How to Download Steam and Install Games on Windows, Mac, and Linux

To download Steam and install games, get the desktop client from Valve, sign in to a Steam account, add a game to your library, then use the Library tab to install and launch it. You can browse and buy games in a web browser, but the Steam desktop client handles game downloads, installation, updates, and launching.

Before you download Steam

Start with Valve's official Steam download page. Avoid third-party download sites, because Valve provides the current installer directly.

Make sure your operating system is still supported. Steam stopped supporting Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 on January 1, 2024, and it stopped supporting 32-bit Windows on January 1, 2026. For Windows, use a supported 64-bit version of Windows. Steam also stopped supporting macOS 11 Big Sur on October 15, 2025, so Mac users should use macOS 12 or newer. On Linux, Valve requires glibc 2.31 or newer and recommends a current, supported distribution.

Steam download page with the Install Steam button — Use Valve's official Steam page to download the current client for your operating system.

How to download and install Steam

Open the official download page. Go to store.steampowered.com/about and select Install Steam. Valve's installation support page also points users to this installer.
Run the installer. On Windows, open the downloaded Steam installer and follow the setup prompts. On macOS, open the downloaded installer and place Steam in Applications when prompted. On Linux, use the current Steam package for your distribution; Valve's official Linux troubleshooting guidance focuses on the most recent Ubuntu LTS.

Steam Setup window on Windows showing the Next button — Run the Steam installer and follow the setup prompts on your computer.

Launch Steam and sign in. Steam may update itself the first time it opens. Sign in with your account name and password, create an account if you do not have one, or use the QR sign-in option with the Steam mobile app.

Steam sign-in screen with account fields and a QR code option — Steam supports account-password sign-in and QR sign-in through the Steam mobile app.

How to add a game and install it

Find the game in the Store. Before buying, check the operating-system icons and the game's minimum and recommended system requirements. A title in your Steam library is not automatically compatible with every operating system. Valve specifically advises checking the supported platform and OS version for each game.

Steam game store page showing platform icons and system requirements — Check a game's supported platforms and system requirements before you buy or install it.

Add the game to your account. For a paid game, choose Add to Cart and complete checkout. Free-to-play games can usually be added without a purchase. Steam games are licensed to your account; they are not ordinary second-hand copies that you can freely resell or transfer to another account.

Steam store page for a game with Add to Cart and platform icons — Paid games are added through checkout, while free-to-play titles can be added directly to your Steam account.

Install from your Library. Open Library, select the game, and click Install. If you have more than one Steam library location, choose the drive you want. You can manage additional locations in Steam > Settings > Storage.

Steam Install dialog showing drive selection and available disk space — The Install dialog lets you choose a Steam library location when more than one storage option is available.

Wait for the download to finish. Steam's Downloads view shows progress and queued updates. Valve also lets you reorder queued downloads and manage automatic-update timing from the download settings.

Steam Downloads page showing game download progress — The Downloads view shows progress while Steam downloads and installs the game files.

Click Play. Once installation is complete, open the game's Library page and select Play. If a game will not start or files appear damaged, right-click the game, choose Properties, open Installed Files, and select Verify integrity of game files.

Steam Library game page with Play button and Installed Files verification option — Launch an installed game from Library, or use Installed Files to verify the game if files are missing or corrupted.

What to check before buying a Steam game

Supported operating systems: Windows, macOS, and Linux support varies by title. On Linux, some Windows games may work through Steam Play/Proton, but compatibility is game-specific.
Hardware requirements: Check CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, and any 64-bit OS requirement on the store page.
Extra accounts or launchers: Some third-party games require an additional publisher account or launcher.
Available disk space: Leave room not only for the listed installation size but also for updates and temporary download data.

Refunds and account security

Valve's standard Steam refund policy says games and software are generally eligible when the request is made within 14 days of purchase and playtime is under two hours. You can still submit a request outside those limits for Valve to review.

Protect your purchases with Steam Guard. The Steam mobile authenticator adds two-factor authentication and supports QR sign-in. Never share your password, Steam Guard code, or recovery code.

Quick fixes if a Steam game will not download or launch

Restart Steam and, if needed, restart the computer.
Confirm the selected Steam library has enough free space in Settings > Storage.
If downloads are stuck, use Steam > Settings > Downloads > Clear Cache and sign back in if Steam asks.
For launch problems or damaged files, use Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files.
Use Valve's Update & Installation Issues guide for persistent download or installation errors.

Once Steam is installed and your game is in the Library, Steam handles the normal download, installation, patching, and launch workflow for you.

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