How to Delete a Game on Steam: Uninstall, Remove, and Hide Your Library

Managing your Steam library is something every PC gamer eventually needs to do — whether you're clearing disk space, tidying up your collection, or getting rid of a game you'll never play again. Steam gives you a few different options depending on what you actually want to accomplish, and they're not all the same thing.

What "Deleting" a Game on Steam Actually Means

Before you start clicking, it's worth understanding that Steam separates two distinct actions:

• Uninstalling a game removes the local files from your hard drive but keeps the game in your Steam library. You can reinstall it anytime, as long as it's still available on the platform.
• Removing a game from your library hides or permanently removes it from your visible game list, but doesn't necessarily affect your license.

Most people asking this question just want to free up disk space — and that means uninstalling, not necessarily deleting the library entry entirely.

How to Uninstall a Game on Steam 🎮

This is the most common action, and it takes about 30 seconds.

On Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux)

1. Open the Steam client and go to your Library
2. Right-click on the game you want to remove
3. Select Manage from the dropdown menu
4. Click Uninstall
5. Confirm when prompted

Steam will remove all local game files. Your save data stored in the Steam Cloud (if the game supports it) will remain intact online. Locally stored saves — those kept only on your hard drive — will be deleted along with the game files, so take note of that distinction before you confirm.

On Steam Deck

1. Press the Steam button to open the menu
2. Navigate to your Library
3. Highlight the game and press the Options button (the three-dot icon or the menu button)
4. Select Uninstall

The process is nearly identical to desktop, just adapted for controller navigation.

How to Remove a Game From Your Steam Library

If you want the game completely gone from your library view — not just uninstalled — Steam offers a separate option.

Hiding a Game

Hiding is the lighter-touch version. It removes the game from your default library view without deleting anything or affecting your license.

1. Right-click the game in your Library
2. Go to Manage
3. Click Hide this game

To see hidden games later, go to View > Hidden Games in the Steam client.

Removing a Game Permanently From Your Account

Steam does allow permanent removal of certain games from your account, but this comes with important caveats:

• This option is available through the Steam Support website, not the main client
• Not all games can be removed — Steam restricts this for games with significant playtime or those tied to VAC bans
• Removing a game from your account is permanent. You lose the license and cannot re-add it without repurchasing

To do this, visit help.steampowered.com, select the game, and look for the option to remove it from your account. Steam will warn you clearly before completing the action.

What Happens to Your Save Files?

This is where things vary significantly depending on how the game handles saves:

Games that use Steam Cloud — identifiable by the cloud icon on the game's Steam page — are generally safe to uninstall without losing progress. Games that store saves locally in their own installation folder will lose that data when uninstalled.

If you're unsure, check the game's Steam store page or community forums before uninstalling.

Freeing Up Disk Space: A Few Extra Options

If your main goal is storage management, Steam has a built-in tool worth knowing about.

Go to Steam > Settings > Storage (or Steam > Settings > Downloads > Steam Library Folders in older versions). This panel shows you a breakdown of how much space each game is taking up across your drives. You can uninstall games directly from this view, which makes bulk cleanup much faster than right-clicking individually.

Steam also stores download cache and shader pre-compilation files separately from game installs. These can accumulate over time and are cleared through Settings > Downloads > Clear Download Cache.

The Variables That Affect Your Approach 🖥️

The right move depends on factors specific to your situation:

• How much storage you have — NVMe SSDs tend to fill up fast; HDDs offer more room but slower load times. Your storage type and size changes how aggressively you need to manage installs.
• Whether the game has cloud saves — determines whether uninstalling is truly reversible without losing progress
• Your playtime and attachment to the license — permanent account removal can't be undone, which matters a lot if you've logged hours or paid full price
• Whether the game uses a secondary launcher — games tied to Ubisoft Connect, EA App, or Rockstar Launcher may store files and save data outside Steam's control entirely

For most users, uninstalling through the right-click menu covers everything they need. But for games with complex save structures, third-party DRM, or no cloud backup, the decision is worth a moment of thought before confirming. Your specific library, storage setup, and how much you value each game's save data are what ultimately determine which option makes the most sense.