How to Use Steam Notes: Full Guide

Steam Notes is a built-in feature that lets you attach private text notes to games, friends, and even your own profile. It’s handy for tracking game progress, remembering why you friended someone, or jotting down trade details. This guide walks you through finding, creating, editing, and deleting notes on both the desktop client and the mobile app.

What You’ll Need

• A Steam account with access to the desktop client (Windows, Mac, or Linux) or the Steam mobile app (iOS/Android).
• You must be logged in to your account.
• For notes on games or friends, you need to have that game in your library or that person on your friends list.

Step-by-Step

Adding a Note to a Game

1. Open Steam and log in.
2. Go to your Library.
3. Find the game you want to note. You can use the search bar or scroll through your list.
4. Click on the game to open its detail page.
5. Look on the right side of the page, under the game’s description and above the “Play” button. You’ll see a small text box labeled “Add a note” (or a notepad icon if you already have a note).
6. Click in the box and type your note. There’s no character limit shown, but it’s meant for short reminders.
7. Click Save (or press Ctrl+Enter / Cmd+Enter). Your note is now saved and visible only to you.

Adding a Note to a Friend

1. Open your Friends List (bottom-right of the Steam window).
2. Right-click on the friend’s name.
3. Select “Add a Note…” from the context menu.
4. A small pop-up appears. Type your note (e.g., “Met in CS2, trades skins”).
5. Press Save. The note is now attached to that friend.
6. To view or edit it later, right-click the friend again and choose “View Note” or “Edit Note”.

Adding a Note to Your Own Profile

1. Click on your profile name at the top of the Steam client.
2. Select “Profile”.
3. Look for the “Notes” section on the right side of your profile page. It’s usually below your level and badge info.
4. Click the “Add a Note” button or the pencil icon.
5. Type your note (e.g., “Remember to change display name next month”).
6. Click Save.

Editing or Deleting a Note

1. Navigate to the game, friend, or profile where the note is.
2. For games: click the notepad icon or the note text to edit. For friends: right-click and choose “Edit Note”. For profile: click the pencil icon.
3. Make your changes, or to delete, clear all the text and save.
4. Alternatively, some views have a small trash icon to remove the note entirely.

Using Notes on the Mobile App

1. Open the Steam app and log in.
2. Tap the Menu (three lines) and go to “Library” or “Friends”.
3. Tap on a game or friend.
4. Look for the note icon (usually a small notepad) near the top or in the options menu.
5. Tap it, type your note, and tap Save.

Common Mistakes

• Confusing Steam Notes with Steam Guides: Notes are private and only for you. Guides are public community posts. Don’t try to use a note as a public guide.
• Expecting notes to sync instantly: Notes sync to the Steam Cloud, but there can be a delay. If you switch devices, give it a few minutes.
• Forgetting that notes are per-account: If you share a computer, your notes are only visible when you’re logged in. They’re not shared with other accounts.
• Not realizing notes are plain text: You can’t format text (bold, italics) or add images. It’s just plain text.
• Deleting a note by accident: There’s no undo. If you clear the text and save, it’s gone permanently.

Tips

• Use notes to track game progress, like “Need to finish Chapter 3” or “Farm for rare drop here.”
• For friends, note how you know them or what you usually play together. This helps when you have many friends.
• Use your profile note as a personal reminder for things like “Change avatar next week” or “Remember to renew Steam Guard.”
• Notes are stored in the Steam Cloud, so they’ll be available on any device where you log in.
• Keep notes short and specific. There’s no search function for notes, so you have to remember where you put them.
• If you’re a trader, use friend notes to record trade agreements or what you’ve traded.

Troubleshooting

• Notes not saving: Make sure you click the Save button or press Ctrl+Enter. If it doesn’t save, check your internet connection. Steam Notes require an online connection to sync.
• Notes not appearing on another device: Wait a few minutes and restart Steam on that device. If they still don’t show, check that you’re logged into the same account. Cloud sync can be slow.
• Can’t find the note field for a game: Some games (like free-to-play games you haven’t installed) might not have the note box visible until you’ve played them. Try launching the game once, then go back to the library.
• Note box is grayed out: This can happen if Steam is offline. Go online (Steam > Go Online) and try again.
• Notes disappeared after a Steam update: This is rare, but if it happens, restart Steam. If they’re still gone, contact Steam Support, but note that there’s no way to recover deleted notes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can other people see my Steam Notes?

No, Steam Notes are completely private. They are only visible to you when you’re logged into your account.

Is there a limit to how many notes I can have?

There’s no official limit published, but you can have a note on every game, friend, and your own profile. In practice, you’re unlikely to hit a cap.

Can I format my notes with bold or colors?

No, Steam Notes are plain text. You cannot add formatting, images, or links.

Do Steam Notes sync across devices?

Yes, notes sync to the Steam Cloud, so they should appear on any device where you log in with the same account. Syncing may take a few minutes.

Can I export my Steam Notes?

There’s no built-in export feature. You can manually copy and paste the text if you need to save it elsewhere.

How do I delete a Steam Note?

Open the note, clear all the text, and save. The note is then removed. There’s no undo.

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