside Game Installs
A minority of Steam games take the unconventional route of storing save data right beside executable and asset files under Steam‘s library folders. These saves would vanish if you deleted the parent game folder.
However, losing these localized saves likely wouldn‘t be catastrophic since cloud sync would retain offsite versions in many cases.
AppData and Registry Changes Are Reversed
Like most Windows programs, Steam scatters program data and configuration settings across AppData folders and the registry. Uninstalling generally cleans up modified OS structures by:
- Removing non-critical data from
%AppData%\Steam - Resetting registry keys created during setup back to defaults
For individual games, however, related data tucked away in AppData\Local\{GameName} would persist after Steam‘s removal.
Steam Cloud Saves Are Stored Remotely
One major advantage Steam has over standalone games is Steam Cloud support. When enabled by a developer, this feature transparently syncs your save files and configuration settings to Valve‘s servers.
The cloud integration means that even deleting local game data shouldn‘t lead to unrecoverable losses. As long as you reconnect that game license to your Steam account, synced saves can restore progress.
What About Other Platforms Like Uplay?
Third-party ecosystems like Uplay (Ubisoft Connect) and Origin (EA Desktop) can also leave leftover data if their games were installed through Steam previously.
For Ubisoft titles that leverage Uplay for achievements, friends, etc. – uninstalling Steam removes the launcher shortcut but not locally synced Uplay data. The Uplay app, credentials, and game progression stay intact.
Can You Still Play Games After Removing Steam?
If launching games through Steam disappears – how do you actually load all those downloaded titles afterwards?
Without the Steam environment‘s shortcuts and integration, playing non-DRM games you own does become more difficult but not necessarily impossible.
For example, games that don‘t mandate an online key activation can manually run via:
- Desktop shortcuts
- Windows start menu searches
- Digging directly into Steam library folders
Of course, this depends on games remaining installed. And loses conveniences like auto-updates, friend tracking, achievements etc.
What Happens When Reinstalling Steam Later?
If after removing Steam you have a change of heart (or just buy a cool new game that mandates it), reinstalling Steam later is straightforward.
The freshly installed client automatically scans the original Steamapps directories and re-indexes all detected game content. So previously purchased titles readily appear in your library just needing updated logins.
The process resembles restoring a new PC from backup: Steam reconciles folders of already owned games with your account license records. Cloud and local saves sync down for any titles launched again.
Preserving Your Games: Backup Best Practices
While uninstalling Steam seems not to pose catastrophic data threats currently, it never hurts implementing some basic safeguards for your gaming caches:
For Steam root folders:
- Backup
Steamappsand/orsteamapps/commonfolders - Copy backups to non-system drives if available
For save games:
- Sync cloud saves before uninstalling
- Manually backup profile save game folders
Alternative: Move Libraries to Another Drive
Rather than relying on manual backups, an easy way to protect games is using Steam‘s built-in tools to relocate your entire library out of default system folders before removing Steam.
For example, if you copied all game content over to a separate hard drive or external SSD beforehand, uninstalling Steam wouldn‘t touch those files at all. And that drive‘s folder can readily get re-added as a Steam library down the road in clients old or new.
| Save Game Location | Backed Up By Steam Cloud? | Survives Steam Uninstall? |
|---|---|---|
| Game Install Folder | No | Yes |
| Windows User Profile | No | Yes |
| AppData Folder | No | Yes |
| Steam Cloud | Yes | Online only |
The Verdict: Your Games Will Be Fine
So in closing – should PC gamers worry about losing access to precious gaming progress when removing Steam?
For the most part, no. The system is designed not to disturb your existing game library, configurations, and all-important save files in the process. Cloud sync and common data separation principles protect assets that can‘t be easily redownloaded.
However, retaining your collection after Steam‘s gone does require planning. Backups provide an extra level of safety for guarding hundreds or thousands of hours of gameplay time. And leaning on Steam Cloud support wherever available remains a best practice.
So while uninstalling Steam won‘t directly cause catastrophic data loss today, some due diligence is still required to keep your gaming history safe in the long run.
Hopefully this overview has brought some peace of mind around what exactly gets removed or preserved when taking a break from everyone‘s favorite gaming platform. Stay passionate!
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