Steam Tricks Every Gamer Must Know

With over 120 million active users, Steam is one of the most popular gaming platforms. You can play games with your friends or alone.

Also, Steam supports third-party controllers. The game’s library is always updated, and there are ongoing sales so that you can snag a great deal.

Although the platform offers endless gaming opportunities for PC gamers, it is considered an essential application for anyone wanting to game on a Mac. However, the app may not open from time to time. You can fix Steam not opening issues by checking whether the server is down or uninstalling and reinstalling the app.

However, whether you are a PC gamer or want to play games on your Mac, here are some Steam tips you must know.

Select the location where you’ll save the games

For most people, the default location for the games library is more than enough. However, if you want to be specific about where your downloads end up, open the Steam app > click Menu > select Settings > choose Downloads > select Steam Library Folders. Then, you can add folder destinations besides the default one.

If you wish to move a game, right-click on the game title in the Library and choose Properties > Local Files.

Create a collection of games

If you are an avid gamer, chances are your library of games will get bigger. So naturally, therefore, managing the library may seem like a daunting task.

It is best to split your games into collections to find the titles you want to play quickly. Then, split the games by how you like them or by genre.

Under the Library section, right-click on any game title in the list and choose Add To. If you have an existing collection, choose that. Or you can create a new collection.

If you are creating a new collection, consider making it dynamic. Then, the collection will automatically populate itself according to your criteria, like genre, play state, features, etc.

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Enable 2FA and Steam Guard

Create an additional layer of security to thwart unauthorized access by enabling Steam Guard. You can set it up on the browser or desktop application by clicking your username > Account Details > Manage Steam Guard under Account Security.

With Steam Guard enabled, you will have codes sent to your email or phone. You can even deauthorize other devices or computers except for the one you currently use.

Steam recommends sending secret codes to your phone to serve as two-factor authentication.

Share your gaming library with friends

It is excellent that you have created a massive gaming library via Steam. But do you know how to share it with your friends or family?

Steam allows you to choose up to five people who can use your library across ten devices that you have authorized. To share your gaming library, launch the Steam app > click Steam > choose Preferences (Mac) or Settings (Windows) > select Family and click the box next to Authorize Library Sharing on this Computer.

To revoke access, click the username in the Steam app and select Account Details. Then, scroll to find Family Settings and choose Manage Family Library Sharing. Finally, click Revoke under Sharing Status for devices and accounts you don’t wish to provide access to.

Use Remote Play Together

If you want to play local multiplayer games with your family or friends, Steam has got you covered. Thanks to the app’s Remote Play feature, up to four players can join.

Find the list of compatible Remote Play games by opening the Steam application > clicking Categories > choosing Remote Play under Special Sections.

Launch a game to start a session and ensure your friends are logged into Steam from their devices. Then, open Steam Overlay in-game and find your friends. Right-click on the names of the people you wish to play with and choose Remote Play Together. The game will start once your invites are accepted.

Play non-Steam games

Steam offers a massive gaming library. However, if you want to play games that are not native to this platform, you can simply add a non-Steam game to your gaming library.

Open the Steam application > click Add Game > select Add a Non-Steam Game. A window listing all the games on your device will open. Then, click the box next to the game you want to add > click Add Selected Programs.

If the game you wish to add to this platform is not on the list, select Browse, and the platform will expand your search results. Then, find the game and click Open. Ensure the game is checked in the Add a Game window and then choose Add Selected Programs.

The Bottom Line

Be sure to use these Steam tricks if you are an avid gamer on this platform. Missing out on them would mean not fully utilizing the platform. Best of luck!