Where are Steam Games Stored and How to Find Them?

Where are Steam Games Stored?

Steam stores installed game files inside the steamapps\common folder of the Steam Library used for that game. The paths below are common defaults, not fixed locations. If you selected another drive or created more than one Steam Library, use Steam's Storage settings or the "Browse" option for the game.

• Windows: The default location is C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common. A custom library may instead use a path such as D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common.
• macOS: The usual location is ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps/common. The user Library folder is hidden by default.
• Linux: A common location is ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common. The exact path can vary with the Steam package, distribution, or a custom library.

How to Find Steam Game Files?

Now that you know where Steam games are stored, let's explore how to find Steam save files. In the upcoming sections, we'll cover three methods to access these files. This will be helpful for preserving game progress, data transfers, and issue resolution.

Method 1. Find Steam Games via File Explorer or Finder

If you haven't altered the default installation path, you can use File Explorer or Finder to locate Steam game files. If the folder is empty or missing, the game may be in a custom Steam Library on another drive.

On Windows:

• Launch File Explorer on Windows by pressing Windows + E.

• Paste C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common into the address bar and press Enter.

  

• Double-click the "common" folder, which contains folders named after individual Steam games. Browse through the list to find the required game files.

On Mac:

• Instead of File Explorer, open "Finder."

• Choose "Go" in the top menu bar, then select "Go to Folder."

• Enter ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps/common to open the usual Steam game location.

  

Method 2. Find Steam Games via Storage Settings

If you've designated another location on your drive to store Steam games, you can still locate them through the Steam Library. Steam's Storage settings show every registered library and the games stored on each drive.

Depending on the client version, Storage may appear directly in Settings or under "Downloads" as "Steam Library Folders."

• Press the Windows key. Type "Steam" and press Enter to open the Steam desktop app.

• Click "Steam" at the top left, then select "Settings."

  

• Open "Storage." In an older Steam client, open "Downloads" and choose "Steam Library Folders."

  

• In Storage Manager, select the drive that contains the game. Open the drive menu and choose "Browse Folder" when that option is available.

  

• If Steam displays only the library "Folder" path, copy it into File Explorer on Windows or Finder on macOS.

• Open "steamapps", then "common", and select the game's folder.

  

Method 3. Open a Game Folder via Installed Files

For one specific game, the "Browse" command is the fastest and most reliable option because Steam opens the correct library automatically. In older versions of Steam, "Installed Files" may be labeled "Local Files."

• Open the Steam application on your computer.

• Click the "Library" tab at the top. Right-click the game whose folder you want to access, then select "Properties."

  

• Open "Installed Files" and select "Browse Local Files" Steam will open the folder that contains the game's installed files.

  

How to Change or Move a Steam Game Location?

Relocating Steam game installations to a different drive or directory can help you manage storage space. Setting a new default affects future installations but does not move games that are already installed.

Here's how to do.

• Open Steam on your computer. Click "Steam" in the top bar and select "Settings" from the menu.

  

• Open "Storage." If you use an older client, open "Downloads" and choose "Steam Library Folders." This opens Storage Manager.

  

• Click the Plus button next to the storage disk. Then select the location you want to add. The new drive will be listed in Storage Manager.

  

• To use the new library for future downloads, open its menu and select "Make Default." To relocate an existing game, select the game in Storage Manager and choose "Move," then select the destination.

  

That's it. Let Steam complete the move before closing the client or disconnecting a drive. When the process finishes, open the game from Steam to confirm that the installation is recognized.

Bonus Tip: How to Recover Deleted Steam Game Files or Save Files?

If standard Steam installation files are deleted, you can usually restore them by reinstalling the game or verifying its files in Steam. However, a recovery tool may be needed for lost local saves, screenshots, and other personal files that are not synced to Steam Cloud or backed up elsewhere.

If the files are no longer in the Recycle Bin, 4DDiG Data Recovery can scan the affected drive for recoverable data. You can preview the scan results and select the files you want to restore. Some key features of 4DDiG include:

• Recover files that have been formatted, accidentally deleted, hidden, or lost.
• Recover 2000+ file types, including documents, photos, videos, archives, and audio.
• Scan SSDs, HDDs, USB drives, SD cards and other storage devices on Windows or macOS.

Use the steps below to scan for deleted Steam game files or local saves:

• Choose a Location for Scanning

  Open 4DDiG and select the drive or partition where the deleted Steam save, screenshot, mod, or other personal game file was originally stored. Then start the scan.

  

• Scan and Preview Steam Files

  While the scan is running, use the "File Type" filter or "Search" feature to narrow the results. Search for the game name, save file name, folder name, or file extension if you know it.

  

• Recover the Selected Files

  Select the Steam file you want to restore. Preview it when available to confirm that it is the correct file, then click "Recover."

  

• Save the Recoverable Files

  Choose a different drive or another safe location for the recovered Steam files. Do not save them back to the affected drive during recovery. Click "Save Now" to complete the process.

  

FAQs

Are Steam game files and save files stored in the same folder?

No, not always. Installed game files are usually in a Steam Library's steamapps\common folder, while saves may be in Documents, AppData, Saved Games, the installation folder, or another game-specific location.

How do I find Steam games installed on another drive?

Open Steam's "Settings," select "Storage," and choose each registered drive to view its library. For one specific game, right-click it in "Library," open "Properties" and "Installed Files," then select "Browse."

Final Words

Knowing where Steam games are stored makes it easier to locate and manage installed games with Steam's "Storage" and "Browse" options. If important local game data is deleted without a backup, stop using the affected drive to reduce the risk of overwriting it. 4DDiG File Recovery can then help scan the drive for recoverable files.