Stop a download in progress on Steam

To cancel a download that is currently running, open the Steam client and go to your Library. Find the game that is downloading — you will see a progress bar next to its name. Right-click on the game title and select Cancel Download from the menu that appears. The download will stop immediately, and Steam will remove the partially downloaded files by default.

If you do not see the Cancel Download option, click on the game name itself to open its store page, then look for a pause or stop button in the download section. On some versions of Steam, you can also click the X button next to the progress bar directly from the Library view.

The files Steam has already downloaded will be deleted unless you change a setting. If you think you might want to resume the download later, pause it instead of cancelling — paused downloads keep their files on your hard drive and can be resumed without starting from zero.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any downloading game in your Steam Library and select Cancel Download to stop it immediately.
  • Cancelling removes the partially downloaded files, while pausing keeps them so you can resume later.
  • You can also cancel downloads from the game's store page using the pause or stop button in the download section.
  • Steam will not charge you or lock your account if you cancel a download — you can start it again anytime.

Pause instead of cancel if you might resume

Pausing a download is different from cancelling it. When you pause, Steam keeps all the files it has already downloaded on your computer. When you are ready to continue, Steam picks up where it left off instead of starting the entire download again. This saves time and bandwidth if your internet connection drops or you need to free up your computer for something else temporarily.

To pause a download, right-click the game in your Library and select Pause Download. The progress bar will freeze at its current point. You can pause and resume the same download as many times as you need. If you later decide you do not want the game at all, you can then cancel it and remove those files.

Free up space by removing downloaded files

If you cancelled a download but Steam did not automatically delete the files, or if you want to manually remove them, you can do so through Steam itself. Right-click the game in your Library, select Manage, then choose Uninstall. This will remove any files associated with that game, whether the download was complete or partial.

You can also navigate to your Steam installation folder on your hard drive and delete the game folder manually. On Windows, this is usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common. On Mac, it is ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps/common. Find the folder with the game's name and delete it to free up space immediately.

Prevent accidental downloads from starting

If you find yourself cancelling downloads often, you may want to change your Steam settings so downloads do not start automatically. Open Steam, go to Settings (or Preferences on Mac), then select Downloads. Look for the option that says Allow downloads during gameplay or Limit bandwidth. You can also set Steam to ask for permission before downloading any game, rather than starting automatically when you add it to your Library.

Another useful setting is Content Update Preferences, which lets you choose whether Steam automatically downloads updates for your games. Turning this off means you control when updates happen, and you can cancel them if needed.

What happens to your game after you cancel

Cancelling a download does not affect your account or your ownership of the game. The game will remain in your Library, and you can start the download again at any time. Steam does not charge you extra or penalize you for cancelling. You will not lose access to the game, and there is no waiting period before you can download it again.

If you purchased the game but decide you do not want it, you have a separate option: you can request a refund through Steam's refund system. Cancelling a download is not the same as requesting a refund. A cancelled download just stops the file transfer; a refund returns your money and removes the game from your account entirely.

Troubleshooting a stuck or frozen download

Sometimes a download appears to be running but is not actually progressing — the speed shows zero bytes per second, or the percentage has not changed in several minutes. Try pausing the download for 10 seconds, then resuming it. This often restarts the connection to Steam's servers and gets the download moving again.

If pausing and resuming does not work, cancel the download and restart the Steam client entirely. Close Steam completely, wait a few seconds, then open it again. Go back to your Library and start the download fresh. If the problem continues, check your internet connection and make sure no other program is using all your bandwidth. You can also try changing your download region in Steam Settings under Downloads — sometimes a different server location downloads faster or more reliably.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose the game if I cancel the download?

No. Cancelling a download removes only the files that were being transferred to your computer. The game remains in your Steam Library, and you own it. You can start downloading it again whenever you want, and Steam will not charge you again.

Can I cancel a download on my phone or tablet?

The Steam mobile app does not let you manage downloads directly. You must use the Steam client on a computer to cancel, pause, or resume downloads. However, you can use the mobile app to see which games are currently downloading and check their progress.

What is the difference between pausing and cancelling?

Pausing keeps the files Steam has already downloaded, so you can resume later without losing progress. Cancelling removes those files and starts from scratch if you download again. Use pause if you think you will continue soon; use cancel if you want to free up space or have decided against the game.

How long does it take to cancel a download?

Cancelling is instant — Steam stops the transfer immediately. Removing the files may take a few seconds depending on how much data was downloaded, but you will see the game disappear from your Downloads section right away.

Can I cancel a download if Steam is updating?

Yes. You can cancel game downloads while Steam itself is updating. The two processes are separate. However, if Steam is in the middle of a critical update, you may need to wait for it to finish before you can access the Library or change download settings.