If you are getting into PC gaming for the first time, there is a good chance that one of the first applications you will need is Steam.
Steam has been around for more than two decades, but if you have never used it before, opening the platform for the first time can still be slightly confusing. There is a store, a game library, friends list, community pages, server browsers, Workshop content, account security settings and dozens of other features competing for your attention.
The good news is that you do not need to understand all of that before playing your first game.
Getting started with Steam is actually straightforward. You need an account, the Steam application installed on your computer and a game added to your library. From there, Steam handles most of the boring work such as downloading game files and installing updates.
This guide walks through the entire process from the beginning, including creating a Steam account, installing Steam, downloading your first game, understanding your library, joining multiplayer servers and protecting your account.
If you have never used Steam before, start here.
What Is Steam?
Steam is a PC gaming platform operated by Valve, the company behind games including Counter-Strike, Half-Life, Portal, Left 4 Dead and Dota 2.
The easiest way to understand Steam is to think of it as several gaming services combined into one application.
It is a digital game store where you can buy games. It is also a library where those games are stored and managed. Steam handles game downloads, installations and updates, while also providing multiplayer and community features such as friends, chat, achievements, screenshots, reviews and game-specific discussion pages.
For games that support them, Steam also provides features such as Steam Workshop and community-created content.
Most importantly, creating a Steam account and installing the Steam application itself does not require purchasing a game.
There are many free-to-play games available on the platform, meaning you can create an account, install Steam and start playing without buying anything.
What Do You Need Before Installing Steam?
You do not need a dedicated gaming PC simply to install Steam.
However, the requirements of the games you want to play are much more important than the requirements of the Steam application itself.
Before downloading a game, you should know some basic information about your computer:
- Operating system
- Processor
- Amount of RAM
- Graphics card
- Available storage space
- Internet connection
Every game has its own hardware requirements.
A small indie game might run perfectly on an older laptop, while a modern AAA title may require a powerful graphics card, significant storage space and considerably more memory.
This is one of the most important lessons for anyone new to PC: being able to install Steam does not necessarily mean your computer can run every Steam game.
Always check the system requirements on a game's store page before purchasing it.
Step 1: Download Steam
The first thing you need is the official Steam client.
Go to the official Steam website and find the Install Steam option. Download the installer for your operating system.
On Windows, this will download the Steam installer to your computer, usually into your Downloads folder unless you have configured your browser to save files somewhere else.
Once the download finishes, locate the installer and open it.
Only Download Steam From the Official Website
This is worth mentioning because new PC users sometimes search for software downloads through Google and click the first download site they see.
There is no reason to download Steam from a third-party website. Use Valve's official Steam website.
Third-party download sites may offer outdated installers, additional software or, in the worst cases, malicious files disguised as legitimate programs.
The official installer is all you need.
Step 2: Install Steam on Windows
Open the Steam installer you just downloaded.
Windows may ask whether you want to allow the application to make changes to your device. Confirm that you downloaded the installer from the official Steam website before continuing.
The installation wizard will then guide you through the process. You will normally be asked to select a language and choose where Steam should be installed.
For most users, the default installation location is perfectly fine. There is usually no advantage to changing it unless you have a specific reason, such as organising applications across multiple drives.
Continue through the installer and allow Steam to finish installing.
When installation is complete, launch Steam. Steam may download additional files or updates when it starts for the first time. This is normal. The client regularly receives updates from Valve.
Step 3: Create a Steam Account
If you already have a Steam account, you can simply sign in. If this is your first time using Steam, you will need to create one.
You can create an account through Steam's website or begin the process through the Steam application.
You will be asked for information including an email address and your country of residence. Steam will send a verification email to the address you provide. Open that email and follow the verification process.
After verifying your email, continue setting up your account.
Choose your account credentials carefully. Your Steam account may eventually contain purchased games, items, friends and years of gaming history, so treat it like an important account rather than a disposable gaming login.
