How to Hide Games in Your Steam Library

Steam is one of the most popular gaming platforms, offering a vast collection of games and features that cater to every type of gamer. But with a large library, you might find yourself wanting to keep some games out of sight—whether for privacy, decluttering, or just personal preference. Luckily, Steam offers simple ways to hide games without uninstalling them. This guide will walk you through the process, step by step.

 Why Hide Games in Your Steam Library?

There are several reasons you might want to hide a game:

- Privacy: You might not want others to see certain games in your library, especially if you share your computer with family or friends.

- Organization: As your game collection grows, hiding games you don’t play often can help you manage your library more efficiently.

- Focus: Removing distractions by hiding games you’re not currently playing can help you focus on your current favorites.

Whatever your reason, Steam makes it easy to hide games from view.

 Step-by-Step Guide to Hiding Games on Steam

 1. Open Steam and Navigate to Your Library

First, launch Steam on your computer. If you’re not already logged in, you’ll need to enter your username and password. Once logged in, click on the “Library” tab at the top of the window. This is where all your games are stored and organized.

 2. Locate the Game You Want to Hide

Scroll through your library to find the game you wish to hide. If you have a large collection, you can use the search bar in the upper-left corner to quickly locate the game by typing its name.

 3. Right-Click on the Game

Once you’ve found the game, right-click on its name. This will open a context menu with several options.

 4. Select ‘Manage’

In the context menu, hover over the “Manage” option. This will expand into a secondary menu.

 5. Choose ‘Hide this game’

In the expanded menu, you’ll see the option labeled “Hide this game.” Click on it, and the game will instantly disappear from your main library view.

Congratulations! The game is now hidden. It won’t show up in your main library anymore, but don’t worry—you haven’t lost it.

 How to Access and Unhide Hidden Games

Now that you’ve hidden your game, you might wonder how to access it again or unhide it if you change your mind. Steam makes this just as easy as hiding the game.

 1. Open the Steam Library and Click on ‘View’

To find hidden games, go to your Steam library and click on the “View” menu at the top of the screen.

 2. Select ‘Hidden Games’

In the drop-down menu, you’ll see an option labeled “Hidden Games.” Click on this, and a list of all the games you’ve hidden will appear.

 3. Unhide a Game

If you want to unhide a game, simply right-click on it, go to “Manage” in the context menu, and then click on “Remove from hidden.” The game will now reappear in your main library view.

 Additional Tips

- Using the Steam Client on Different Devices: Whether you’re using a Windows PC, Mac, or even Linux, the steps to hide games in Steam are virtually identical. The Steam client is designed to provide a consistent experience across all platforms.

- Game Installation and Updates: Hiding a game does not uninstall it, and it will still receive updates if the developer releases any. If you want to stop updates for a hidden game, you’ll need to manage this through the game’s properties by right-clicking on it (even while hidden) and adjusting the update settings.

- Hiding vs. Removing from Account: Hiding a game simply removes it from your visible library. If you want to completely remove a game from your Steam account (which means you’ll lose access to it unless you purchase it again), you’ll need to take a different set of steps through Steam support.

 Conclusion

Hiding games in your Steam library is a handy feature that allows you to manage your collection better, maintain privacy, and keep your library clutter-free. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a dedicated enthusiast, these easy-to-follow steps will help you tailor your Steam experience to your liking.

Steam’s flexibility with features like hiding games is part of what makes it such a powerful platform for gamers. Now that you know how to hide and unhide games, you can keep your library organized and private with ease.