Steam is Valve’s free client for PC gaming. You use it to buy and download games, keep them updated, launch them, save progress to the cloud where games support it, chat with friends and stream games to other devices with Remote Play. The client itself is free; you pay for the games you buy, while free-to-play games are free to download.
Who it suits
- PC players who want a single library for most of their games.
- Linux users, since Valve supports Linux and runs many Windows games through its compatibility layer.
- Anyone installing free-to-play titles such as Counter-Strike 2 or Dota 2.
How to get the official version
Download the installer from store.steampowered.com/about. The page offers an installer for Windows, a .dmg for macOS and a .deb for Linux. Many Linux distributions also package Steam. After installation, Steam updates itself.
Valve also publishes a separate Steam mobile app for Android and iPhone, which the Steam site describes as a way to access Steam from your phone. Install it only from Google Play or the App Store.
Cost
Installing Steam and creating an account are free. Games, downloadable content and in-game items are sold individually.
Requirements
Valve ended Steam client support for Windows 7 and 8 on 1 January 2024 and for 32-bit Windows 10 on 1 January 2026, so you need 64-bit Windows 10 or 11. On macOS, Valve ended support for macOS 10.14 and older in February 2024. Each game has its own requirements, listed on its store page.
Safety notes
Fake Steam login pages and fake installers are a common way accounts get stolen. Type store.steampowered.com yourself, turn on Steam Guard, and never enter your password on a site you reached through a chat link.
Questions
Is Steam free?
Yes. The client and account are free. You only pay for the games and items you buy.
Does Steam work on Windows 7?
No. Valve stopped supporting Windows 7 and 8 on 1 January 2024.
Can I install it with winget?
Yes: winget install Valve.Steam.