Steam Account Name vs Profile Name
This confuses a lot of new users.
Your Steam account name and your public profile name are not necessarily the same thing.
Your account name is used when signing into your Steam account. Your profile name is what other people generally see around Steam.
The public profile name can be changed. So if you create an account and later decide that your visible gaming name is terrible, you do not need to create an entirely new Steam account just to change how your name appears to other players.
Step 4: Sign In to Steam
Once your account has been created, return to the Steam client. Enter your Steam account name and password.
After signing in successfully, you will arrive at the main Steam interface. At first it can look like there is a lot happening. You do not need to learn everything immediately.
The two sections that matter most at the beginning are the Store and the Library.
The Store is where you discover and acquire games. The Library is where you manage the games attached to your account.
If you understand those two sections, you already understand the core Steam workflow.
Step 5: Secure Your Steam Account
Before buying games, it is worth spending a few minutes securing your account.
Use a unique password that you do not use for your email, Discord or other gaming services. Your email account should also be protected because it can be important when recovering your Steam account.
Steam provides additional account security through Steam Guard. For stronger protection, you can use the Steam Mobile app and its authentication features. This adds another layer of protection if somebody obtains your password.
Account security becomes increasingly important as your Steam library grows. A brand-new account containing no purchased games may not feel valuable. Five years later, the same account could contain hundreds of games and valuable in-game items.
Protect it from the beginning.
Never Give Anyone Your Steam Guard Code
A legitimate person does not need your authentication code to "verify" your items or account.
Be suspicious of messages claiming:
- Your account was accidentally reported
- You need to contact a Steam administrator on Discord
- Your items need to be verified
- You have won an expensive item
- Someone needs your login to join a tournament
- You need to sign into an unfamiliar website to vote for a team
Steam accounts are frequently targeted by phishing attempts because some accounts contain valuable inventories.
If somebody creates urgency and immediately asks you to sign in somewhere, slow down and check what you are actually opening.
Step 6: Explore the Steam Store
Now you are ready to find a game.
Open the Store section. You can search directly for a game by name or browse categories, recommendations and popular releases.
When you open a game's store page, do not immediately click Buy. Scroll through the page first. There is a lot of useful information there.
Look at screenshots and videos. Read the game's description. Check whether it is single-player, multiplayer or both. Check supported languages. Look at user reviews.
Most importantly, scroll down and check the system requirements.
Understanding Steam Reviews
Steam user reviews can be extremely useful, but do not treat the overall percentage as the entire story.
Read some recent reviews. A game with excellent lifetime reviews may have received a bad update recently. The opposite can also happen: a game that launched poorly may have improved significantly.
Look at what players are actually complaining about. Performance problems? Server issues? Crashes? Monetisation? Lack of content? Or simply design decisions they personally dislike?
Reviews become much more useful when you understand the reason behind the rating.
Step 7: Check Whether Your PC Can Run the Game
Near the bottom of most Steam store pages you will find system requirements supplied for the game.
Typically you will see minimum and recommended specifications. Minimum requirements generally indicate the hardware needed to run the game at some acceptable level. Recommended requirements provide a better idea of what the developer suggests for a stronger experience.
Compare these requirements with your PC. Pay particular attention to:
Operating System. Make sure your operating system is supported.
Processor. Games can have significant CPU requirements, particularly large multiplayer and simulation games.
Memory. This means RAM. Do not confuse RAM with storage.
Graphics. This tells you which graphics card level the game expects.
Storage. This is the amount of disk space required.
Keep in mind that having exactly the listed amount of free storage is not always ideal. Games receive updates and temporary installation files may require additional space. Leaving some free space on the drive is a good habit.
Step 8: Add a Free Game to Your Library
If you are completely new to Steam and simply want to test everything before spending money, start with a free-to-play game.
Search the Steam Store for a free game that interests you. Instead of purchasing it in the traditional sense, you can add or install the game through its store page.
