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How to Delete Steam from Your MacBook: A Definitive Guide

So, you’re looking to jettison Steam from your beloved MacBook? Maybe you’re freeing up space, switching gaming platforms, or simply need a clean slate. Fear not! While deleting applications on macOS is generally straightforward, Steam, with its associated files, requires a more thorough approach. Here’s the definitive guide on how to completely remove Steam from your MacBook, ensuring no digital remnants are left behind.

The simplest, and often most effective, method involves dragging the Steam application to the Trash and then manually deleting associated files. Follow these steps meticulously:

Quit Steam Completely: This is paramount. Right-click the Steam icon in your Dock and select “Quit.” If it’s unresponsive, use Activity Monitor (located in Applications > Utilities) to force quit any Steam processes. Search for “Steam” in Activity Monitor, select any related processes, and click the “X” button in the toolbar, followed by “Force Quit.”
Drag Steam to the Trash: Locate the Steam application icon in your Applications folder. Drag it directly to the Trash icon in your Dock. Alternatively, right-click the icon and select “Move to Trash.”
Empty the Trash: Right-click the Trash icon in your Dock and select “Empty Trash.” This permanently deletes the Steam application itself.
Hunt Down Steam’s Remaining Files: This is the crucial step where many users fall short. Steam scatters files across your system. You need to manually delete these. Open Finder and use the “Go” menu. Select “Go to Folder…” or press Shift-Command-G. Enter the following paths, one at a time, and delete any Steam-related files and folders you find within them:
- ~/Library/Application Support/Steam
- ~/Library/Caches/com.valvesoftware.steam
- ~/Library/Preferences/com.valvesoftware.steam.plist
- ~/Library/Logs/Steam
- ~/Library/Saved Application State/com.valvesoftware.steam.savedState
- ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.valvesoftware.steam.helper.plist
Important Note: The ~ symbol represents your user home directory. The Library folder is often hidden by default. If you don’t see it, open Finder, navigate to your home folder, press Command-J (View Options), and check the “Show Library Folder” box.
Restart Your MacBook: While not always strictly necessary, restarting your MacBook after deleting these files ensures that any cached information is cleared.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Deleting Steam from a MacBook

Here are some common questions users have about completely removing Steam from their macOS machines, along with comprehensive answers to help you avoid any pitfalls.

Q1: What happens if I only drag Steam to the Trash?

You’ll only remove the main application file. Steam leaves behind numerous support files, caches, and preferences scattered across your system. These leftover files can take up valuable disk space and, in rare cases, potentially interfere with future installations or system performance. Therefore, deleting the associated files as outlined above is essential for a complete uninstall.

Q2: I can’t find the Library folder! Where is it?

As mentioned earlier, the Library folder in your user directory is often hidden by default in macOS. To reveal it, open Finder, navigate to your home folder (usually labeled with your username), press Command-J (View Options), and check the “Show Library Folder” box at the bottom of the window. Once visible, you can access it normally.

Q3: Is it safe to delete the files in the Library folder?

Yes, provided you are only deleting files and folders specifically related to Steam. Deleting files from the Library folder carelessly can cause serious problems with your operating system and other applications. Double-check that you’re only deleting Steam-related items as listed in the instructions.

Q4: Can I use a third-party uninstaller to remove Steam?

Yes, several third-party uninstaller applications for macOS, such as AppCleaner, CleanMyMac X, and Uninstall Buddy, can automatically identify and remove associated files along with the main application. While these tools can simplify the process, always exercise caution and review the files they propose to delete before proceeding. Ensure the uninstaller is reputable and trusted. It is also wise to create a backup of your machine beforehand.

Q5: Will deleting Steam remove my games?

Deleting Steam itself will not automatically delete your game files. Your game files are typically stored in the ~/Library/Application Support/Steam folder or in a designated Steam library folder you specified during installation. However, if you delete the entire Steam folder, you’ll also delete your downloaded games. To keep your games, back them up before uninstalling.

Q6: How do I back up my Steam games before uninstalling?

Within the Steam client, you can use the “Backup and Restore Games” feature. Go to Steam > Backup and Restore Games… Follow the prompts to create a backup of the games you want to save to an external drive or another location on your hard drive. After reinstalling Steam, you can use the “Restore” option to reinstall your games from the backup files.

Q7: I reinstalled Steam, but my games are gone!

If you didn’t back up your games before uninstalling and you deleted the ~/Library/Application Support/Steam folder, your downloaded games are likely gone. However, if you didn’t delete that folder, Steam may recognize your existing game files upon reinstall. Try going to Steam > Settings > Downloads > Steam Library Folders and adding the location where your games were previously installed.

Q8: What is the `com.valvesoftware.steam.plist` file?

The com.valvesoftware.steam.plist file is a preference file that stores Steam’s settings and configurations. Deleting it will reset Steam to its default settings upon reinstallation. It’s usually safe to delete this file as part of the uninstallation process.

Q9: I’m having trouble force quitting Steam in Activity Monitor. What should I do?

Sometimes, Steam processes can be stubborn to kill. Try the following:

Restart your MacBook: A simple restart can often resolve unresponsive applications.
Use the kill command in Terminal: Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities) and type killall Steam. Press Enter. If that doesn’t work, try killall -9 Steam (this is a more forceful command, but should be used with caution as it can potentially cause data loss if used improperly).
Check for other Steam-related processes: Look for processes like steamwebhelper or steam_osx. Force quit those as well.

Q10: Why does Steam need so many files scattered around my system?

Steam’s architecture relies on various support files for managing game installations, updates, caching data, storing preferences, and handling background processes. This distributed structure, while necessary for its functionality, contributes to the need for a thorough uninstall process.

Q11: After deleting Steam, I still see remnants of it in my Dock. How do I remove them?

Sometimes, after uninstalling an application, its icon might linger in the Dock. Right-click the icon and select “Options” > “Remove from Dock.” This will simply remove the shortcut; it won’t affect the actual application files (which you should have already deleted).

Q12: Will deleting Steam affect my Steam account?

No, deleting Steam from your MacBook will not affect your Steam account. Your account information, game licenses, and purchases are stored on Valve’s servers and are not tied to the installation of the Steam client on your computer. You can log in to your Steam account on any device with the Steam client installed.

By following these instructions and addressing these FAQs, you should be well-equipped to completely and safely remove Steam from your MacBook. Happy decluttering!