Reinstall Steam

Reinstalling Steam can seem like a real challenge, especially with a large game collection. The main effort is to re-download all games after a careless installation. This can be easily avoided if you save them beforehand. We explain how to do it.

Preparation for new installation: Save SteamApps

In any case, if you want to reinstall Steam, you must first exit the program if it is currently running. After that, you have to back up your games before uninstalling.

• Open your Steam installation directory, for example C: \ Steam.
• Copy the "steamapps" folder it contains to your desktop or to another directory that is not affected by the reinstallation. This folder contains the game files that you want to copy back to the Steam directory after a successful reinstallation.
• Note that you can also change the default directory of the "Steamapps" folder in your Steam settings. If the folder is not in the installation directory or is relatively small, you may have created a second installation directory. To check that, open Steam. In the settings, select "Downloads" and click here on "Steam library folder" (see graphic). All installation folders are shown here, and you can add new ones and remove old ones.
• In any case, back up "Steamapps" folders that are not directly in the installation directory to avoid problems. After the reinstallation, however, also check whether this external directory has been added to Steam as described previously. Only then will the games be visible in the library.

Reinstall Steam and start playing right away

Now it's time to set up Steam again, as you are used to. Only then will you need the backed up folder.

1. Open the program administration in the control panel. Find Steam in the list and uninstall the program.
2. Download the current Steam installer from Chip.de and follow the installation instructions.
3. When the installation is complete, start Steam and update the program if necessary.
4. Now move the saved "steamapps" folder back to the Steam directory. If yes, you may answer the security question that may arise as to whether this folder should be integrated into an existing one with the same name.
5. Now start Steam as usual and enjoy all the games that you had on the record without any problems.

• Note: If you want to reinstall Steam in the same directory, you have to completely empty the folder after the installation and remove the config directory, for example, which may still exist after uninstalling. Like the "steamapps" directory, you can move this out of the folder and pull it back later to apply your previous settings.
• Tip: With the free "Steam Mover" you can easily change the location of your Steam games using a tool and thus move the data.