Once it has been added to your account, it should appear in your Library.
This is a useful way to learn how downloading, installing and launching Steam games works without making a purchase.
Step 9: Buy a Game on Steam
If you find a paid game you want, its store page will display the purchase options. Add the appropriate version to your cart.
Be careful with games that have several editions. You might see:
- Standard Edition
- Deluxe Edition
- Ultimate Edition
- Bundles
- DLC packages
The most expensive edition is not automatically the correct one. Check what each version includes. Sometimes deluxe versions contain useful expansions. Sometimes they contain only cosmetic items, soundtracks or digital artwork that you may not care about.
Once you have chosen the correct version, proceed through Steam's checkout process and select one of the payment methods available to you.
After the transaction is completed, the game is associated with your Steam account and should appear in your Library.
What Is a Steam Key?
Not every Steam game has to be purchased directly through the Steam Store. Some authorised retailers and physical products provide Steam product keys.
A Steam key is a code that can be activated on Steam to add the corresponding product to your account.
Be careful when purchasing keys from unfamiliar websites. Extremely cheap offers can be risky, particularly if you do not know where the key originated.
When possible, purchase games directly from Steam or established authorised retailers.
Step 10: Install Your First Steam Game
Open Library. Select the game you want to install. Click Install.
Steam will ask where you want the game installed. If your computer only has one storage drive, this decision is simple. If you have multiple drives, you may be able to choose where the game is stored. This can be useful if, for example, your primary SSD is nearly full but another SSD has hundreds of gigabytes available.
Steam will show the expected download and storage information before beginning. Confirm the installation. The game will begin downloading.
How Long Does a Steam Game Take to Download?
That depends mainly on two things: the size of the game, and your internet connection speed.
A small game may finish in minutes. A modern game exceeding 100 GB can take much longer.
Steam shows download progress in the Downloads section. You can see information such as download activity and installation progress.
Remember that downloading and installing are not always the same process. Steam may download compressed files and then perform disk operations to install or patch them. Because of this, you may occasionally see network activity drop while disk activity continues. That does not necessarily mean the download is broken.
Step 11: Launch the Game
Once installation finishes, the Install button becomes a Play button. Click it.
The first launch can take longer than future launches because the game may need to install additional components, create configuration files or compile shaders.
Some games also use separate launchers or require an additional publisher account. For example, a game sold through Steam may still interact with services operated by its publisher. Follow the on-screen instructions when required.
Once everything is ready, the game should launch.
Congratulations. You have officially entered the part where a "quick game before bed" somehow becomes 3:17 AM.
Where Are Your Steam Games Stored?
Steam organises installed games into Steam library folders.
Most beginners never need to manually open these folders. Steam handles installation, updates and launching automatically.
There are situations where knowing the game folder becomes useful, however. Modding is one example. Troubleshooting is another. You may also need the installation folder to edit configuration files or remove files left behind by a mod.
Steam provides ways to access installed game files through the game's properties and management options rather than manually searching through Windows folders.
How to Uninstall a Steam Game
Running out of storage does not mean you need to permanently remove the game from your account. This is another concept that can initially confuse new Steam users.
Uninstalling a game removes its installed files from your computer. It does not normally remove ownership of that game from your Steam account. The game remains in your Library and can be downloaded again later.
So if you finish a 100 GB game and need the space for something else, uninstall it. You can reinstall it when you want to play again.
What Happens to Your Save Files?
This depends on the game.
Many games support Steam Cloud, which can synchronise supported save data through Steam. Other games store saves locally or use their own account systems.
Do not assume every game's progress is automatically backed up. Before reinstalling Windows, moving to another computer or deleting game-related folders manually, check how that particular game stores save data.
For important saves, an additional backup is never a bad idea.
How Steam Updates Games
One of Steam's most useful features is automatic game updating.
Developers regularly release patches containing bug fixes, balance changes, new features, security improvements and content. Steam can download these updates for installed games.
