Uninstall Steam on Mac: Full Removal Guide

To uninstall Steam on a Mac, you need to delete the Steam application, its support files in your user Library folder, and any leftover game files. This guide walks you through the complete removal process, including what to back up, how to remove each component, and how to handle common issues like Steam not uninstalling cleanly.

What Uninstalling Steam Actually Removes

Steam on macOS is not a single file. It installs the main app in your Applications folder, but it also creates a separate folder called ~/Library/Application Support/Steam that holds your games, screenshots, saved cloud data, and configuration files. When you drag Steam to the Trash, that support folder stays behind. That means your hard drive may still be holding gigabytes of game data, and your Steam settings remain on disk. To fully uninstall Steam, you must delete both the app and the support folder manually.

Before You Uninstall: Back Up What Matters

If you plan to reinstall Steam later, you should back up certain files. Your game saves are usually stored in the cloud via Steam Cloud, but not every game uses it. To be safe, copy the following folders to an external drive or cloud storage:

• ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/userdata – contains your per-account settings and some local saves.
• ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps – contains your installed games and downloadable content.
• ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steam.pipe and registry.vdf – your login and library configuration.

If you are uninstalling because of a corrupted installation, you may not want to back up the configuration files, since they could be the source of the problem. In that case, only back up userdata and steamapps.

Step-by-Step: How to Uninstall Steam on Mac

Follow these steps in order. If you only want to remove the app but keep your games, stop after step 2.

1. Quit Steam completely. Click the Steam menu in the top menu bar and choose Quit Steam. If it does not quit, press Command+Option+Escape to force quit.
2. Move the Steam app to the Trash. Open Finder, go to your Applications folder, find Steam, and drag it to the Trash. Alternatively, right-click it and choose Move to Trash.
3. Delete the Steam support folder. In Finder, press Shift+Command+G and type ~/Library/Application Support/Steam. Drag this entire folder to the Trash. This is the big one – it contains all your games and settings.
4. Clear other Steam-related files. There are a few smaller files in other Library subfolders. Use the same Go to Folder shortcut to find and delete these if they exist:
   • ~/Library/Caches/com.valvesoftware.steam
   • ~/Library/Preferences/com.valvesoftware.steam.plist
   • ~/Library/Saved Application State/com.valvesoftware.steam.savedState
   • ~/Library/Application Support/Steam (already deleted in step 3)
5. Empty the Trash. Right-click the Trash icon in the Dock and choose Empty Trash. This permanently deletes everything.

What If Steam Won’t Uninstall or Keeps Coming Back?

If Steam reappears after you think you have deleted it, you likely missed a file. The most common culprit is the ~/Library/Application Support/Steam folder. Steam can recreate its app icon if that folder still exists, because the folder contains a launcher script. Another possibility is that Steam is still running in the background. Check Activity Monitor (in Applications/Utilities) for processes named steam, steam_osx, or steamwebhelper. If any are running, select them and click the X button to force quit, then repeat the deletion steps.

If you get a message that the file is in use, restart your Mac and try again before any Steam processes launch. If you have a Steam Controller or Steam Link app, those are separate apps and need to be removed individually.

Common Mistakes When Uninstalling Steam

Many people think dragging the app to the Trash is enough. That is the biggest mistake, because it leaves behind the support folder that can be several gigabytes. Another common error is deleting the wrong Library folder. The ~/Library folder is hidden by default in newer macOS versions. If you cannot find it, hold the Option key while clicking the Go menu in Finder, and Library will appear. Do not delete the entire ~/Library folder – only the specific Steam-related subfolders listed above. Finally, some users delete steamapps but keep the rest of the support folder, which can cause Steam to recreate its files on next launch.

What About Games and Saves?

When you uninstall Steam, you also uninstall all games that were installed through it. Those games are stored in ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps/common. If you delete that folder, you lose the game files. Your game saves are a different matter. Many games store saves in the cloud, but some store them locally in the game’s own folder or in ~/Library/Application Support under the game’s name. Before uninstalling, check the game’s documentation or the Steam Cloud status in your library. If a game does not support Steam Cloud, copy its save files manually. After reinstalling Steam, you can restore those files to the same location.

Alternatives to Full Uninstall

If you are uninstalling because Steam is slow or buggy, you may not need to remove everything. You can try clearing the download cache instead. In Steam, go to Preferences > Downloads > Clear Download Cache. This often fixes stuck updates. You can also verify the integrity of game files by right-clicking a game in your library, choosing Properties, then Installed Files, and clicking Verify integrity of game files. If you are running out of disk space, you can move games to an external drive using Steam’s Storage Manager rather than uninstalling the whole client. Only a full uninstall is necessary if you want to remove Steam entirely from your Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling Steam delete my games permanently?

Yes, it deletes the local game files. However, your game licenses are tied to your Steam account, not to your Mac. You can reinstall any game you own by logging into Steam again and downloading it. Your cloud saves will also come back if the game supports Steam Cloud. Local saves that are not cloud-synced will be lost unless you backed them up manually.

How do I find the hidden Library folder on my Mac?

In Finder, click the Go menu at the top of the screen. Hold down the Option key on your keyboard, and Library will appear in the dropdown list. Click it. Alternatively, press Shift+Command+G and type ~/Library to jump directly to it.

Can I reinstall Steam after uninstalling it?

Yes. Download the Steam client from the official Steam website and install it like any other Mac app. Log in with your account, and your library will reappear. You will need to reinstall any games you want to play, but your purchases and cloud saves remain tied to your account.

Why is Steam still taking up space after I deleted it?

Because the support folder in ~/Library/Application Support/Steam holds your games and settings. Deleting the app itself does not touch that folder. Check your storage in About This Mac > Storage to see if that folder is still there, and delete it manually using the steps above.

Does uninstalling Steam affect my Steam account?

No. Your account, friends list, and purchase history are stored on Steam’s servers. Uninstalling the client only removes the software from your Mac. You can log in from any other computer and access the same account.

What is the difference between uninstalling and disabling Steam?

Uninstalling removes the software and all its files. Disabling typically means preventing Steam from launching at startup or stopping background processes. You can disable Steam from launching at login by going to System Settings > General > Login Items and removing Steam. That keeps the app installed but stops it from running automatically.

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