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Windows September 12, 2003
OS X May 12, 2010
Linux February 14, 2013
Steam
|
Digital Distribution
Key points
- DRM: Digital distribution platform with accompanying client required for downloading and often playing games as well. Games can also be DRM-Free or contain third party DRM.
- Refund policy: 14 days or 2 hours of playtime,; see the Steam Refunds and Pre-release titles are refundable through the Store Transactions
- Two-factor authentication: Steam Mobile app or email
- Some games sold through third parties activate on Steam; see Retail / Digital CD Keys.
- Periodic free weekend and individual publisher-driven events provide temporary and permanent free access to select titles.
General information
- Official store
- Official Support
- Account details
- Steam Community Discussions
- Steam Users' Forums
- Steam Database
Big Picture
- This mode can be launched by clicking on the Big Picture icon, by pushing Alt+↵ Enter while the Steam window is on focus, or through the home button on a controller.
- See PC gaming on a TV and couch for general setup information.
- Allows Steam to be used with a controller.
Adjust font size DPI (Windows)
- Steam does not always respect the Windows DPI settings.
- Appears to work if the Windows DPI settings are also adjusted above 100% size.
Taskbar showing on top (Windows)
- This is caused by the incompatibility with DPI scaling in Windows.
Family Sharing
- Allows sharing games between accounts. Each account gets separate saves, achievements, et al. except for DRM keys, which are shared.[1]
- If the account's main owner is playing a game from their own account, or someone else is using family share on that account, you are presented with the "buy" option instead of install/play for the selected game.[2]
- VAC bans can apply to the both the perpetrator and the owning account of a shared game, and the Family Share feature can be revoked entirely.[1]
- Games with 3rd party DRM tied to account-locked keys (such as Uplay), have the feature specifically turned off by their publisher, or are VAC-banned cannot be shared and are not shown in shared accounts.[1]
Issues unresolved
Steam doesn't scale DPI correctly
Steam does not scale DPI properly over 100% DPI scale. Valve has still not implemented support for HiDPI resolutions.[3]
Issues fixed
Error 80 And Application Load Error P:0000065432
- Restart Steam.
Failed To Find Steam
- Restart Steam. If this doesn't work, then see Delete ClientRegistry.blob.
Failed to start game. App already running
- This may appear when launching the same game twice. Restart Steam if it still appears.
Game fails to launch or has odd gamebreaking issues
Lowered volume when using background Metro apps while Steam is open (Windows 8)
Make the Big Picture web browser faster (Windows)
- This feature is enabled by default for compatibility reasons. It can add significant delays when loading any content on the internet, and as such is not usually required.
- Certain browsers such as Chrome may benefit from this change too.
Steam fails to launch
- No error messages are present, placeholder.
Delete ClientRegistry.blob
- Steam updates sometimes fail to progress, or the message Failed to find Steam appears.
Reinstalling Steam
- If the other solutions don't work, then follow these instructions.
- Every Steam game should be installed in a separate folder, outside the main Steam installation location, this makes it easier to play and backup such games again.
Step One
Step Two
Step Three
Changing the main Steam installation paths
- This is for games downloaded outside of the main Steam installation path.
Unable to download any games
- Steam servers are currently unavailable.
- Steam servers are too busy.
- The Steam servers are currently too busy to handle your request. Please try again in a few minutes.
Unable to log in
- Steam has an official support page for most network issues here.
Other information
Change a game's language
Delete files stored in the Steam Cloud
Disable Steam announcements
Disabling automatic game updates
- This feature has never been available. The Only update this game when I launch it checkbox doesn't do anything either, the only way to avoid updates is by playing Offline.[4]
Steam Offline Mode
- The Steam Offline Mode can only be enabled after logging in at least once with a working internet connection.
Toggle Steam Cloud per game
Toggle the Steam overlay per game
Copying a game from a different computer
References