That means you usually do not need to visit the developer's website, download a patch manually and install it yourself. For most players, the process is largely automatic.
This becomes especially important in multiplayer games. If your version does not match the version expected by the server, you may not be able to connect until the game has updated. It is one of the most common reasons a server suddenly shows as offline on a server list when nothing is actually wrong with it.
Steam Friends and Chat
Steam is not only a game launcher. It also includes social features.
You can add friends, see what they are playing and communicate through Steam Chat. Depending on the game and privacy settings, you may also be able to join friends directly through Steam.
This is particularly convenient for multiplayer games. Instead of exchanging server information every time, one player can join and others may be able to follow through the friends system.
Understanding Steam Profiles
Every Steam account has a profile. Your profile can display information such as your profile name, avatar, games, achievements, friends, screenshots and community activity.
How much of this information is visible depends on your privacy settings. You do not need to make everything public. Take a few minutes to review Steam's privacy options and choose what you are comfortable sharing.
What Is the Steam Community?
Games on Steam have community areas where players can discuss the game, publish screenshots, create guides and share other content.
These pages can be useful when you get stuck. Before searching the entire internet for a problem, check whether somebody in the Steam community has already encountered it.
For older games in particular, community guides can contain years of accumulated knowledge about configuration, multiplayer, mods and troubleshooting.
Just remember that community content is created by users rather than Valve or necessarily the game's developer. Treat unofficial instructions accordingly.
What Is Steam Workshop?
Steam Workshop allows communities to distribute user-created content for supported games.
The exact content depends on the game. It may include maps, mods, items, skins, scenarios, configurations or other community-created additions.
For supported games, Workshop integration can make installing community content much easier than manually downloading and copying files. You can often subscribe to Workshop content and allow Steam to handle the download.
Not every Steam game supports Workshop. And even among games that do, Workshop functionality varies significantly.
Multiplayer Games on Steam
Steam has a huge multiplayer ecosystem.
Some games rely primarily on matchmaking. Others support community-operated dedicated servers. Some support both.
Community servers are particularly important in games where owners can create custom experiences through maps, plugins, mods, rules and game modes.
This means installing the game is only the beginning. The server you choose can completely change what the game feels like.
Official Servers vs Community Servers
An official server is generally operated by the game's developer or publisher, or as part of the game's official infrastructure.
Community servers are operated independently.
Why would you choose a community server? Because community servers can offer experiences that official matchmaking does not. Depending on the game, that may include custom maps, different player limits, custom game modes, mods, roleplay, modified progression, different rules, community events, dedicated administrators and persistent communities.
A community server can become somewhere you return to every evening rather than a temporary match full of random players you never see again.
How to Find Community Servers
How servers are discovered depends on the game.
Some games provide an in-game community server browser. Others support connecting through an IP address. Some communities provide connection information through websites or Discord.
External game server lists can also make discovering communities easier. That is where a platform such as JoinGG becomes useful: instead of knowing a server's address before you begin, you can browse game servers, compare communities and check server information before deciding where to play. If you are not sure what to compare, our guide to finding the right server walks through it in more detail.
This is especially useful when a game has hundreds or thousands of independent servers.
What Should You Check Before Joining a Server?
Do not choose a server based only on its name. Start with its status. Is it actually online?
Then look at player count. A multiplayer server with zero players may not provide the experience you want, although small communities can still be worth joining.
Check location. A server hosted thousands of kilometres away may result in higher latency.
Then check the game mode and rules. A server can run the game you want while offering completely different gameplay from what you expected.
For example, two Rust servers may have different wipe schedules, gathering rates and group limits. Two Minecraft servers may run entirely different sets of plugins. Two Counter-Strike 2 servers may offer completely different modes.
The game tells you what software is running. The server tells you what experience you are joining. It is also worth knowing what makes a server listing trustworthy before you rely on the numbers you see.
What Is Ping?
Ping is a measurement commonly used to describe latency between your computer and a server. It is usually measured in milliseconds.
In simple terms, lower is generally better. A lower ping means information can travel between you and the server more quickly.
This is especially noticeable in fast competitive games. If you play Counter-Strike, for example, latency can affect how responsive shooting and movement feel.
Do not automatically assume that the server with the most players is best. A populated server on the other side of the world may provide a worse experience than a slightly smaller server located closer to you.
Joining a Server by IP Address
Some games allow direct connections using a server's IP address and port. The exact procedure varies from game to game.
An address might look conceptually like server-address:port.
Do not randomly connect to addresses from untrusted sources. Find server details through established communities, game browsers or server listing platforms.
For games with dedicated server support, direct connection can be useful when you already know exactly which community you want to join.
Why Can't I Join a Multiplayer Server?
There are many possible reasons.
The server may be offline. It may be full. Your game may be outdated. The server may be running a different version. You may be missing required mods. The server could require a password. You may need to join a whitelist. Your network or firewall may be interfering with the connection. Or the server itself may simply be experiencing technical problems.
Before reinstalling your entire game, check whether other players can connect. If nobody can connect, the problem probably is not your computer.
How to Verify Game Files on Steam
If a game begins crashing, refuses to launch or behaves strangely after an update, verifying its installed files is one of the first troubleshooting steps worth trying.
Steam can check the files installed on your computer against the expected game files and reacquire files when necessary.
This is useful because reinstalling a huge game should not always be your first response to a problem. Verification can sometimes repair the installation without requiring a complete download.
The option can be found through the game's properties in your Steam Library.
Steam Download Is Slow: What Should You Check?
A slow Steam download does not automatically mean Steam is broken.
First check your internet connection. See whether another device or application is consuming bandwidth. Check whether Windows or another game launcher is downloading updates.
Remember that Steam may alternate between downloading and disk activity during installation or patching. Your storage device can sometimes become the limiting factor rather than your internet connection.
If the issue continues, Steam also provides download-related settings that can be checked inside the client.
Avoid changing dozens of settings at once. Change one thing, test it, and then continue troubleshooting if necessary. That way you know what actually fixed the problem.
Should You Install Games on an SSD?
If you have an SSD available, generally it is the better location for games where loading performance matters.
Modern games increasingly benefit from faster storage. Large open worlds, multiplayer maps and games that continuously stream assets can particularly benefit from SSD storage.
An HDD can still be useful for older games or bulk storage. If you have both, prioritise your SSD for the games you play most frequently or games that specifically recommend SSD storage.
Steam Sales and Buying Games
One of Steam's best-known features is its sales. Prices can change significantly during promotional periods.
If you want a game but do not need to play it immediately, you can add it to your Steam Wishlist. This makes it easier to keep track of games you are interested in.
Do not buy a game purely because the discount percentage looks impressive. A game you never play is not a bargain at any price. Check reviews, requirements and whether you actually want it first.
Your future backlog will thank you. Probably.
Free-to-Play Does Not Always Mean Completely Free
Steam contains many free-to-play games. These can be downloaded without purchasing the base game.
However, free-to-play games may contain optional purchases. Depending on the title, these could include cosmetics, characters, expansions, battle passes or other content.
Always check how a game's monetisation works, particularly if the account will be used by a younger player.
Common Steam Mistakes New Players Make
The first is forgetting account security. Enable additional protection early.
The second is purchasing a game without checking system requirements. A beautiful trailer does not upgrade your graphics card.
The third is filling an SSD completely. Leave some breathing room.
The fourth is downloading random mods or tools from websites you do not trust. Community content can be one of the best parts of PC gaming, but it also means you need to pay attention to what you install.
The fifth is assuming every connection problem is caused by your PC. Sometimes the server is simply down. Check its status before spending an hour reinstalling Windows drivers.
Do You Need to Pay for Steam?
Creating and using a basic Steam account does not require a monthly subscription simply to access the platform.
Games themselves have different pricing models. Some are paid. Some are free-to-play. Some sell DLC. Some include optional subscriptions or in-game purchases.
Always check the individual game's store page to understand exactly what you are purchasing.
Can You Use the Same Steam Account on Another Computer?
Your Steam account is not permanently tied to one PC. You can sign into your account on another compatible computer and access your game library.
Games will still need to be installed on that computer before they can be played.
Save progress is a separate consideration. Games supporting Steam Cloud may synchronise supported save data, while other games may require different methods. If you regularly switch between computers, check whether the game supports cloud saves before assuming your progress will automatically appear.
What Should You Do After Installing Steam?
If you have followed this guide from the beginning, you should now have a Steam account, Steam installed, your account secured, at least one game in your Library, an understanding of how installations work, and a basic understanding of Steam multiplayer and community servers.
From here, the best way to learn Steam is simply to use it.
Add friends. Try a free game. Explore the store. Join a multiplayer server. Look through a game's community hub. Experiment with Workshop content on a game that supports it.
Steam looks complicated because it has accumulated a huge number of features over the years, but you do not need to use all of them.
For most players, the everyday process remains simple: find a game, install it, press Play.
Finding Multiplayer Servers After Installing Steam
Once your games are installed, JoinGG can help with the next part: finding somewhere to play.
Community servers can provide very different experiences even when they are running the same game.
A Counter-Strike player may want competitive community matches, surf, retakes or deathmatch. A Rust player may want vanilla or heavily modded gameplay. A Minecraft player may be searching for survival, SMP, anarchy or skyblock.
This is why comparing servers before joining is useful. Browse the server listings for the game you are playing, check which communities are online, look at player activity and read the available server information.
Once you find something that matches the experience you want, connect and try it.
Do not worry too much about finding the "perfect" server immediately. Community gaming is about finding the group that works for you. Sometimes that happens on the first server. Sometimes it takes ten.
Steam Beginner FAQ
Is Steam free to download? Yes. The Steam client itself can be downloaded and installed without purchasing a game. Individual games may be free or paid.
Do I need an account to use Steam? You need a Steam account to access the platform's account-based services and build your game library.
Can I play free games on Steam? Yes. Steam offers free-to-play games that can be added to your library without purchasing the base game.
Where do I download Steam? Download Steam from Valve's official Steam website rather than third-party download websites.
Can I change my Steam profile name? Your public profile name can be changed. Do not confuse it with the account name used for account access.
Can I reinstall a game without buying it again? If the game remains associated with your Steam account, uninstalling its local files does not normally mean purchasing it again. You can install it again through your Library.
Does Steam automatically update games? Steam provides automatic update functionality for installed games, although download behaviour can depend on your settings and scheduling.
What is Steam Guard? Steam Guard is part of Steam's account security system and helps protect accounts against unauthorised access.
Do all Steam games have multiplayer? No. Steam includes single-player games, multiplayer games and games supporting both.
Are community servers operated by Steam? Not necessarily. Community servers are generally independently operated servers for games that support this functionality.
How do I find game servers? The exact method depends on the game. Some titles include their own server browser, some support direct IP connections, and external game server lists such as JoinGG can help you discover active communities.
Getting On With It
Steam is much easier to use than it first appears.
Download the official client, create your account, secure it, find a game and install it. That is enough to start.
Everything else — Workshop mods, community servers, trading, achievements, screenshots, guides and the rest of Steam's enormous ecosystem — can be learned gradually.
For multiplayer players, finding the right game is only half of the equation. Finding the right community can be just as important.
Once your game is installed and you are ready to play, browse JoinGG's game server lists to discover communities, check server information and find your next multiplayer server.
Welcome to PC gaming. Your storage drive may never forgive you.
JoinGG is a live directory of community game servers — current status, players online right now, and a copyable address for every listing.
Published · 23 min read